Overview
SUSTAINABILITY (6): Recent developments in research and teaching towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Transforming Saudi Universities: Accelerating KSA's Journey to Achieving Vision 2030
Online International Conference
Wednesday 26th February 2025 (09:30 - 13:00 UK Time)
Following the success of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd , 4th and 5th conference in the series, this conference will focus on the critical role of the Universities and Research Centres in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabi (KSA) towards helping the country achieve the United Nations' Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help KSA accelerate the achievement of its Saudi Vision 2030.
According to the recent KSA Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2023, KSA is making significant progress in achieving the goals of Agenda 2030, especially in the areas of gender equality, renewable energy, and economic diversification. Nonetheless, issues like social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic dependency on oil demand ongoing attention. Their comprehensive institutional framework that is aligned with all sectors to ensure the implementation of key policies and monitoring of SDG indicators is worth emulating by other countries.
Significant progress is evident in industry innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9) and clean water and sanitation (SDG 6). Important projects highlighted in the reports include significant investments in renewable energy, improvements to the healthcare and education systems, and economic reforms aimed at reducing reliance on oil. Major initiatives like NEOM, an inventive megacity intended to spur economic growth and technological improvement, have been initiated by the Kingdom. Notable accomplishments also include increases in female labour force participation, education reforms, and social welfare improvements. Environmental activities are also a focus, with a special emphasis on increasing renewable energy. However, challenges persist in areas such as carbon emissions and biodiversity conservation. The VNR report has also documented key strategies and projects outlined to respond COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the official approval of WASD’s Sustainable Development Goals KSA Universities Initiative (SDGsKSAUNi) by His Excellency Mr Youssef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, KSA Minister of Education, and the recent Official Circular sent by His Excellency Professor Dr Bassam bin Abdullah Al-Bassam, Secretary General of the Council of Universities Affairs (CUA) on Thursday 26 December 2024 to all Universities’ Presidents in KSA, WASD is very pleased to invites all Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), societies (academic/professional) and individuals in KSA to join the conference and discuss how all stakeholders can help KSA accelerate the achievement of its Vision 2030. Moreover, the conference also aims to provide students and the youth (sustainability generation) with the different perspectives on their future studies focusing on Sustainable Development (SD).
Location
Queen Mary University of London, QMB Innovation Centre, London, United Kingdom
Team
The conference is organised by several committees from WASD and under close supervision of WASD Advisory Board.
Team
- Prof. Allam Ahmed: Chair and President WASD
- Janet Snow: International Coordinator and Editor