15 December 2017 | SDG Localisation, Universities & SDGs

Last chance for VNR case studies!

SDSN Australia/Pacific is facilitating the collection of additional case studies on how the Australian university sector contributes to SDG implementation, as input towards Australia’s Voluntary National Review (VNR). The case studies will be provided directly to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who are coordinating the preparation of the VNR. The deadline is Friday 19 January 2018.

Background

Australia will be presenting its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) on national implementation of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs to the United Nations High Level Political Forum in July 2018. The Review will cover Australia’s successes and challenges in giving effect to the 2030 Agenda, and include chapters on each of the SDGs.

The Review is an opportunity to highlight some of the excellent work and innovation by Australians and Australian institutions, both domestically and internationally, towards achieving the SDGs, and case studies will be used throughout the Review to highlight various approaches and initiatives.

As part of its preparations for the Review, DFAT is interested in case studies from Australian universities and tertiary institutions that showcase how they contribute to the achievement of one or more of the SDGs through research, teaching, organisational practices, and community leadership.

These materials could be shared across Government in 2030 Agenda discussions and may be drawn upon for future consultation processes, for online materials, speeches and other public outreach on the 2030 Agenda and potentially for the Review itself.

SDSN Australia/Pacific may also draw on material in the case studies for ongoing activities around how universities contribute to the SDGs.

Some institutions may already have provided material through other Government departments and their consultation processes on particular aspects of the 2030 Agenda. This is an opportunity to provide additional case studies on any aspect of the Agenda.

Types of case studies

Case studies should answer the following central question:

How is your institution (or faculty) contributing to the achievement of one or more of the SDGs through research, teaching, organisational practices, and community leadership?

The case studies can cover:

Initiatives that address any of the SDGs
One initiatives or several related initiatives
Initiatives that address SDGs but are not necessarily explictly linked to them; and initiatives that explicitly use the SDGs to go beyond “business as usual”
Both domestic and international implementation

They should have a particular emphasis on initiatives that:

Cross goals or break silos
Involve multiple stakeholders and across sectors (such as in partnership with business, government, civil society, communities)
Address the central theme of the VNR, which is “leaving no one behind”, by addressing challenges facing marginalised or disadvantaged communities.