The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative will host a global forum on July 21, 2025, as part of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to explore how universities can foster science-driven solutions for sustainable development. The online event, open to the public, will run from 7:00 to 9:30 AM Eastern Time and introduce a new partnership framework aimed at strengthening higher education’s impact on sustainability goals.
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative Global Forum 2025 Tackles Science-Driven Solutions
Key Details
The HESI Global Forum aims to explore how higher education can advance data-driven, interdisciplinary approaches to advance the SDGs for in-depth review at the HLPF, according to organizers. The event will highlight strategies for inclusive, equitable and responsive education systems while promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The forum will provide a platform for consultation on how higher education institutions can strengthen their contributions to sustainability through research, teaching and engagement. Registration is required for participation in the online event.
Three speakers from UNU-IAS will participate: Director Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi, Academic Programme Officer Jonghwi Park, and Research Associate Jerome Silla.
Background & Context
Each year, the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative organizes a global forum as a special event at the HLPF to highlight the critical role of higher education in achieving sustainable development. HESI is a partnership between several UN entities and the higher education community, currently chaired by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNU, UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Sulitest Association.
Other UN partners include UNESCO, UN Environment Programme, UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, UN-HABITAT, UNCTAD, UNITAR, UN Office for Partnerships and UN Academic Impact.
The event will feature multi-stakeholder discussions on addressing challenges from growing inequality in the higher education sector.
What’s Next
The event will introduce the HESI Partnership Framework, which aims to strengthen the coherence, visibility and impact of higher education initiatives in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The framework represents a new approach to coordinating sustainability efforts across academic institutions globally.
