Tokyo, June 26, 2024: The founding vice-chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, addressed the prestigious Annual Meeting of the Academic Council of the United Nations System (ACUNS) and delivered the keynote address. titled “The role of universities in the Global South in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. In his landmark speech, Dr. Raj Kumar highlighted how critical it was to achieve the ambitious 2030 Agenda in the remaining six years and how important it is for all stakeholders, governments and corporations to undertake strategic policies and actions to directly contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and solve pressing global problems. “It is essential that knowledge production and distribution, innovation, cutting-edge research, interactive learning and capacity building for human development are improved and that universities and other higher education institutions can be a key platform to achieve the fruitful conclusion of these important and demanding tasks. ," he said.
Professor (Dr.) Kumar detailed the critical steps required and said: “Universities in India and the Global South can contribute to the achievement of the 17 SDGs in 10 main points. The primary role of universities is to empower students to become agents of change by incorporating relevant topics and challenges within curricula while focusing on experiential learning, clinical programs, capstone projects, and global engagement. community. To break the vicious cycle of poverty, it is essential to provide financial aid and scholarships, promote philanthropy, and provide policy recommendations to the government to invest in public education. To ensure equality for all, institutions have the dual responsibility of being microcosms of equal opportunity, fair practices and an inclusive center of learning and workplace. “Universities contribute to achieving the goal of good health and well-being by generating knowledge and studies on healthcare and raising awareness through community participation.”
“Furthermore, to take action for the preservation of life on Earth and climate change, universities should invest in research on the environment and engage with indigenous cultures in sustainable practices, and act as agents of change by reducing the footprint of carbon and creating sanctuaries within campuses for the preservation of biodiversity. Universities can foster individual awareness toward sustainability through curriculum, research agendas, sustainable infrastructure, campus engagement, public institutional engagement, and institutional environmental footprint. To work toward the goal of clean water and food security, universities must use their full potential to positively impact public policies and improve water and food security management practices within their own facilities. To achieve sustainable economic growth of people and industries, universities must design a dynamic curriculum relevant to market changes, collaborate with industries and act as incubators for innovation and entrepreneurship. To advocate for peace and justice, educational institutions must uphold academic freedom and objectively portray diverse perspectives and truths without outside interference or censorship to instill awareness in the social and political psyche of the people. To work towards partnership, especially South-South cooperation, universities can create consortia, research networks, address common challenges, promote cultural exchange and influence policy change,” said Professor (Dr.) Kumar.The ACUNS Annual Meeting 2024 coincided with the publication of the JGU Sustainable Development Report, a comprehensive attempt, the first of its kind, to demonstrate how a university through its educational activities, research, management, job openings, provides equality of opportunities in hiring, establishment and maintenance. Health standards, provision of public services, support for local communities, raising gender awareness, adopting environmental protection policies both on and off campus and other sustainable activities can directly and effectively contribute to the achievement of several specific SDGs.
The JGU Sustainable Development Report was presented to outgoing ACUNS President, Prof. Lise Howard of Georgetown University, and incoming President, Dr. Franz Baumann, to the two co-hosts of the 2024 ACUNS Annual Meeting: Prof. Tchilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo, and Prof. Atsuko Kawakita, Vice Dean of International Affairs at the University of Tokyo, and dozens of professors, researchers, activists and other participants at the ACUNS 2024 Annual Meeting.
OP Jindal Global University was represented by 15 professors from different schools at the ACUNS Annual Meeting, who also presented their latest research in various panels. Prof. Dr. Vesselin Popovski, Vice Dean of Jindal Global Law School, current chair of the ACUNS Best Thesis Award Committee, presented the 2024 Best Thesis awards to the two winners Rebecca Yemo (University of Massachusetts) and Johannes Scherzinger (University of Zurich)..
Professor (Dr.) Kumar detailed the critical steps required and said: “Universities in India and the Global South can contribute to the achievement of the 17 SDGs in 10 main points. The primary role of universities is to empower students to become agents of change by incorporating relevant topics and challenges within curricula while focusing on experiential learning, clinical programs, capstone projects, and global engagement. community. To break the vicious cycle of poverty, it is essential to provide financial aid and scholarships, promote philanthropy, and provide policy recommendations to the government to invest in public education. To ensure equality for all, institutions have the dual responsibility of being microcosms of equal opportunity, fair practices and an inclusive center of learning and workplace. “Universities contribute to achieving the goal of good health and well-being by generating knowledge and studies on healthcare and raising awareness through community participation.”
“Furthermore, to take action for the preservation of life on Earth and climate change, universities should invest in research on the environment and engage with indigenous cultures in sustainable practices, and act as agents of change by reducing the footprint of carbon and creating sanctuaries within campuses for the preservation of biodiversity. Universities can foster individual awareness toward sustainability through curriculum, research agendas, sustainable infrastructure, campus engagement, public institutional engagement, and institutional environmental footprint. To work toward the goal of clean water and food security, universities must use their full potential to positively impact public policies and improve water and food security management practices within their own facilities. To achieve sustainable economic growth of people and industries, universities must design a dynamic curriculum relevant to market changes, collaborate with industries and act as incubators for innovation and entrepreneurship. To advocate for peace and justice, educational institutions must uphold academic freedom and objectively portray diverse perspectives and truths without outside interference or censorship to instill awareness in the social and political psyche of the people. To work towards partnership, especially South-South cooperation, universities can create consortia, research networks, address common challenges, promote cultural exchange and influence policy change,” said Professor (Dr.) Kumar.The ACUNS Annual Meeting 2024 coincided with the publication of the JGU Sustainable Development Report, a comprehensive attempt, the first of its kind, to demonstrate how a university through its educational activities, research, management, job openings, provides equality of opportunities in hiring, establishment and maintenance. Health standards, provision of public services, support for local communities, raising gender awareness, adopting environmental protection policies both on and off campus and other sustainable activities can directly and effectively contribute to the achievement of several specific SDGs.
The JGU Sustainable Development Report was presented to outgoing ACUNS President, Prof. Lise Howard of Georgetown University, and incoming President, Dr. Franz Baumann, to the two co-hosts of the 2024 ACUNS Annual Meeting: Prof. Tchilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo, and Prof. Atsuko Kawakita, Vice Dean of International Affairs at the University of Tokyo, and dozens of professors, researchers, activists and other participants at the ACUNS 2024 Annual Meeting.
OP Jindal Global University was represented by 15 professors from different schools at the ACUNS Annual Meeting, who also presented their latest research in various panels. Prof. Dr. Vesselin Popovski, Vice Dean of Jindal Global Law School, current chair of the ACUNS Best Thesis Award Committee, presented the 2024 Best Thesis awards to the two winners Rebecca Yemo (University of Massachusetts) and Johannes Scherzinger (University of Zurich)..
