Culture and communication
Building global partnerships to deliver sustainability goals
Collaboration is key to progress, Deputy-Vice Chancellor Professor Jane Norman tells international leaders as the university’s inaugural Times Higher Education Impact Ranking is announced
The University Nottingham was a sponsor of the 2024 Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) hosted by Times Higher Education in Bangkok, Thailand, where 3,000 global thought leaders and innovators have gathered to discuss urgent solutions to the international sustainability emergency.
A small delegation, led by Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham (Now Vice-Chancellor) Professor Jane Norman, meet with education leaders and representatives from industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to explore ways of working together in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDGs.
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
At the conference, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 were announced, with the the university being recognised alongside the world’s top higher education institutions that are driving positive global change and helping to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems including poverty, climate change and social injustice.
The university was ranked in the Top 100 for a number of individual SDG areas – Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life on Land.
Professor Norman delivered a keynote speech to delegates on the topic of The Sustainability Crises of Our Time: Energy Decarbonisation and Sustainable Industry, alongside the entrepreneur Gita Wirjawan, honorary professor in the University of Nottingham’s School of Politics, and former Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia.
"It is clear there is some way to go in achieving the SDGs, and at the University of Nottingham we recognise how important it is to work in partnership to tackle these global issues."
Addressing complex challenges facing our planet
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor said: “I’m delighted that we are ranked in the top 100 for a number of SDGs. I am proud that we have been able to show the 3,000 delegates at the GSDC how we are addressing the complex challenges facing our planet and making significant contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
"The panel conversation with Gita Wirjawan was inspiring and it was fascinating to hear his thoughts on how to tackle these issues, particularly in relation the ASEAN region. It is clear there is some way to go in achieving the SDGs, and at the University of Nottingham we recognise how important it is to work in partnership to tackle these global issues.”
The conference was an opportunity to showcase the university’s work in sustainability and zero carbon, and build further networks to support delivery of these goals. Workshops hosted by the university included a discussion on how organisations can work across multiple SDGs and drive collective progress on towards the goals, and the potential of multi-stakeholder partnerships between universities, communities, industry and civil society can accelerate action for the SDGs at local level. Case studies included the university’s partnerships with NGOs to support sustainable development, such as exploring how In schools can serve as green energy hubs in Kenya or University of Nottingham Malaysia’s partnership with WWF-Malaysia to implement ecologically based flood management practices to make rural communities more resilient to climate change.
During her visit to South-East Asia, Professor Norman also took part in a panel discussion on Driving Global Partnerships for Human Capital Development in Renewable Energy and Green Economy at Gedung Sate, Bandung, West Java’s government building in Indonesia, as well as a round table event hosted by the British Embassy which focussed on Women in Leadership.
It came as part of the university’s wider partnership activity in the region. The university is a key member of the UK-Indonesia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Sciences (UKICIS), which aims to build resilience against pandemic, climate change and natural disasters.
Supporting Indonesia’s journey to net zero
UKICIS, which brings together the universities of Nottingham, Warwick and Coventry in the UK, with Institut Teknologi Bandung, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Institut Pertanian Bogor, and Universitas Indonesia, has been recognised by the UK government as a driver for research and innovation in the country.
Among the issues that the university is helping Indonesia to tackle is its commitment to net zero. The university is a key partner in growing Indonesia’s EV infrastructure and skills base, and is helping to deliver its ambition to be Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle powerhouse.
Professor Norman added: "I’m very grateful for our collaboration with Indonesia, and it was wonderful to meet with university partners, regional and national government leaders, NGOs, university colleagues and inspiring students and hear about our shared ambitions in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work in Indonesia is not only helping the planet, but it’s also helping local communities in West Java, and that is what we need to keep in mind as we collectively reach for net zero across the world. Our work with Ministry of Environment and Forestry will directly contribute to Indonesian carbon sequestration agenda to meet Indonesia’s NDC target. Together we are leading the way to a sustainable future, and I am honoured to be a part of that."
Supporting Indonesia’s journey to net zero
UKICIS, which brings together the universities of Nottingham, Warwick and Coventry in the UK, with Institut Teknologi Bandung, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Institut Pertanian Bogor, and Universitas Indonesia, has been recognised by the UK government as a driver for research and innovation in the country.
Among the issues that the university is helping Indonesia to tackle is its commitment to net zero. The university is a key partner in growing Indonesia’s EV infrastructure and skills base, and is helping to deliver its ambition to be Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle powerhouse.
Professor Norman added: "I’m very grateful for our collaboration with Indonesia, and it was wonderful to meet with university partners, regional and national government leaders, NGOs, university colleagues and inspiring students and hear about our shared ambitions in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work in Indonesia is not only helping the planet, but it’s also helping local communities in West Java, and that is what we need to keep in mind as we collectively reach for net zero across the world. Our work with Ministry of Environment and Forestry will directly contribute to Indonesian carbon sequestration agenda to meet Indonesia’s NDC target. Together we are leading the way to a sustainable future, and I am honoured to be a part of that."