27 June 2015
Sustainable Development in Higher Education Learning Outcome of Globalized Exposure to United Nations (UN) Flourish Prizes
Basedon the “Impact- Transforming Business, Changing The World, United NationsGlobal Compact (DVV. GL, 2015), one of the trends in the coming 15 years on “GenerationNext” is about digital natives of the Millennial Generation andunderstanding the opportunities inherent incrowd–sourcing and connectivity. The document mentions that innovationplatforms are needed to nurture new relationships to drive co-creation ofsolutions between business and change makers.
Under the SDG4, it is believed that by2030 all learners will be ensured to acquire knowledge and skills needed topromote sustainable development through education, including sustainablelifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace andnon-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity andculture’s contribution to sustainable development. How can higher educationinstitutions help teachers, students, administrative staff and the community inpromoting sustainable development?
The experience of Dr Shirley Yeung(Director, Centre for Corporate Sustainability and Innovations, Hang Seng Management College)and Ms Janet Yick (Year 3 student ofJournalism and Communication Programme, Hang Seng Management College) cancrystallise the importance of co-creation process in producing an innovativeproduct to bring in a change of mindset – an article published by UN FlourishPrizes on FujiXerox software of “Entrak” with impacts on business results andsocietal benefits of bringing changes in the behaviour of people on energysaving. The article (see below **)is a co-production outputof Dr Yeung and Ms Yick as they both have been contributing efforts inunderstanding the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the writing style, and the co-ordination workbetween interviewer and the interviewee with a variety of skills, e.g. languageskills and digital skills. In fact, this is a learning process of developingtransversal skills which are much needed for the present and the futurementioned by UNESCO – language skill, interpersonal skill, digitisation skill and culturalawareness. During the UN Meeting in NewYork in June 2015,Ms Yick received a “Certificate of Pioneer Student” while Dr Yeung received a“Certificate of Pioneer Professor” from UN Flourish Prizes.
SustainableDevelopment (SD) –
a neverending journey of co-producing different kinds of activities of individuals,organizations,
thecommunity of local, regional and global for a better world!
Reference:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgsproposal
