The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how universities can accelerate progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through engaging and integrating efforts of multiple aspects of an institution. DESIGN: The paper is both a conceptual and a case study that examines the impact of focusing on sustainability in only the curriculum and having multiple functions of the university engaging in socially relevant activities. The case study shows how one university involves multiple functions of the university in its sustainability efforts.
The active engagement of a variety of sustainability activities by many facets of the University has resulted in the university receiving many sustainability awards, grants and recognitions.
This is an original paper based on personal experience and the many efforts by numerous individuals engaged in sustainability efforts at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM).
The paper focuses on the efforts of only one university and is based on the author’s knowledge of early limited sustainability efforts prior to the instituting of a more comprehensive effort undertaken by the university in 2018.
Other institutions may be able to adapt some of CSUSM’s approaches to their efforts to accelerate progress towards their chosen SDGs.
Anderson, B.B. (2024): Learning and Doing: Integrating to Accelerate SDG Progress. In Ahmed, A. (Ed.): World Sustainable Development Outlook 2024, Vol. 20, pp.55–63. WASD: London, United Kingdom.
