Universitetetene og Bærekraftmålene

Many actors throughout the world participated in the process leading up to the SDGs. However, universities as actors are now expected to play a more prominent role.

Several university networks have been created to promote the SDGs, and to reform universities in line with these. Old university networks are take the global challenges more seriously.

It was argued at the global conference on “Universities and SDGs” in November 2016, that universities have a crucial role to play in the implementation of the goals, legitimized by goal 4 and its sub-goals (particularly 4.7).

SDGs at UiB
This workshop is UiB’s first concerted effort to promote the idea that universities must do more to meet the global challenges, by supporting the implementation of the SDGs.

The SDGs are given a universal validity, differing from the previous Millennium Development Goals. Thus national commitments drive the process. Still, the primary goal is to contribute knowledge about how we must interact across borders to meet these global challenges without leaving anybody behind, and by sharing the burden equally.  

The University of Bergen has given top priority to three areas of research: Marine, Climate and Global Challenges. There is a clear overlap between these areas as they all must focus on the SDGs to be relevant to our common discourse of change.

Workshop
We ask the question: How can universities, as part of a system of education and knowledge development, contribute to the promotion of the SDGs?

And more specifically: how can universities contribute by taking initiatives partly justified by goal number 4, to "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"?

The workshop aims to plan and to seek support for ideas for future activities.

Programme

09.00 – 09.15 
Welcome and short orientation of purpose
Tor Halvorsen, Senior Researcher, UiB Global
Professor Bente Moen, Director for Centre for International Health, UiB

09.15 – 09.30 
Why should The University of Bergen and universities in Norway generally contribute to the realization of the SDGs
Professor Anne Christine Johannessen, Vice Rector for International Affairs

09.30 – 09.45
A role for education, knowledge and universities in the promotion of SDGs – and why and how should Norway in particular push goal 4?
Dankert Vedeler, Director, Ministry of Education and Research

09.45 – 10.00
The global perspective.
Professor Victoria W. Thoresen, UNESCO Chair for Education about Sustainable Lifestyles and Director of PERL (Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living), Hedmark University of Applied Sciences

10.00 – 10.15 
Health, education and how they interact within the SDGs
Bengt Skotheim, Project Manager, the Norwegian Directorate of Health

10.15 – 10.30 Break

10.30 – 10.45 
How can the Humanities contribute?
Professor Kjersti Fløttum, Elected Member of the Board of UiB

10.45 – 11.00 
How can the STEM disciplines contribute?
Professor Finn Gunnar Nielsen, Geophysical Institute, UiB

11.00 -11.15   
Health and SDG
Professor Thorkild Tylleskär, Centre for International Health, UiB

11.15 – 12.00 
Questions, comment and discussion

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch

13.00 – 13.15 
The SDGs make out the framework for Norwegian development policy. How does this affect the way we work and do we have the right knowledge to make the right changes? Examples from education and health.
Kari Hauge Riisøen, Deputy Director for Section for Global Initiatives, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

13.15 – 13.30   
How are the SDGs guiding ideas about development and aid?
Jorun Nossum, Assistant Director, Department of Quality Assurance, NORAD

13.30 – 13.45 
Internationalization and values; the SDGs and academic networking?
Gro Tjore, Deputy Director, Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU)

13.45– 14.45
Actors and networks (5 to 7 minutes each)

Swedish research priorities relevant for the SDGs
Professor Kerstin Sahlin, General Secretary for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Swedish Research Council

Global networks in water research – why relevant for SDGs? 
Tore Sætersdal, Senior Researcher, Global Challenges, UiB

The NORHED program at UiB. New possibilities or missed opportunity? Relevance for SDG?
Kristin Svartveit, Administrative Coordinator, Global Challenges and Division of Research Administration, UiB

The Hedmark experience on networking relevant for SDGs
Professor Victoria W. Toresen, Hedmark University of Applied Sciences

The role of students in promoting SDG relevant knowledge;  locally - globally.
Johanne Vaagland, Student representative on the UiB Board

The World Wide University Network (WUN) and its (new) focus on SDGs
Bjørn Erik Andersen, Senior Adviser, Division of Research Administration, UiB

CROP and Sustainable Science
Alberto D. Cimadamore, Director CROP

14.45– 15.00 Coffee/tea

15.00 – 16.30
Discussions and ideas for future activities
Chair of session, Dankert Vedeler, Director, Ministry of Education and Research

• How can we cooperate across the “knowledge and politics divides” to make this possible?
• How can we make universities in Norway more relevant for the global debate about SDGs?

Note: Participation by invitation, but open to anyone interested in sitting in as observers.