Westminster academics, University colleagues and postgraduate researchers came together on Tuesday 6 June to explore what the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mean to them, to share best practice and to discuss ideas on how to overcome challenges while embedding them into the curriculum and their work. The University also announced a new commitment to Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship at the event.
The day began with an introduction to the SDGs and their role at Westminster and with a conversation between the University’s Vice Chancellor and President Professor Peter Bonfield and Co-Chair of the University's EDI Committee Professor Dibyesh Anand on their passion, interests and work on promoting SDGs within and beyond the University.
Attendees then got to hear a series of presentations from colleagues sharing examples of where their teaching and research contribute towards the goals.
The presentations were broken up with interactive activities involving all the participants to help unpack disciplinary, geographical and institutional boundaries affecting engagement with SDGs. These activities enabled everyone to come out of the workshop inspired and with a better understanding of Westminster’s commitment to sustainable development, and challenges and opportunities for all in engaging with it.
Off the back of the day, organisers Professor Dibyesh Anand, Dr. Pooja Basnett, Sustainable Development Advisor Morgan Lirette and Dr Ro Spankie collaborated to write a report evaluating the success of the event and summarising the key findings and takeaways.
One of the key developments to come out of the event was Westminster’s Vice-Chancellor and President Dr Peter Bonfield officially committing the University to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 – Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED). This means that going forward, the University will work to provide its students with a strong understanding of sustainability and the interconnected nature of social, environmental and economic factors, alongside a 'sense of belonging to a common humanity'.
The results from a sticker survey taken on the day offer a snapshot of the SDGs that most drive Westminster colleagues’ individual commitment to sustainable development. The attendees' top five SDGs were SDGs 4 Quality Education, 13 Climate Action, 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, 10 Reduced Inequalities, and 17 Partnership for the Goals.
Commenting on the day, Professor Dibyesh Anand said: “The energy that comes from working together without regard for disciplinary and institutional boundaries is immense, especially when we operate in a diverse environment and adopt an inclusive approach. The workshop embodied this and illustrated the value of coming together.”
The University’s Sustainable Development Advisor Morgan Lirette said: “Organising and participating in the workshop was a complete joy. Part of my job as Sustainable Development Advisor is getting the SDGs beyond the boundaries of the Sustainability Team and into the hearts and minds of our Westminster community. Working with my co-organisers, liaising with the presenters, and being in the room on the day – I could feel Westminster’s commitment to the SDGs loud and clear.”
The success of this first workshop has committed the organisers to make this an annual event, with consideration to expand it to colleagues and students of all levels.
Find out more about Sustainable Development at Westminster.
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