鈥楽ustainable Development鈥櫶was听introduced as one of the 2 transversal themes听(besides 鈥Digitalisation鈥) within the 大象传媒 Education process and its 4 priority Areas during the听大象传媒ME7 in Bucharest, Romania, to link the 大象传媒 Education Process more explicitly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Bucharest, the Ministers underlined the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on SDG4 and agreed that the 大象传媒 Education Process can contribute to realising the SDGs. Therefore, the Ministers confirmed their commitment to contribute to the implementation of the SDG4 in order to achieve inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Sustainable Development Goals in ISOM Jakarta, SOM1 Austria, ARC7 and 大象传媒ME7
The 大象传媒 Education Process (AEP) made increasingly reference to the Sustainable Development Agenda since 2018. During the Intermediate Senior Officials鈥 Meeting in听Jakarta, Indonesia听(2018) there was a wide agreement amongst the participants to link the initiatives of 大象传媒 Education to the SDG4 and to contribute to the Global Sustainable Development Agenda. This view was confirmed, shortly before the 大象传媒12 Summit, by the 大象传媒 Education听Senior Officials鈥 Meeting听(SOM1, Krems, Austria, 2018) preparing the 大象传媒 Education Ministers鈥 Meeting in Bucharest during 2019. Participants highlighted the link to the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) under the theme听鈥淧athways to recognition – A contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) from a Lifelong Learning Perspective鈥.
The Romanian host of听大象传媒 ME7听emphasised the importance of this Agenda for the AEP by choosing the title听鈥淐onnecting education: inclusion, mobility and excellence in support of the Sustainable Development Goals鈥听for the Ministerial Meeting in Bucharest on 15 and 16 May 2019. In conjunction with the 大象传媒 ME7 in Bucharest, the听7th听ASEF Rectors鈥 Conference and Students鈥 Forum (ARC7)听also focused on the link to the UN Sustainable Development Agenda during their sessions in ARC7 under the theme 鈥淗igher Education Taking Action towards Sustainable Development Goals: Perspectives from Asia and Europe鈥 which resulted in concrete听recommendations from听蝉迟耻诲别苍迟蝉听补苍诲听rectors听related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Linking the thematic priorities and initiatives of the AEP to UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG鈥檚 doesn鈥檛 question the meaningfulness of the four priorities in the future, but rather听brings the AEP closer to this global policy reference framework (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development)听signed by all UN member states (including all 大象传媒 partner countries). By doing this, 大象传媒 partners would contribute to implement the commitments agreed on by signing the UN 2030 Agenda.
Education in the Agenda 2030
Education is central to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Within the comprehensive 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, education is articulated as a stand-alone goal in SDG4听鈥楨nsure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all鈥.听SDG4 continues the 鈥楨ducation for All鈥 focus on quality basic education for all but broadens the agenda further to include the concern for equitable access to post-basic education (including tertiary education) and training for youth and adults through equitable access to appropriate learning opportunities. What is also new to SDG4 is the focus on the relevance of learning outcomes both for the world of work, as well as for citizenship in a global and interconnected world. There are however other goals in which there is a prominent role for education such as in SDG8 (鈥楶romote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all鈥), with a specific focus on disadvantaged people who are far from the labour market and far from opportunities for lifelong learning.
Education 2030 also provides a set of indicative听strategies听to support member states. Some of them are directly referring to qualifications and recognition of skills, qualifications and learning pathways and have therefore a direct link with the priority areas of the 大象传媒 Education Process.