The University of Wolverhampton working ‘glocally’ for the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are slowly becoming part and parcel of what we do. This is how the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) describes the SDGs:

“with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.”

Each Goal identifies a series of short or long-term targets to be achieved and further guidance on how to meet them, thereby providing additional support for making the sustainable transformation we need. The 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were actually adopted in September 2015 and came into force on 1 January 2016.

The UNAI then adds:

“The new Goals are unique in that they call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.”

Two years ago the role of businesses in delivering the SDGs was presented at the University of Wolverhampton 2016 Crystal Lecture. Since then the ‘glocal’ work of the University of Wolverhampton, including several large projects, has been mapped against the SDGs and presented to several large audiences.

Recently, Wolverhampton City Council has taken a lead and is now reporting on their Sustainability Strategy and Implementation Plan against the SDGs.

Earlier this year the first report on UK progress against the SDGs compiled by the UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development (UKSSD), ‘Measuring up’ was presented in Parliament. 

Alignment between the SDGs and the University of Wolverhampton Strategy

There is considerable alignment between the SDGs and our University Mission and Values:

Our mission is Maximising opportunity through generating knowledge, innovation and enterprise.

Our core values are that:

• We will behave respectfully and ethically, in all that we do.
• We will be inclusive and fair in our interaction with each other and with our wider community.
• We will act professionally, transparently, confidently, collaboratively and challengingly when engaging with our communities both locally and globally.

These all align well with the SDGs.

The Times Higher Education is currently developing a new global university ranking that aims to measure institutions’ success in delivering the SDGs. Wherever possible we as a University need to be referencing the SDGs in delivering our strategy and in our actions.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the things we are actually doing, both globally and locally, (i.e. ‘glocally’) towards achieving the SDGs.

Current university initiatives supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

• Global work of the Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT).
• CIDT’s recent social protection research work in Nepal.
• Regional/local work of Institute for Community Research and Development (ICRD).
• Research in Pakistan and Ghana on poverty alleviation through microfinance initiatives.
• We have been a Fairtrade University since June 2008 and Fairtrade products are sold in all University outlets across our campuses.
• As a university we are a Living Wage employer.

Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

• CIDT’s work on the East African AGRA Project.
• Research work on Rice Blast Fungus to improve food security in China.
• Improving the agro-environmental sustainability of cropping systems in South-East Asia in collaboration with Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.
• Active participation in the European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC).
• Active participation in ‘Landcare‘
• Active participation in the ‘World Association for Soil and Water Conservation.
• ICRD’s Research work on Food Banks across the local region.

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

• CIDT’s health work in Nigeria.
• ICRD’s work with the West Midlands Combined Authority – analysis of local level data collected with people who have been identified as having Multiple Complex Needs to inform a region level response.
• Brain Tumor research.
• Dementia research.
• Heart Health Testing for the community.
• Research into sperm motility and male contraception
• Bone Density scanning with the NHS Trust.
• Developing new cancer drugs through nano-technology enabled repositioning.
• 10,000 nurses qualified from the University in the last 10 years.
• Mental health, suicide prevention and ‘3 Minutes to Save a Life’
• Psychology of health and eating behaviours
• Strategic collaboration with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Hospital Trust through AIM.
• The ‘Hanover and Wolverhampton Link Organisation Project’ (HWLOP), a community-based collaborative project between the Parish of Hanover (Jamaica) and Wolverhampton.
• Evaluating the HeadStart resilience programme for young people in Wolverhampton.

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

• CIDT’s global work on Education and Lifelong Learning work
• Work of the International Academy
• Wolverhampton City Learning Region Initiative with UNESCO
• Springfield Regeneration Project
• Excellence in research – 3 research institutes and 18 research centres undertaking world class research.
• Catalyst funding to tackle the BAME attainment gap
• Education Observatory research centre
• Work on ICT in Education in universities in Jordan and Pakistan
• Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies.
• Centre for Lifelong Learning.
• Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CAEL)
• Aspire to Higher Education.
• Education Central Multi-Academy Trust.
• Public seminars, lectures and outreach activities across the city.
• University of Wolverhampton’s links with Children’s University.
• Moonlight project harnesses the power of MOOCs for refugees and migrants.
• Research into learning technology for rural African communities.

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

• CIDT’s global work on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
• CIDT’’s recent work with the African Union
• ICRD’s work with The Haven, the Wolverhampton Grand, and Geese Theatre – evaluation of The Phoenix Project; programme for women who have been victims of domestic abuse.
• ICRD’s work with Wolverhampton Council/Home Office – evaluation of ‘Making Change Happen’, a safeguarding programme for women and girls.
• Leadership diversity
• The University is an active participant in ‘Athena Swan,’ encouraging gender equality among university staff.
• Research in overcoming gender-stereotyping in education
• University of Wolverhampton’s Equality and Diversity Plan
• Aurora programme programme for increasing leadership for female staff in the university.

Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

CIDT’s work in fragile and conflict affected Somaliland to bring Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) service delivery to populations that have lost water through conflicts and/or who are vulnerable to drought. CIDT will support project teams so that WASH projects are inclusive for women, youth and disabled and other vulnerable groups and are designed and carried out with conflict sensitive methodologies.

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

• CIDT’s work in South Korea with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
• The Built Environment Climate Change Innovations (BECCI) Project.
• Sustainable Construction Futures project
• Research work on energy infrastructure and battery storage.

Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

• CIDT’s recent work in Montenegro, Macedonia and Russia with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
• CIDT’s recent work in Morocco on Small and Medium Enterprise development with UNIDO.
• Link You project in Business Solutions
• ICRD’s work with One Walsall (Walsall Voluntary Sector Council) around the ‘State of the Sector’.
• University of Wolverhampton Business School research on Trade Unions and improving BAME employees’ working conditions in the public sector.
• Wolverhampton City Learning Region Initiative with UNESCO.
• Springfield Super Campus Regeneration Project, including the ‘National Brownfield Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC).
• We have 96% graduate employability.
• Our partnership working with West Midlands Growth Companyand the Industrial Strategy.
• University’s work with Chambers of Commerce.
• University’s leadership role with Local Enterprise Partnerships and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
• Research work on Governance and Value Creation in Small and Medium Enterprises.
• The University of Wolverhampton Science Park, Telford Innovation Campus and Business Incubation provision.
• We have Apprenticeships at all levels, including Degree and Higher Apprenticeships.
• Our University Living Wage commitments.

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

• CIDT’s work in South Korea with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
• The Springfield Super Campus Regeneration Project.
• The Centre for Cyber Research.
• The Hereford Centre for Cyber Security.
• Wolverhampton City Learning Region Initiative with UNESCO.
• Research work on Intelligent Transport Systems and work with the Sustainable Transport Research Group.
• The Science and new Fablab Building.
• The University of Wolverhampton Science Park.
• SciTech Innovation Hub.
• Supply chain improvement programmes with SMEs.
• DigiPass and Connect2Gro projects with SMEs.
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

• University of Wolverhampton Strategic Plan.
• CIDT’s global work on Social Inclusion.
• ICRD’s work with the City of Wolverhampton Council, to support the wellbeing of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.
• Women Rough Sleepers work to support homelessness.

Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

• Wolverhampton City Learning Region Initiative with UNESCO.
• Research work on Intelligent Transport Systems and work with the Sustainable Transport Research Group.
• The Springfield Super Campus Regeneration Project.
• Support to the Black Country small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the adoption of environmental technologies and resource efficiency processes (EnTRESS).
• ICRD’s work with Birmingham Youth Offending team, evaluating programmes to prevent local young people from reoffending.
• West Midlands 5G test bed participation and support for the adoption of Industry 4.0 in regeneration businesses.
• Smart Cities initiatives with Wolverhampton City Council.

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

• University of Wolverhampton Sustainable Development Plan
• Waste separation and recycling.
• Sustainability in fashion design.
• Research into biodegradable polymers and plastic waste reduction.
• Our environmental achievements are documented in our Annual Review.
• Active involvement in the ‘Cradle to Cradle’Project which promotes advanced recycling and was initially funded by the EU.
• University of Wolverhampton’s Fair Trade Programme.

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

• CIDT’s Climate Change work with the Nationally Determined Contributions Partnership (NDC-P), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and FONERWA.
• The Built Environment Climate Change Innovations (BECCI) Project.

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

• As a University we follow the Marine Stewardship Council guidelines and only procure MSC certified fish for all our University catering.
• Research into biodegradable polymers and plastic waste reduction.

Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

• CIDT’s Forestry Governance work and EU/DFID CV4C Programme.
• Collaboration with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro to help educate people on environmental issues.
• Research into biodiversity and conservation of amphibians.

Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

• CIDT’s global work on Forestry Crime and Illegal Logging.
• University of Wolverhampton’s Law School and Legal Advice Centre.
• Developing and updating insolvency law in Kenya.
• Collaborating with INSOL International in the drafting of best practice rules for regulatory bodies of Insolvency Practitioners across the world.
• Work to end caste discrimination, and featured on Amnesty International’s Suffragette Spirit Map.
• ICRD’s funded PhD studentship, focused on inclusive growth.
• Research work that provides a crucial and perceptive guide to understanding contemporary forms of violence and how it affects our lives.

Goal 17: Revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

• CIDT’s international development work.
• Wolverhampton City Learning Region Initiative with UNESCO.
• University of Wolverhampton’s Trans National Education Programmes, Research Partnerships and International Knowledge Exchange.

Looking ahead we want to monitor and showcase the work and impact of our university for the SDGs ‘glocally’. I suspect there are many things missing here. If you know of other University initiatives that fit the SDGs please contact Philip Dearden ( P.N.Dearden@wlv.ac.uk).