Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Education for All at Sunway Education Group

To become globally connected, forward-looking education institutions dedicated to sustainability, the Campus With A Conscience Committee of Sunway Education Group has successfully developed and launched an online SDG Education Course campus-wide in partnership with the SDG Academy, as one of its initiatives to drive sustainability efforts in the SEG in January 2022. The course is designed to strengthen our staff and students' foundational understanding of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

This initiative will not only have a vast impact on SEG community but it is also hoped to also create a positive ripple effect to the community around them for many years to come. It is backed by strong support from the management such as the Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO, and CEO of Sunway Education Group, Prof. Elizabeth Lee. The online course for staff consists brief lecture videos, whereby Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the Sustainable Development Goals, shares the history, scope, and significance of SDGs as well as explore how learners can be responsible in contributing to the SDG Goals in different roles. There are also relevant reading materials, comprehensive assessment, and discussions prompting learners to think critically about how the SDGs apply to their personal and professional lives. As it is important for all SEG staff to be educated on this topic, they are required to complete this course within this year and their progress will be reported.

Every student in Sunway Colleges and Sunway University has to complete the compulsory MOHE MPU subjects offered under the General Studies Department (GSD). Beginning this year, the General Studies Department has incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) modules in their teaching and learning content by providing two SDG videos from the SDG Academy for review during pre-class activities. Another 10 SDG videos were given to students for group discussion. After watching the videos and going through the group discussion, students are required to do critical analysis, write a report and present it in class. The content of the MPU subjects has elements of current issues and one of the modules has current issues related to SDGs, which students can implement or apply in their daily lives.

Nelson Mandela once said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Here we are - helping to provide a better world for our future generations.