9 February 2018
From 8 to 9 February, IAU President (Pam Fredman) and IAU Secretary General (Hilligje van’t Land) took part in the SDG Conference on Knowledge for Our Common Future organized by the University of Bergen in Norway, an IAU member. The objective of the conference was to engage Norway’s research and higher education communities, politicians, government officials, NGOs and industry in a discussion on how universities can contribute towards implementation of the SDGs.
"It is important that your own institution lives the goals!”, said Pam Fredman IAU President. As former Former Vice-Rector of Gothenburg University in Sweden, Pam Fredman talked about her own experience. She stressed the importance of engaging the whole staff as well as students in order to efficiently implement the SDGs. She invited universities to share successful initiatives to inspire others.
“We must take diversity in culture and knowledge systems into account when working towards the SDGs”, declared Hilligje van’t Land, IAU Secretary General. She stressed that we can only achieve the goals by working together. She reminded that IAU always been committed to sustainable development and that the association will continue to play a key role in supporting higher education institutions to achieve the SDGs.