Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan

Universities are where global promises meet local problems. This study examines how Pakistan’s higher education sector is aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across four domains—learning and teaching, research, governance and external leadership—based on responses from 41 of 247 u...

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Autores principales: Cheema, Abdur Rehman, Ahmed, N., Hassan, H., Kemal, M. A.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Taylor & Francis 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179475
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author Cheema, Abdur Rehman
Ahmed, N.
Hassan, H.
Kemal, M. A.
author_browse Ahmed, N.
Cheema, Abdur Rehman
Hassan, H.
Kemal, M. A.
author_facet Cheema, Abdur Rehman
Ahmed, N.
Hassan, H.
Kemal, M. A.
author_sort Cheema, Abdur Rehman
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Universities are where global promises meet local problems. This study examines how Pakistan’s higher education sector is aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across four domains—learning and teaching, research, governance and external leadership—based on responses from 41 of 247 universities. We find energetic activity in SDG—related teaching and research, but slower movement on institutional governance and outward leadership. Engagement varies by place: provincial and regional priorities mirror local socio—economic and environmental realities, from poverty and education to water, energy and climate resilience. Common barriers persist—limited funding, weak institutionalisation of SDGs and scarce incentives for interdisciplinary collaboration. Yet the potential is clear: universities already catalyse practical, localised solutions and can do more by embedding SDGs in curricula and operations, investing in partnerships with government, industry and communities and expanding student—led initiatives. The paper offers evidence, lessons and policy directions to help align campus capabilities with national and global sustainability ambitions.
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spelling CGSpace1794752026-01-07T12:17:15Z Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan Cheema, Abdur Rehman Ahmed, N. Hassan, H. Kemal, M. A. sustainable development goals higher education educational institutions universities policies governance Universities are where global promises meet local problems. This study examines how Pakistan’s higher education sector is aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across four domains—learning and teaching, research, governance and external leadership—based on responses from 41 of 247 universities. We find energetic activity in SDG—related teaching and research, but slower movement on institutional governance and outward leadership. Engagement varies by place: provincial and regional priorities mirror local socio—economic and environmental realities, from poverty and education to water, energy and climate resilience. Common barriers persist—limited funding, weak institutionalisation of SDGs and scarce incentives for interdisciplinary collaboration. Yet the potential is clear: universities already catalyse practical, localised solutions and can do more by embedding SDGs in curricula and operations, investing in partnerships with government, industry and communities and expanding student—led initiatives. The paper offers evidence, lessons and policy directions to help align campus capabilities with national and global sustainability ambitions. 2025-12 2026-01-07T12:15:52Z 2026-01-07T12:15:52Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179475 en Limited Access Taylor & Francis Cheema, A. R.; Ahmed, N.; Hassan, H.; Kemal, M. A. 2025. Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan. International Planning Studies, 1-18. (Online first). https://doi.org/10.1080/13563475.2025.2600595
spellingShingle sustainable development goals
higher education
educational institutions
universities
policies
governance
Cheema, Abdur Rehman
Ahmed, N.
Hassan, H.
Kemal, M. A.
Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan
title Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan
title_full Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan
title_fullStr Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan
title_short Bridging global goals with local realities: university engagement with the SDGs in Pakistan
title_sort bridging global goals with local realities university engagement with the sdgs in pakistan
topic sustainable development goals
higher education
educational institutions
universities
policies
governance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179475
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