Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has joined a network of universities across the world committed to sustainable, global development.
The college joins partners in countries as diverse as Chile, China, New Zealand, Rwanda, Sweden and the USA in the Global Challenges University Alliance (GCUA 2030).
The alliance aims to encourage active and strategic collaboration across different geographic levels and disciplines, in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN’s ‘Agenda 2030’ blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
Universities and higher education institutes have a specific role to play in relation to the fourth Sustainable Development Goal: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning for all.
However, by contributing knowledge and innovation, the alliance hopes they can contribute to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
A key objective of GCUA 2030 is to equip the next generation of researchers, teachers and academic leaders with knowledge, tools and networks that will strengthen their capacity to work across disciplines and to conduct translational research.
Prof. Jamie Newbold, academic director at SRUC, said: “We are delighted to have been invited to become a member of GCUA 2030, where we will join colleagues from a dozen international universities as partners in research and education, with a focus on addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“This includes joint activities and the sharing of course materials and training – with a particular focus on PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.”
Ylva Hillbur, pro-vice-chancellor for International relations at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) – which leads the network, added: “We look forward to welcoming PhD students and postdocs as participants in training activities, and to developing new activities in collaboration with SRUC.”
