The need for the SDG-iLevel project stems from the lack of an existing comprehensive and easy-to-use framework for connecting the roles and functions of teachers, researchers, administrators and managers in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with specific contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In recent years, sustainable development has become a prominent theme in higher education. However, HEI contributions to the SDGs are predominantly seen at the level of institutions, units, programmes, or projects. Individual contributions often go unnoticed and unappreciated. This prevents HEIs and staff from realizing their full potential to promote sustainable development and create improvements in higher education and society at large.
Unlocking potential
SDG-iLevel closes this gap by unlocking this potential. In addition, recognizing and celebrating individual SDG contributions helps higher education staff to better understand and leverage their position in relation to the SDGs, increasing their commitment to sustainable development, enhancing mindfulness and a sense of purpose, improving mental well-being and overall job satisfaction, and fostering teamwork based on shared values and goals. While the primary focus of the project is on individual contributions to the SDGs, many of these contributions occur through collaborations involving groups, academic units, and entire organisations. This demands that individual SDG contributions should be analyzed as complementing and strengthening the collective effort to achieve the SDGs.
The i(ndividual)-Level
The SDG-iLevel acronym highlights the link to the SDGs and the importance of leveraging i(ndividual)- Level contributions to them. The project will create approaches, methods and tools aimed at uncovering, harnessing and strengthening the individual contributions of higher education staff to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) in order to improve their mental well-being, job satisfaction, productivity and teamwork and promote further SDG contributions.