As governments and UN leaders gathered in New York for the 2025 High-Level Political Forum, universities and their partners convened the first Global Higher Education Symposium to reimagine the role of higher education in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and shaping the post-2030 agenda.
Organised by UN Academic Impact with partners including UNESCO, the International Association of Universities, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the symposium brought together scholars, students, policymakers, and private sector leaders. Participants debated how higher education can move from prestige-driven models to purpose-driven ones, defend democratic values, and align teaching, research, and outreach with urgent sustainability goals.
A zero draft consensus statement was produced, aiming to strengthen higher education’s case as a key ally in policymaking for sustainable development. With more than 260 million students worldwide, the sector’s collective knowledge and innovation hold immense potential to accelerate progress. The challenge now is ensuring that universities are recognised not as peripheral actors but as central partners in shaping a just and sustainable future.
