The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were announced in 2015 toward a 2030 achievement agenda. The 17 Goals were ratified by UN Member States and member states have been pursuing the targets and indicators for each goal for the past five years. While all Member States have agreed to fund and drive initiatives to help achieve the goals, information and knowledge about the goals, particularly as they may relate to post-secondary education and research programs, is not widespread. Certainly in Canada, where I live and work, only a few universities and colleges across the country transparently state knowledge about, and a focus on the Goals as part of their programs. Most often in Canada, the SDGs are considered in the context of Climate Change and Sustainability programs. My focus on the SDGs and Open Source is as an educator and post-secondary administrator dedicated to supporting faculty members and learners. I encourage educators and learners in any discipline, to choose real world problems as the focus for their research, study, and projects. The Goals are intentionally broad, which provides enormous potential for learner choice and creativity related to applying theory to practice. Citing a variety of international education consortia focused on the SDGs, the purpose of this presentation will be to build on participant knowledge of the SDGs and invite ideas for how open source education can focus on the SDGS, including targets and indicators for interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
In this Open Source Education session, the presenter will describe the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of open source, global, post-secondary education programs. The potential for post-secondary faculty members and learners to contribute to global problem-solving as part of interdisciplinary and international collaborations is nearly unlimited when using the intentionally broad categories of No Hunger, No Poverty, and Good Health and Well-Being (as three planet-wide examples). Educators, students, and programs focused on open source programming and platforms can make significant interdisciplinary contributions to the successful achievement of these goals in their nations and across the world. The purpose of this session is to introduce the SDGs, gather participant ideas, and provide possibilities for action.
About Dr. Jenni Hayman
Dr. Jenni Hayman is currently the Chair, Teaching and Learning at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario. Her work there involves the support of learners, staff, and administrators at the college related to high quality, technology-enhanced teaching and learning. Dr. Hayman has a Masters of Education in Distance Education from Athabasca University as well as a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University. She applies her practical skills in open education design and research to the creation and use of open educational resources through open source technology solutions. Dr. Hayman is also an Associate Faculty Member at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbian where she teaches online as part of the Masters of Arts in Learning and Technology (MALAT) program. @jennihayman on Twitter and LinkedIn