SDGs Reporting 2018-2019

Introduction

At the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, member states adopted a new global development agenda, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There are 17 development goals for sustainable development set out by the UN. At its heart are 17 Sustainable Development Goal.  These goals were launched as a global agenda for addressing the multiplicity of social and environmental challenges that face communities.

All Sustainable development goals  (SDGs) are  increasingly integrated at all levels in universities, including its overall strategy. Egypt has responded to the 17 SDGs by setting national plan: Egypt 2030  (http://sdsegypt2030.com/?lang=en). The third Pillar of this plan is on: Knowledge, Innovation and Scientific Research. which includes the following group of elements and components:

  • General environment: Represents the role of the State in the creation of an environment that encourages innovation, including motivators and constraints, the economic system, policies, legislation, and principles of governance.
  • Infrastructure: Play a fundamental role in supporting the cognitive and creative production by setting standards and laying regulatory foundations of innovation and scientific research, supporting business and innovation, protecting copyright, ensuring availability of information, financing and encouraging investment.
  • Education and scientific research: Includes all research organizations and institutions, technical education and vocational training institutions, higher education and scientific research institutions, and research centers.
  • Industry: Represents all industrial sectors including large, medium, and small scale companies’ activities relevant to research and development.
  • Intermediaries: Includes the institutions that link between industrial innovation, and research and development on the one hand, with academic and research institutions on the other hand.
  • Development needs: Represents the required demand for innovation, knowledge, and scientific research to fulfill economic and social needs.
I. Involvement of Pharos University strategic Plan with UN-SDGs, Egypt-2030 and the national strategy of the State Ministry of Higher Education and Research
II. Contribution of Pharos University to Achieving SDGs of Relevancy
SDG 1: No Poverty

SDG3: Good Health

Major progress has been made in improving the health of millions of people, increasing life expectancy, reducing maternal and child mortality and fighting against leading communicable diseases. Concerted efforts are required to achieve universal health coverage and sustainable financing for health, to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including mental health, and to tackle antimicrobial resistance and determinants of health such as air pollution and inadequate water and sanitation. Pharos University has records in this regard including aid convoys, different health initiatives, conferences and seminars, activities of Pharos university clinics, local national and international cooperation and international research publications. Below is a summary of Pharos University achievements in the health sector.


SDG5. Gender Equality

Sustainable Development Strategy (Egypt’s Vision 2030) entails a strategic vision, which is to provide a high quality education and training system for all, without discrimination. With this vision, students and trainees are provided with the necessary skills to help them think creatively and empower them technically and technologically; and contribute to the development of proud, creative, responsible and competitive citizens who accept diversity and differences, are proud of their country’s history, and are eager to build its future and can complete with regional and international entities. Pharos university believes in what came in the statements of the UN, that providing women and girls has equal access to education, health care, decent work. They fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large. Since the foundation of Pharos University, there has been an attention given to the gender equality of students. This is an annual report that provides data on the count of students, postgraduates, staff and assistant staff both full and part time (Part time staff is presented in terms of Full time equivalent (FTE)), as well as employees. These counts are used to monitor gender in Pharos University, and therefore, monitor the number of female each year, in order to keep pace with the international standards and to ensure that here is no gender disparity in women enrolment ratio at all levels. Internal Efficiency of student’s ratio at each level is carefully examined to indicate whether there is a significant disparity between male and female students. All the data presented in this report is supplied by managers of from different department and are analyzed interpreted and presented by the author of this report.


SDG6 : Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG11 : Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG13 : Climate Action

SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals

Sustainable development is integrated at all levels in universities, including their overall strategy. To a great extent, the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals depends on local regional and international cooperation and partnerships at all levels. It hinges on the ability of countries to work together. The strength of the Egypt 2030 Agenda from a Higher Education perspective sheds light on embedding certain values and practices of sustainability in the main curricula and infuse its concepts. Egypt 2030 Agenda has the chance to rethink the role of higher education institutions and goes a step further by making everyone responsible and calling for collective action. Pharos University, as the only private university in Alexandria has a multiple role to play in this; in education, research, environmental affairs and community development. Contributions of Pharos University to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a Higher Education Institute present an impactful combination of researches from authors with collaboration from both developing and developed countries, conferences, and activities that open opportunities and innovations in various disciplines.


Appendix 1