New opportunities on the horizon – IUS joined a prestigous SDNS Network
The great news spread out in the academic community of the International University of Sarajevo (IUS) at the end of June 2020.
IUS has officially become a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
The SDSN network was established in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, and aims to mobilize global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) and the Paris Climate Agreement (2015).
IUS management said that this is a huge success for IUS, as it opens for diverse and numerous opportunities for cooperation with other universities around the world and institutions of similar orientation, such as funding opportunities, projects, joint research, expertise exchange through seminars, etc, all with the aim of deepening and expanding activities related to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Development Goals - SDG).
The SDSN Network works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financial institutions, the private sector and civil society. Some of the SDSN members are prestigious universities and research institutions from around the world, such as: Yale University from the USA, American University of Beirut from Lebanon, Science Po from France, Politecnico di Milano from Italy, and reputable Turkish universities such as Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Technical University and Middle East Technical University.
"Being a member of such a prestigious world network is an exceptional honor for us," said Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yıldırım, IUS Rector. We are glad that IUS has once again proved that it is one of the leading and innovation-oriented universities in the region, in terms of its commitment to the SDG goals. We are intending to take a proactive role through our membership in the SDNS. IUS is expecting to obtain practical experiences and learn best practices from other universities in achieving SDG. Also, IUS is keen to participate in the Network’s activities in order to promote the Agenda 2030 on both regional Western Balkan and global level and use the joint university potential to the betterment of the society," said Rector Yıldırım.
SDSN membership is just one in a series of activities that IUS has recently, through its Quality Assurance Office (QAO), accomplished in the field of implementing SDG objectives. Membership was preceded by an extensive application prepared and coordinated by the QAO team.
"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires taking active role and cooperation of wide range of social players. In such a setting universities should be recognized as “role models” by truly promoting SDGs. IUS joined SDSN to exchange experiences and know - how with other HEIs in their joint effort to achieve the goals of the Agenda 2030,” said QAO Manager Ms. Edina Hadžiahmetović.
Also, what is certain is that the SDSN network may also benefit from IUS experience in actions taken so far to achieve the SDGs. The areas in which IUS has already achieved results are as follows: gender equality, quality education, climate projects, curriculum shape to include courses such as Critical Thinking and Law and Ethics, inter-cultural understanding and cooperation, internationalization, psychological support and counseling at campus, data gathering, and research potential, appreciation of Art and Architecture. Also, IUS is ready to share its experiences activities in bioethics promotion, since the Unit of UNESCO Chair in Bioethics in BiH is established at the IUS in 2015.
