OBREAL Global, together with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the African Association of Universities (AAU) and the Latin American and Caribbean Higher Education Space (ENLACES), successfully organised a remarkable event, the “Cocktail-Debate on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, in collaboration with prestigious partners. Supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE), the African Union, the EU-LAC Foundation, the University of Barcelona, the HAQAA initiative and the Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN), the event demonstrated the power of interregional cooperation in promoting sustainable development.
The thought-provoking gathering, entitled ‘Higher Education and the SDGs: interregional perspectives’, featured an esteemed panel of international experts representing different regions of the world. The distinguished members included Dr. Michael Harms (Deputy Secretary General, German Academic Exchange Service – DAAD), Prof. Olusola Oyewole (Secretary General, Association of African Universities – AAU), Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona (Executive Secretary, Inter-University Council for East Africa – IUCEA), Dr. Zakari Lire (Director for Quality Enhancement, African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education – CAMES), Dr Oscar Dominguez (Secretary General, Association of Colombian Universities – ASCUN), the ENLACES Executive Committee and Dr Myriam Moise (Secretary General, Universities Caribbean). Their insights and expertise contributed to a high-level, interregional discourse on the importance of the SDGs in shaping the future of higher education.
This enriching event, held in the spectacular Ferran Soldevila Gardens of the historic building of the University of Barcelona, brought together over 150 representatives from leading higher education institutions, organisations and governments. It served as a dynamic networking space, fostering synergies between different regions around the world. Notably, the event was strategically timed to precede the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education, which took place in the same week, further enhancing its worldwide impact.
During the meeting, organisations were invited to identify the SDGs most relevant to their respective regions and how universities could play a pivotal role in contributing to these goals. It is hoped that the engaging discussions and diverse perspectives shared during the event will catalyse collaborative efforts in pursuit of a sustainable future.
OBREAL Global and its partners have once again demonstrated their commitment to driving positive change by convening this insightful and impactful gathering. Through collective action and academic collaboration, together we are shaping a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.
