SDG - 17
Education for SDGs in the Wider Community: Dedicated Outreach Activities
Daffodil International University (DIU) maintains an explicit and substantial commitment to extending SDG-focused education and capacity building beyond its student body. The university strategically leverages its expertise in technology, media, and public health to provide dedicated outreach activities, targeting diverse external stakeholders such as working journalists, local residents, and external educators.
1. Training External Professionals and Educators for Sustainable Practices
DIU actively uses its specialized knowledge centers—particularly the Department of Journalism, Media and Communication (JMC) and the Human Resource Development Institute (HRDI)—to upgrade the skills of external professionals, embedding the principles of sustainability and good governance into their daily operations.
● UNDP and DIU launch one-minute video campaign to drive SDG awareness: UNDP Bangladesh has partnered with the Department of Journalism, Media, and Communication (JMC) at Daffodil International University (DIU) for a “One-minute Video Campaign” through the Community Digital Storytelling Festival (CDSTF). The campaign encouraged youth to create innovative content (SDGs-data) on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This collaboration between UNDP and JMC aims to showcase the impact of digital storytelling in driving positive change. By involving youth, the campaign underscores how their unique voices can play a key role in advancing global efforts toward sustainable development.
● Upskilling Local Journalists and Media Professionals (SDG 4, 8, 9, 16):
o The Department of JMC organized a two-day intensive training workshop on digital journalism for the journalists of the Chandpur Press Club. This initiative directly promotes lifelong learning and the acquisition of new, industry-relevant skills necessary for effective communication in the digital era. By empowering local media houses with these tools, DIU helps secure the future of journalism (SDG 8) and enhances the quality of information dissemination.
o Furthering its commitment to truth and accountability, the JMC department collaborated with key partners on workshops like Data Journalism (with TIB) and Promoting Fact Checking to Counter Misinformation. These crucial programs equip working journalists and media professionals with the analytical and ethical skills required for transparency, accuracy, and data-driven storytelling, thereby reinforcing SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) within the wider community's media environment.
● Empowering External Educators (SDG 4, 17):
o DIU’s Human Resource Development Institute (HRDI) delivered a transformative training session specifically for the teachers of Good Neighbors Bangladesh. This focused training covered effective classroom management and sustainable living practices, directly helping an external educational organization integrate principles of sustainability and quality into their pedagogy, thereby multiplying DIU's impact on educational delivery outside its own walls.
2. High-Impact Public Health and Environmental Outreach
The university strategically partners with government and non-profit organizations to deliver essential, data-driven, and community-focused education and services, often establishing long-term interventions targeting vulnerable local populations.
● Hepatitis Control and Model Community Development (SDG 3, 11):
o The Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh, organized an integrated outreach effort that included a Hepatitis Awareness Rally and a free screening program. This activity directly educates local residents on disease transmission, preventative care, and the critical importance of early detection, bolstering SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
o Crucially, this partnership established the Public Health Study Site in Bhabanipur, Savar. This site is designed as a long-term community hub for health research, education, and outreach, working actively toward creating a hepatitis-free, smoke-free, and plastic-free community. This example illustrates a sustained educational outreach model aimed at immediate local impact and serving as a prototype for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) best practices.
● Evidence-Based Public Health Response (SDG 3):
o In a rapid-response format, a special public discussion was organized on “Dengue Prevention and Control,” featuring experts from DIU and Jahangirnagar University. This collaborative effort ensured that the general public received timely, expert-validated information on necessary measures and public awareness strategies to prevent the spread of dengue, functioning as critical, targeted community health education to protect public safety.
3. Fostering Community Service and Social Inclusivity
DIU uses institutional resources and events to promote a culture of social responsibility and inclusiveness, deliberately involving non-academic staff and vulnerable community segments in its mission.
● Promoting Inclusion and Social Service (SDG 3, 4, 10, 16):
o The partnership between the Department of Public Health and the Daffodil Institute of Social Science (DISS), formalized through an MoU, represents a deep commitment to social equity. It ensures the physical and mental well-being of the DISS children through regular healthcare services and health education, directly benefiting a vulnerable group and supporting SDG 3 and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
o DIU modeled its institutional values by celebrating the International Day of Art of Giving 2025 under the theme "NeighbourGood." The event included honoring the support staff of DISS and sharing joyful moments with the DISS children. This initiative models practical social responsibility and gratitude, extending the university's caring ethos to the community's essential, non-academic workforce.
These comprehensive and dedicated outreach programs demonstrate DIU's tangible commitment to extending SDG-focused education and capacity building to a diverse range of external stakeholders, solidifying its role as an engaged community partner.