SDG - 17
International Collaboration on Data Gathering for SDGs
Daffodil International University (DIU) actively engages in international collaborations specifically aimed at defining, gathering, and measuring data crucial for monitoring and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. This commitment goes beyond merely reporting internal metrics; it involves contributing to and participating in global forums dedicated to SDG impact measurement and data standardization across multiple countries.
1. Direct Involvement in Global SDG Impact Measurement
DIU faculty members are directly participating in international dialogues focused on establishing methodologies for SDG impact measurement and management.
● 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.
● SDG Impact Measurement and Management Forums: Dr. Mahfuza Parveen from the Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management participated in the high-level "SDG Impact Week-2024" in Taiwan. This event convened academics and researchers from 10 countries with the explicit mandate to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through Impact Measurement and Management. By engaging in such a forum, DIU contributes to the global discussion on how to measure progress, ensures its own institutional monitoring aligns with international best practices, and influences the methodological coherence of data collection across participating nations. This is a clear demonstration of participation in international efforts to define data standards for the SDGs.
2. Consortiums for Quality Data Standardization (SDG 4, 16)
DIU participates in long-term, multi-country consortium projects that necessitate the collaboration, gathering, and standardization of institutional data related to quality, governance, and education.
● Erasmus+ SQUARES Project: DIU hosted the Full Consortium Meeting 2025 for the Erasmus+ SQUARES Project, which involves delegates from seven countries. The core goal of this project is to address skill gaps by enhancing quality management systems (QMS) and integrating transversal skills in higher education. Implementing and validating a multi-country QMS requires intense international collaboration on:
o Metric Definition: Agreeing on common quantitative and qualitative measures for educational quality and transversal skills.
o Data Collection Protocol: Standardizing how performance data is collected across different national higher education systems.
o Monitoring: Using the gathered data to continuously benchmark and improve quality systems, which directly correlates to measuring the efficacy of SDG 4 (Quality Education) interventions. This ongoing project represents a sustained international collaboration focused on data-driven quality enhancement.
3. Contribution to Foundational Global Research Data
DIU academics contribute their expertise in national-level data collection and research to major international scientific platforms that rely on verifiable data for global SDG monitoring, particularly in the health and population sectors.
● International Population Data Research: Professor Dr. Md. Shahjahan from the Department of Public Health attended the prestigious 30th IUSSP International Population Conference (IPC 2025) in Brisbane, Australia. Population data and demographics form the analytical foundation for measuring progress on numerous SDGs, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 1 (No Poverty). By actively participating in this global research seminar, DIU faculty are directly inputting national context and contributing to discussions on the global methodologies used for gathering, analyzing, and reporting critical population data.
● Capacity Building for Data-Intensive Research: The Department of Public Health also hosted inspiring sessions on "Career Development and Strategies for Successfully Securing Research Grants" with a speaker from the Duke University School of Medicine, USA. While primarily educational, these events foster the institutional capacity among faculty and students to undertake rigorous, externally funded research, which is the primary mechanism for generating high-quality, verifiable data used in both national and international SDG monitoring and reporting.
Summary of International Data Collaboration
DIU’s engagement in data collaboration is demonstrated through three strategic layers: contributing to the theoretical definition of SDG metrics (Impact Week), participating in multi-country QMS consortia (SQUARES Project) for practical data standardization, and feeding into global scientific discussions on foundational population and health data (IUSSP Conference). This comprehensive involvement solidifies DIU’s role as an active international partner in the technical domain of SDG measurement.