Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Created in September 2019
Revised in October 2021

Rationale

According to the United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by its member states to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The proper integration of policy interventions in all 17 areas of SDGs will lead to take action in one area will affect outcomes in others and eventually development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. As a higher education institute, Daffodil International University (DIU) is committed to respond to this universal call for SDGs and take actions to comply with the United Nation’s endeavor and to support the Government of Bangladesh for achievement of desired outcomes. In this regard DIU is working closely with the Government, private sector, civil society and citizens jointly for implementation of SDGs and to make sure that the coordinated effort can create a better and sustainable planet for the future generations.

Higher Education Institutions have a pivotal role to play in educating the people regarding the targets of sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations and facilitate achieving the national SDG targets of any country. Education and research have been mentioned in a number of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Daffodil International University (DIU) strives to formulate a policy on SDGs to take initiatives to adopt sustainable practices in its all development activities as part of its societal and environmental responsiveness. SDGs have open up a new horizon for DIU to explore its capability, readiness and initiatives towards ensuring sustainable development aligning with the national SDGs targets as well as contribution to the global sustainable development initiatives.

Objectives

• Building awareness among university stakeholders, government and non-government counterparts regarding sustainable development goals and involve them for implementation of SDGs.
• Identify challenges, opportunities, targets and gaps for ensuring the true achievement of the SDGs.
• Undertake various research projects and conduct research by the relevant departments and sections of DIU for innovations and solving projects with regard to achievement of SDGs.
• Encourage researchers to collaborate with foreign university faculty members for research and publications.
• Conduct events, demonstrations, activities in collaboration with the government and NGOs for implementation of SDGs.
• Develop a sustainable development culture at the university as well as in the country for ensuring a sustainable living environment for future generations.

Policy

1. There will be an approved central SDGs committee in DIU to identify the current status of knowledge on targets of SDGs.
2. The approved central SDGs committee will form separate subcommittees in each academic department to look after all the relevant SDGs aligning with the central targets and initiatives of DIU. The following matrix will be helpful for playing role by each academic departments and division of the university.
3. Responsibilities of the departments for implementation of corresponding SDGs are indicated in the following table.

   SDGs and assigned Departments	Activities
   SDG 1 : End poverty in all its forms everywhere   Department of Entrepreneurship and Department of Student Affairs	Create entrepreneur, encourage entrepreneurship , conducting research Organize awareness building programs, dissemination of innovations and good practices Collaboration with relevant government and NGOs
   SDG 2 : End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Department of Nutrition & Food Engineering	Undertake projects, conduct collaborative research, dissemination of good practices among the citizens, involve neighboring communities and stakeholders Provide support to communities involving students and teachers for motivation and changing their food habit.
   SDG 3 : Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Department of Public Health	Conduct research and publish papers Work closely with the local communities of all ages to ensure their healthy lives Provide counseling and guidance in a regular manner Update statistics of the services given to the citizen and the number got benefits
   SDG 4 : Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Institutional Quality Assurance Cell IQAC)	Undertake analyses of the four targets (sub-categories) of SDG 4 and define activities relevant to all the four categories Make a five-year plan for implementation of the activities relevant to higher education. Share the plan with all the departments for implementation. Involve all the departments and faculty members to undertake the tasks Promote use of communication technologies at all levels for quality education Review progress on a regular basis and identify improvements and weaknesses for further development Take initiatives to support other three agenda of Quality Education (SDG4)
   SDG 5 : Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Department of Development Studies (DS) Directorate of Students’ Affairs Disciplinary Committee	Monitor and promote implement the existing policy of the university Ensure rights and facilities for women and girls working and studying in the university Disseminate the results and impact to other organizations/ institutions for their encouragement and implementation of the issues related to SGD5
   SDG 6 : Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Department of Environmental Science & Disaster Management (ESDM) Department of Civil Engineering (CE) Planning & Development Division	Monitor the water and sanitation facilities available to the stakeholders within the campus and neighboring communities Highlight the real picture of the neighboring citizens to the government and NGOs who are responsible for them Ensure the facilities within the university campuses. Make proposals for budget every year to fulfil demand of the users
   SDG 7 : Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE) Department of Architecture Planning & Development Division	Undertake new projects and promote implementation of the ongoing projects on sustainable and modern energy for all Involve government and NGOs for implementation of the projects Collaborate with the international partner universities for implementation of the joint projects and funding Conduct research involving the students and the teachers
   SDG 8 : Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Department of Business Administration (BA) Department of Real Estate (RE) Department of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IE)	Conduct empirical research to discern achievement of SDG 8 in the context of Bangladesh Review best practices of the other successful countries and take initiatives for implementation with collaboration of the relevant Ministry/Division of the Government
   SDG 9 : Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Planning & Development Department of Architecture Division of Research	Conduct research and create innovative design for Infrastructural development in the context of Bangladesh Work closely with the government for promoting targets of the governments related to SDG9
   SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Department of Students’ Affairs Disciplinary Committee	Monitor inequality issues in within the university Promote advocacy to remove barriers if any with the university Disseminate best practices and examples to the other institutions, industries, office environments Collaborate with the government to ensure achievement at all sectors Conduct demonstrations for awareness building throughout the country involving NGOs who are working implementation for SDG10
   SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Development Studies Department Department of Architecture Planning & Development	Make a plan to demonstrate history and trend of human settlement, and innovations Do research to identify future realist and sustainable settlement approach in the context of Bangladesh
   SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Planning & Development Department of Civil Engineering Department of Textile Engineering	The assigned Departments will identify the research gaps in the proposed area Undertake research projects in collaboration with the relevant government institutions and international partner universities
   SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Department of Environmental Science & Disaster Management Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Take initiatives for implementations of the current research projects Conduct research and disseminate knowledge to all stakeholders including the government Conduct awareness building program on a regular basis Collaborate with the government Ministries and departments to promote implementation of SDG13
   SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development Department of Environmental Science & Disaster Management (ESDM	Undertake research in collaboration with the partner universities at home and abroad Publish papers in Journals and conferences to disseminate knowledge
   SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss Department of Environmental Science & Disaster Management (ESDM) Planning & Development	Undertake research in collaboration with the partner universities at home and abroad Publish papers in Journals and conferences to disseminate knowledge
   SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels Department of Development Studies Department of Law Department of Journalism & Mass Communication	Make a plan to design several activities and conduct awareness buildings programs involving the teachers and the students Conduct survey to figure out adverse practices of the society and demands of the citizens Take help from different electronic and print medias to highlight the relevant issues Work closely with the government departments for bringing a changes in the society a s a whole
   SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Department of Development Studies Division of Research International Affairs Division of Students’ Affairs	As a higher education institution develop several models of achievements of SDGs in different country contexts Collaborate with the Ministry of Planning and other relevant ministries to collect documents/ evidence to understand up to date achievement of SDGs (1-17) Establish networking with the government and NGOs for organizing joint programs and provide funding for implementations of projects, initiatives, events, demonstrations etc. throughout the countries Conduct research on achievement of sustainable development goals Make a yearly report on achievement of sustainable development goals in the content of Bangladesh and contribution from Daffodil International University

4. Each subcommittee will undertake necessary initiatives within their SDG(s) horizon to comply the central targets of DIU related with SDGs. The initiatives may include (but not limited to):
   1. Formulating other relevant policies (if required)
   2. Organizing events/cross sectoral dialogues with the Government agencies/NGOs/other organizations
   3. Conducting survey(s) and research on specific SDGs targets for finding an easy way for achievement of the targets
   4. Partnering, collaborating and cooperating with the initiatives of the Government and NGOs with a view to implement the specific targets of relevant SDG(s)
   5. Involving students and local community in the SDG related initiatives
   6. Creating awareness among students, teachers, guardians, non-academic staff, local community etc. regarding the SDGs and their positive impact on the world.
   7. Participating in relevant events, organized by others, both at home and abroad.
   8. Developing necessary recommendations and comments which are significant for ensuring implementation of targets of SDGs and share the same (through DIU central SDGs committee) with the Government for inclusion in their policy initiatives.
5. Each subcommittee will keep record of each initiative and preserve those for future requirement
6. Each subcommittee will prepare an annual report incorporating all of its initiatives during that particular year and submit the report to the Convener of the central SDGs committee as per their given timeline.
7. The Central SDGs committee will guide and monitor the activities and initiatives of all subcommittees through holding at least two meetings per year to ensure that they are working in the right track.
8. Each subcommittee will hold at least three meetings for planning and implementation of their targets, initiatives and activities.

All the subcommittees and the central SDG committee will be reportable to the Vice Chancellor of the university.