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Ph.D. & Master of Sciences on the Sustainable Development Goals
Description/achievement of initiative

Following the vision of Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences (Sana’a University), as well as, of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Ph.D. & Master of Science in Sustainable Development Goals (PMSDG) proposes a new holistic and integrated approach to sustainable development for people, planet and prosperity. The PMSDG addresses the set of world-scale interrelated environmental and social challenges towards making Earth a safer, healthier and wealthier place for future generations & us.

Implementation methodologies

Originally proposed in the fall of 2015, the PMSDG has made substantial progress to date. That can be synthesized in the following steps: 1. Review and updating the new undergraduate program; 2. Defining the Ph.D. & Master program within the Sustainability framework of Sana’a University; 3. Defining the PMSDG structure and its Executive Program design; 4. Defining the PMSDG internal governance and coordination structure (Scientific Director, Ph.D. Coordinator, Master Coordinator, Strategic Advisory Board, Steering Committee) and drafting of the team project; 5. Defining the target of international students, from both developed and developing countries, and of the admission requirements; 6. Approval of the PMSDG project by the competent internal bodies of Sana’a University; 7. Defining the communication strategy and starting promotion activities: PhDMasterWebsite, SUWebsite, Workshops and seminars, Social networks, Creation of a space ‘SD Café dedicated to discuss the achievement of data deliverables related to SDGs; 8. Defining the budget plan, including fees; 9. Identifying a world-scale partnership and starting the activities for PMSDG implementation: World Bank Group Connect, Climate, Golden Network for Sustainability, UNESCO, UNEP, UNESCO, GIZ, JICA, Planetearth Forum, Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yemen’s Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research; 10. Defining the main sponsors, and start of funding by some of them.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

The main PMSDG benefits will be: 1. High education on Sustainable Development Goals; 2. Contribution to shape and disseminate a new, innovative, and integrated culture to address the joint environmental, technological and social challenges to sustainable development; 3. Knowledge and Technology Transfer to the following ends: - People: end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions; - Planet: protect the planet from degradation and to promote the sustainable management of natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change in the perspective to support the needs of the present and future generations; - Prosperity: ensure good level of prosperity at all human beings, and economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature; - Peace: strengthen peace around the world and guarantee peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence; - Partnership: implement the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity.

Coordination mechanisms/governance structure

In the future we aim to accomplish the following steps towards a full implementation of the PMSDG: 1. Completing promotion activities; 2. Selection of students; 3. Hiring faculty staff; 4. Finalizing agreements with Partners; 5. Completing the fund raising; 6. Full implementation of the web portal and the SD Cafè; 7. Involving new Stakeholders within the Sustainability framework of Sana’a University; 8. Developing joint Ph.D. & Master activities with other universities; 9. Dissemination activities.The PMSDG is a problem-solving-oriented, creative, innovative, learning by doing Ph.D. & Master aimed to graduate students from around the world, in the acquisition of knowledge and competencies on managing sustainable development in a dynamic milieu.

Partner(s)

World Bank Group Connect, Climate, Golden Network for Sustainability, UNESCO, UNEP, UNESCO, GIZ, JICA, Planetearth Forum, Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yemen’s Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research.
Progress reports
Goal 4
4.1 - By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes
4.2 - By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education
4.3 - By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.4 - By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.5 - By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations
4.6 - By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy
4.7 - By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
4.a - Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all
4.b - By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries
4.c - By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States
February 2017
Promotion of the Ph.D. & Master program, and Starting of the Ph.D. & Master courses in September 2017
June 2016
International workshop for the evaluation and approval of undergraduate program, and highlight the PMSDG project
March 2017
Final event with post-graduates certification and dissemination of results to stakeholders
November 2017
Designing of the official Ph.D. & Master program and definition of the consortium agreement among partners and the related administrative rules
Staff / Technical expertise
150
Financing (in USD)
250,000 USD
In-kind contribution
50000

Basic information
Time-frame: 06/2016 - 09/2017
Website
Partners
World Bank Group Connect, Climate, Golden Network for Sustainability, UNESCO, UNEP, UNESCO, GIZ, JICA, Planetearth Forum, Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yemen’s Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research.
Countries
Contact information
Khalid A. Al-Thour, Professor of Earth Sciences & Environment, sa.iype@gmail.com; althour2013@gmail.com
United Nations