Towards the Attainment of SDGs: The Contribution of Higher Education Institutions in Zimbabwe
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Date
2024
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International Journal of Social Science Research and Review
Abstract
The contribution of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Zimbabwe to the attainment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been debatable. Through a critical review of the literature, this paper sought to assess how HEI in Zimbabwe contribute to the attainment of the SDGs, ascertain the challenges affecting this contribution, and make recommendations on how the contribution of these institutions could be strengthened. The review established that HEIs play a fundamental role in contributing towards the attainment of the SDGs in Zimbabwe. The institutions contribute through Education 5.0 which is premised on the five pillars of teaching, research, community engagement, innovation, and industrialization. For example, concerning teaching, HEIs contribute to the SDGs through knowledge creation, skills sharing, and empowerment of students and communities that helps in career development, job creation, entrepreneurial development, innovation, and economic growth. Regarding research, HEIs contribute by identifying research gaps and problems relating to sustainable development, researching these, and making recommendations that can inform policy development and practice concerning the achievement of the SDGs. Even though there are notable contributions informed by the five pillars, there are also several challenges hindering the effective contribution of HEIs to the attainment of the SDGs These include limited resources, bureaucratic constraints, and a lack of coordination among HEIs and other stakeholders. The paper calls for a concerted effort from HEIs themselves, and from the government and other stakeholders to enhance the contribution of HEIs to the attainment of SDGs and building a more sustainable and prosperous future for Zimbabwe.
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Mpofu, F.Y., Mpofu, A., Mantula, F. and Shava, G.N., 2024. Towards the attainment of SDGs: The contribution of higher education institutions in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 7(1), pp.474-493.