Strengthening SDG Awareness Through Academic Leadership Engagement

• Tammy C. Bow
• 9th February 2026

Strengthening SDG Awareness Through Academic Leadership Engagement

East Bridge University (EBU) recently hosted an internal academic webinar dedicated to strengthening institutional engagement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Designed for academic and professional staff of EBU, the session provided a platform that enabled a meaningful discussion on integrating sustainable practices into academic programmes, learner support systems, and institutional services.

The webinar was led by senior academic leadership - Maurice Dimmock, Chairman of the Board of Academics, and Karl S Meneghella, Associate Dean of Academics. Centred around practical alignment with SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), the session threw light upon expanding access to education and essential support services for learners from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Academic Leadership and Aligning Quality Education with Social Equity

Both Dr Maurice and Dr Karl helped frame the SDGs as a shared academic responsibility, closely linked to curriculum design, learner engagement, and institutional culture.

Through guided discussion, the webinar highlighted the influential role academic leaders play in translating global sustainability goals into institutional priorities. By encouraging reflection across teams, the session reinforced the idea that leadership engagement is essential to ensuring that SDG awareness is consistent, practical, and embedded across all levels of university operations.

A central focus of the webinar was the close relationship between quality education and poverty reduction. Discussions explored how SDG 4 and SDG 1 intersect within higher education, particularly in institutions serving international and socio-economically diverse learner populations.

Participants examined how academic programmes and learner support systems can be designed to:

• Improve access to education for underrepresented and disadvantaged learners
• Strengthen academic and pastoral support structures
• Ensure learning pathways remain inclusive and achievable
• Recognise education as a key driver of long-term social and economic mobility

By framing educational quality alongside equity and access, the webinar reinforced the role of universities as contributors to broader social development outcomes.

Building Shared Awareness Across the Institution

The webinar also served as an opportunity to strengthen shared understanding across academic and professional teams. Leadership-led engagement of this kind plays a key role in ensuring that sustainability and inclusion are understood consistently across departments.

By fostering open discussion, the session supported:

• Greater alignment between academic vision and institutional services
• Increased staff awareness of how their roles contribute to SDG outcomes
• A more cohesive, learner-centred institutional culture

Such internal engagement helps embed SDG awareness at multiple levels of the organisation, supporting long-term consistency and impact.

Conclusion: Sustaining Momentum Through Leadership Dialogue

The internal SDG-focused academic webinar at East Bridge University highlights the importance of leadership engagement in keeping sustainability active within higher education institutions. By creating structured opportunities for discussion and alignment, the university continues to strengthen the connection between quality education, social responsibility, and global development goals.

As higher education institutions respond to evolving social and economic challenges, initiatives of this nature underline the value of leadership-led dialogue in shaping inclusive, future-focused academic environments. When educational leaders engage meaningfully with the SDGs, awareness moves beyond aspiration and becomes embedded in institutional practice, benefiting learners, institutions, and the wider society they serve.