17.4.1 – Does your university as a body have a commitment to meaningful education around the SDGs across the university, that is relevant and applicable to all students?

SDG 17.4.1: Commitment to Meaningful Education Around the SDGs Across the University

The University of El Oued demonstrates a powerful and institutionally validated commitment to embedding sustainability education across its entire academic framework, ensuring that all students are equipped with the knowledge and competencies necessary to drive sustainable development. This commitment is formally recognized and continually reinforced by high-level strategic planning.

Institutional Validation of Commitment

This institutional commitment was definitively affirmed by the University’s achievement of first place nationally in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Ranking on December 18, 2024. Celebrating this national leadership position, the University Director, Professor Omar Ferhati, specifically outlined the strategy for maintaining excellence: by continuing to integrate sustainability topics into educational curricula and developing eco-friendly infrastructure. This high-level mandate guarantees that the provision of sustainability education is not confined to specialized departments but is a university-wide requirement applicable to all students.

Curricular Integration and Excellence in Global Education

Building upon its foundation, the University has significantly strengthened the multidimensional integration of SDGs into its curriculum, focusing on practical implementation and international relevance:

National Leadership in Joint International Master’s Programs: Under the decision of the Minister of Higher Education, the University of El Oued ranked first nationally to ensure training for a Joint International Master’s degree for the 2024/2025 academic year. This program is established through a twinning agreement signed with the Universities of Gafsa and Gabès (Tunisia) in May 2023, focusing on the fields of Technology, Mathematics, and Computer Science.

 

 

  • Relevance to SDG Education: Achieving the top national rank in these programs demonstrates that the University is prioritizing and excelling in advanced, globally-focused, collaborative education. Joint International Master’s programs inherently require integrating global challenges (like those in the SDGs) into advanced coursework and research, which ensures the education provided is relevant and applicable to global sustainable development challenges for a significant portion of its student body.

Multidimensional Curricular Progress: The University continues to integrate SDGs into its diverse faculties:

  • Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (SDG 7): Programs offered by the Faculty of Technology and the Renewable Energy Research Unit continue to emphasize clean energy solutions and sustainable technologies, directly addressing national energy transition goals.
  • Environmental Studies and Biodiversity (SDG 13 & 15): Courses under the Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences prioritize climate action, biodiversity conservation, and ecological sustainability, directly preparing students to manage the specific environmental challenges of the desert region.
  • Social Development and Well-being (SDG 3 & 10): Initiatives through the Faculty of Social Sciences maintain a strong focus on mental health awareness, community engagement, and training on equitable practices.
  • Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security (SDG 2): Programs in sustainable farming and food security, hosted by the Department of Agricultural Sciences, emphasize localized, practical solutions to combat hunger and enhance regional food system resilience.

Through this validated and mandated approach, the University of El Oued ensures continuous improvement in educational quality, guaranteeing that students graduate not only with disciplinary competence but with a fundamental commitment and capacity to contribute to sustainable development locally, nationally, and globally.