The background

In 2015, the United Nations launched the UN Sustainable Development Goals, also referred to as the SDGs. The SDGs comprise of 17 development goals creating a common language for reacting to the global challenges and setting the targets for global development until 2030.

Education

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has played a significant role in getting the UN SDGs into teaching and curriculum in Danish highschools. Besides implementing the 17 SDGs as a highlighted learning outcome, together with UNDP, Globale Gymnasier and others, the Ministry of Education has developed a teaching platform with teaching materials on the SDGS for highschool teachers.

The Danish universities are not subject to implementing the SDGs as prescribed by the Danish Ministry of Education, and it is therefore up to the individual university whether to implement the SDGs in teaching, research and more.

However, the interest in universities' position on sustainability is high among students, staff, external partners and Danish universities. CBS, DTU and Copenhagen University are continually increasing their focus and engagement in the SDGs.

The Task Force

The initiators of the CBS SDG Task Force felt the need to coordinate and scale up existing and new initiatives aiming to implement the SDGs and sustainability on a broader scale at CBS. The Task Force aims to address sustainability related issues and implement concrete solutions to make CBS a more sustainable campus and educational institution. For the time being, the Task Force represents 7 different departments: Department of Accounting; Department of Strategy and Innovation; Department of Management, Society and Communication; Department of Organization, Department of Management Politics and Philosophy, Campus Estate, CBS Business as well as Student & Innovation House and oikos.

The taskforce's aim is to include all departments of CBS.