Sustainable Development Goals Awarness Campaign Workshop, Wolaita Sodo University, December 23/2024

Wolaita Sodo University (WSU) hosted a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Awareness Campaign under the Tandem F initiative. The workshop, titled “Integrating the SDGs into Teaching, Research, and University Governance Systems,” sought to build foundational knowledge of the SDGs and explore strategies for embedding them into the university’s core functions. The campaign aimed to achieve to establish a foundational understanding of SDGs, sharing global best practices, exploring effective integration strategies, and developing actionable plans to embed SDGs into WSU’s operations.
The workshop focused on four key topics:

1. Conceptualizing SDGs and Global Trends in University Contexts: An overview of the SDGs and their relevance to higher education.
2. Global Universities’ Trends in SDG Implementation: Best practices from leading universities globally.
3. Integrating SDGs into Key University Operations: Practical approaches to embedding SDGs into teaching, research, Community Service and Technology Transfer (CSTT), and governance.
4. Strategies for SDG Integration in Universities: Developing actionable plans to align university operations with the SDGs.
   The event commenced with a welcome speech by Ms. Adanech Teshome, F.A.I.T.H. Project Work Package Six (WP6) Coordinator presented an overview of the project’s goals and its significance for Ethiopian Universities of Applied Sciences.
   In addition, Dr. Guchie Gulie, the President of WSU, delivered the opening remarks and emphasized the importance of aligning WSU’s core operations with the SDGs to support its transition into a full-fledged Applied Sciences University. Dr. Guchie highlighted the workshop’s role in improving curricula, enhancing research quality, and refining governance systems to boost the university’s contributions to regional and national development.
   Dr. Demissie Dalelo, a Tandem F-SDGs expert, presented an overview of the project’s 18-month journey. He detailed achievements, including the development of toolboxes, validation workshops, pilot testing, and lessons learned. Dr. Demissie highlighted the workshop as a pivotal step in rolling out the initiative.
   The workshop featured interactive presentations, activity-based sessions, and group discussions, offering participants an opportunity to engage with the topics and develop strategies for SDG integration. Key university stakeholders participated, including top management, directors, deans, associate deans, senior staff, and experts from the F.A.I.T.H. project.
   The closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Zewudineh Tomas, Vice President for Research and Community Engagement. He stressed the need for WSU to align its teaching, research, and governance systems with the principles of Applied Sciences Universities. Dr. Zewudineh expressed gratitude to the project donors (European Union), Ministry of Education (MoE), and the organizers for their efforts in supporting this transformative initiative.