The UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Pact for the Future presents a blueprint to address global challenges like climate change, inequality, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
Central to this initiative is the Global Digital Compact, which seeks to regulate AI for the collective benefit of humanity, and the Future Generations Declaration, ensuring future interests are reflected in policy-making. However, while the pact makes some mention of education, particularly in relation to youth participation, it lacks explicit recognition of the critical role of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in preparing future generations to champion sustainability. This omission has drawn criticism from education stakeholders, who argue that the pact underestimates the role of education, particularly higher education institutions, in fostering sustainable development and driving innovation.
Higher education’s contributions to science, technology, and social innovation, as well as its capacity to transform societal behaviors through social sciences, are insufficiently acknowledged in the pact. Despite some references to lifelong learning and the need for educational institutions to promote accessibility, diversity, and inclusion, the failure to highlight universities’ role in developing sustainable solutions and their potential in international partnerships has sparked concern. Stakeholders like Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability, York University, Canada, emphasize that education, particularly ESD, should be leveraged to build public awareness around sustainability issues and to strengthen support for sustainable legislation. The absence of a clear mandate for higher education institutions to lead on these fronts has raised questions about how to elevate the sector’s visibility and impact.
Furthermore, the pact recognizes the potential of science, technology, and innovation to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urging international cooperation to bridge divides between developed and developing countries. Universities are positioned to play a significant role in this by fostering interdisciplinary research and supporting talent mobility. However, the higher education sector must critically assess how it can further transform itself to be more relevant in achieving sustainability, particularly through deeper engagement with multi- and transdisciplinary approaches. Experts stress the need for higher education to go beyond incremental reforms and pursue transformative changes that will allow institutions to contribute more meaningfully to global sustainability efforts.
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