New York, NY [UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network] — The SDG Academy has partnered with edX.org to offer its full library of sustainable development courses on the edX global platform as of August 31, 2018. Courses are now open for enrollment.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 social, economic, and environmental goals adopted by all member states of the United Nations in 2015 that aim to promote a prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Achieving the SDGs requires a global movement equipped with knowledge and evidence. The SDG Academy and edX partnership aims to empower and educate people around the world as an essential first step to achieving the SDGs.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the SDSN and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the SDGs, said, “I am delighted to join edX — the global, cutting-edge education platform — as a strong partner in promoting the SDGs and helping people around the world to learn how to achieve them.”
The SDG Academy, the flagship educational initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), brings together the world’s experts on sustainable development to equip the next generation of sustainable development practitioners to tackle the complex challenges facing our planet. SDG Academy courses are offered as a public good — free and openly accessible — and have reached nearly 170,000 learners from 190 countries.
edX’s mission is to increase access to high-quality education for everyone, everywhere. Founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012, edX has become a leader in massive open online courses (MOOCs), partnering with more than 130 leading universities and institutions around the world, and reaching over 17 million learners worldwide.
“As we face the reality that, due to automation and technology, a massive percentage of traditional jobs will likely disappear and be replaced by emerging job areas, addressing SDG Goal 4 around education is increasingly critical,” said Anant Agarwal, CEO of edX and professor at MIT. “We are pleased to welcome the SDG Academy, a world leader in sustainable development education, to the global network of edX partners that are committed to addressing this need for planet-scale reskilling, especially for marginalized populations of potential learners from around the world.”
On September 10, 2018, the SDG Academy will launch its September term with an exciting set of courses. By completing these or any other SDG Academy course on edX, learners can purchase edX’s globally-recognized Verified Certificates. edX also offers financial assistance, which covers 90% of the certificate’s cost for qualified learners.
“The SDG Academy makes expertise on the SDGs accessible to a global audience. Our partnership with edX will allow us to reach new communities of practitioners and learners,” says Chandrika Bahadur, Director of the SDG Academy. “We are grateful to edX for joining us and the United Nations in our mission to achieve the SDGs by empowering people everywhere with knowledge and expertise.”
To learn more about the SDG Academy and browse a full course list, visit https://sdgacademy.org, or go to https://www.edx.org/school/sdgacademyx to enroll on edX.
Contact: sdgacademy@unsdsn.org