Dario Piselli, Project Leader, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth and MSc Student at London School of Economics and Political Science

1. Universities and Leadership for Sustainable Development
I. Epistemic communities, institutions and policy
It is not enough to think in terms of quality of knowledge. Universities must ask themselves: “Is that knowledge
policy-relevant? How does it contribute to sustainable development?”
• Goal-based planning, stocktaking and prioritization necessary to orient university behavior around a set of
complex challenges: the Sustainable Development Goals are an unprecedented opportunity to promote
integrated thinking, create coalitions and partnerships, and foster system innovation.
• Universities must be key actors in implementation and monitoring processes (not just in R&D and planning),
harnessing the power of data to support countries’ efforts towards sustainable development.
• Dynamic ecosystems of universities interacting with each other, the larger epistemic community, and
national/local governments are essential for translating knowledge into action. Universities must reinforce
their role in multi-stakeholder partnerships, national strategies and local pathways through higher degree of
mobilization and organization, filling gaps in policy dialogue, and efficient delivery systems.

2. Universities and Leadership for Sustainable Development
II. Mobilizing youth leadership
Young people today comprise the most educated generation in the history of the world. Tapping into the
incredible potential of mobilizing and supporting their active contribution, rather than just discussing about their
needs and problems, should be a paramount concern of universities.
• Curriculum change is the most powerful means of promoting transformative change through youth leadership
across all sectors of society, with emphasis on linking interdisciplinary knowledge and professional practice.
• Inclusive decision-making processes which facilitate exchange of information and fruitful cooperation between
students and institutions may fill gaps in university strategies. Institutions involved in local pathways must
streamline skills and creativity of young people in those pathways.
• The positive impact of young innovators must be showcased, assisted and incentivized in both academic and
extracurricular activities: innovation prizes, competitions, and securing financial and managerial capital
should become the norm for universities training new generation of sustainable development leaders.