The 2026 Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) Global Forum, held as a special event to the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), will be convened under the theme “Reimagining Higher Education for Global Transformation toward a Sustainable Future.” In line with the 2026 HLPF focus on transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Forum will explore how higher education can serve as a catalyst for global solutions, systemic change and inclusive sustainable development.
Recent UNESCO analysis underscores that higher education is at a turning point, shaped by technological disruption, demographic change, shifting labor market expectations, growing international mobility, financial pressures and persistent inequalities in access, quality, completion and opportunity. These trends reinforce the urgency of reimagining higher education as a driver of sustainable development, social mobility, international cooperation, resilience and inclusive growth.
In a context marked by persistent inequalities, accelerating technological and environmental change, and growing interdependencies, the Forum will examine how higher education institutions can move from commitment to implementation. It will highlight how universities and higher education networks are embedding sustainability across teaching and learning, research and innovation, institutional transformation, student engagement and multi-stakeholder partnerships, while upholding the principles of equity, inclusion and leaving no one behind.
The Forum will also emphasize the role of universities as knowledge producers, conveners and co-creators of knowledge. Higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to generate evidence, support policy and practice, foster critical inquiry, and work with communities, governments, students, Indigenous and local knowledge holders, civil society, business and the United Nations system to advance sustainable development. In this regard, academic freedom and institutional autonomy remain essential foundations for enabling universities to contribute meaningfully to public debate, innovation, evidence-informed policymaking and societal transformation.
The Forum will place particular emphasis on higher education’s contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals under in-depth review at the 2026 HLPF: SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the Goals. It will also recognize the enabling role of education for sustainable development, including SDG 4.7, in advancing progress across the 2030 Agenda.
HESI Policy Messages
In preparation for the Forum, a set of HESI policy messages have been prepared by the HESI Community of Practice, which reflect key priorities and recommendations from the HESI community on the role of higher education in advancing sustainable development.
Members of the higher education community are invited to show their support for the policy messages by completing a short form. Those that complete the form will be listed alongside the policy messages as supporters, helping to demonstrate broad engagement and collective commitment from the higher education community.
Concept and Programme
Registration
Expected outputs and follow-up
The Forum will generate key messages and practical recommendations on how higher education can accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda while also helping to shape forward-looking thinking on sustainable development toward and beyond 2030, with particular attention to SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, as well as the cross-cutting role of SDG 4.7 on education for sustainable development.
The outcomes of the Forum will inform a forthcoming HESI Snapshot, to be launched in fall 2026. The publication will draw on survey responses, HESI Community of Practice discussions, targeted contributions from HESI Action Groups and UN partners, selected higher education initiatives, and Forum deliberations. It will synthesize emerging priorities, showcase practical examples, and identify pathways for strengthening teaching and learning, research and innovation, and partnerships for sustainable development.
The Forum outcomes will also provide a higher education contribution to the Transforming Education Summit +4: System Transformation and Resilience for SDG 4, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General and the Director-General of UNESCO on 10 July 2026. In doing so, they will help bring higher education perspectives into broader discussions on education system transformation and help position HESI to contribute to key 2027 milestones, including the review of SDG 4 at the 2027 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the 2027 SDG Summit.
