Progress report for
Master of Sciences on the Sustainable Development Goals
Achievement at a glance
Following the vision of Laudato Sì, Pope Francis’ Encyclical, as well as of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Master of Science in Sustainable Development Goals (MSDG) proposes a new holistic and integrated approach to sustainable development for people, planet and prosperity.The MSDG addresses the set of world-scale interrelated environmental and social challenges towards preserving planet earth and the people living on it.
The MSDG is a problem-solving-oriented, creative, innovative, learning by doing Master aimed to graduate students from around the world, in the acquisition of knowledge and competencies on managing sustainable development in a dynamic milieu.
Challenges faced in implementation
Originally proposed in the fall of 2015, the MSDG has made substantial progress to date. That can be synthesized in the following steps:1. Defining the Master program within the framework LUMSA Sustainability Academy;
2. Defining the final MSDG structure and of its Executive Program design;
3. Defining the MSDG internal governance and coordination structure (Scientific Director, Master Coordinator, Strategic Advisory Board, Steering Committee) and drafting of the team project;
4. Defining the target of international students, from both developed and developing countries, and of the admission requirements;
5. Approval of the MSDG project by the competent internal bodies of LUMSA University;
6. Defining the communication strategy and starting promotion activities: MasterWebsite, LumsaWebsite, Workshops and seminars, Social networks, Creation of a space ‘Master Café dedicated to discuss the achievement of data deliverables related to SDGs;
7. Defining the budget plan, including fees;
8. Identifying a world-scale partnership and starting the activities for MSDG implementation: World Bank Group Connect4Climate, Golden Network for Sustainability, Candriam, Holy See, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
9. Defining the main sponsors, and start of funding by some of them.
Next Steps
In the next future we aim to accomplish the following steps towards a full implementation of the MSDG:1. Completing promotion activities;
2. Selection of students;
3. Hiring faculty staff;
4. Finalizing agreements with Partners;
5. Completing the fund raising;
6. Full implementation of the web portal and the Master Cafè;
7. Involving new Stakeholders within the framework of LUMSA Sustainability Academy
8. Developing joint master activities with other universities;
9. Dissemination activities.
Beneficiaries
Bsc Students; Professionals holding Bsc; MSDG Stakeholders.
Actions
The main MSDG benefits will be:1. High education on Sustainable Development Goals;
2. Contribution to shape and disseminate a new, innovative, and integrated culture to address the joint environmental and social challenges to sustainable development;
3. Knowledge Transfer to the following ends:
- People: end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions;
- Planet: protect the planet from degradation and to promote the sustainable management of natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change in the perspective to support the needs of the present and future generations;
- Prosperity: ensure good level of prosperity at all human beings, and economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature;
- Peace: strengthen peace around the world and guarantee peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence;
- Partnership: implement the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity.