Implementing the UN SDGs in Universities: Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned

The education sector is one of the few sectors that can support, promote, and contribute to achieving all of the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Universities, in particular, are essential to achieving the SDGs because they can equip the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to address sustainability challenges and opportunities and perform research that advances the sustainable development agenda. Universities can also provide examples and use their expertise, capabilities, and leadership to influence stakeholders to adopt and model more sustainable practices. To be effective, however, universities should be fully committed to support and implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs are an important vehicle for creating positive impact by embedding sustainability into university business strategies, decision‐making processes, and practices, and for improving their accountability to stakeholders. This article aims to contribute to research and practice fostering discussions and sharing the experience of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Melbourne, Australia, in undertaking an ambitious and innovative project to raise awareness, foster collaboration, measure impact, and communicate the university's contributions toward achieving the SDGs across the entire university