University of Auckland at the United Nations

Staff from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland were recently hosted at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. A focus of the forum was discussing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 – decent work and economic growth.

The University was invited to participate in its capacity as the new Chair of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub for SDG 8. UNAI has more than 1,700 universities as members. Of these, there are 17 universities that each chair a hub representing one of the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN has created this initiative in recognition that higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to be drivers of sustainable development through research, innovation, education, and collaboration.

Representing the University were a team from Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism, a Business School research centre. This included Professor Susan Watson, Dr Drew Franklin and Dr Billie Lythberg. Juncture is leading the implementation of the UNAI Hub for SDG 8 on behalf of the University of Auckland.

Watson, acting Dean of the University of Auckland Law School and director of Juncture, says, “It’s an honour to be appointed to lead global work exploring how universities can advance equitable wealth distribution and support sustainable economic growth. Academic research and cross-sector collaborations provide powerful avenues to influence corporate strategies and inform government policy to prioritise human dignity, social justice and environmental stewardship.”

Lythberg, associate director at Juncture, says, “At Juncture, we embrace the tension within SDG 8, using research to ask how economies can grow while ensuring that work remains decent, equitable, and life-affirming.”

Representatives at the meeting had the opportunity to discuss the latest work of their institutions and exchange ideas.

Franklin, Associate Dean External Engagement at the University of Auckland Business School and associate director at Juncture, says, “Participating in a forum such as this provides an opportunity to make new connections and realise opportunities for collaboration. Representatives from the University of Gothenburg, who recently quite literally wrote the book on SDG 8, invited us to co-host a side event at the UN High-Level Political Forum. We’re now in discussions to collaborate on further projects around fair work and economic growth.”

The University of Auckland’s appointment to lead the United Nations Academic Impact Hub for SDG 8 was made based on the track record of the University in this area, with a submission led by the University’s Sustainability Hub. The University’s legacy includes Juncture’s international connections through the Activating Responsible Corporations network, a group of researchers from 22 universities dedicated to progressing responsible corporate behaviour; policy and research work conducted by the Centre for Modern Slavery; and the work of the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) in creating impactful start-ups. CIE’s alumni have created hundreds of ventures, thousands of jobs and raised over $5.1 billion in capital. Many of the start-ups created have spun directly out of CIE’s Velocity entrepreneurship development programme.

CIE staff Darsel Keane, director, and Naomi Bradshaw, engagement manager, are joining the University’s steering group for the UNAI SDG 8 Hub.

 “Universities foster entrepreneurial mindsets, ignite innovation, and bring ideas to life," says Keane. "By empowering students, researchers, and communities to create and lead with confidence, they act as catalysts for productive employment opportunities, sustainable business practices, and equitable economic growth. We’re excited to join the working group being led by Juncture to contribute to this global community striving to unlock new pathways to prosperity – not just for individuals, but for societies around the world.”