UN visit – growing academic impact together

Dr Drew Franklin and Dr Billie Lythberg represented the University of Auckland at the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) conference, held at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 6-8 October.

The conference convened the chairs of each of the UNAI Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) hubs, with the importance of making and measuring impact emerging as a central theme.

“It’s about bolstering and retaining the social licence for universities. There was an emphasis on how to have and measure impact, including sharing tools on how to quantify the impact of academic work,” says Lythberg, Associate Director of Research for Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism, a research centre at the University of Auckland Business School.

Conference participants represented universities from across the world, including South Africa, India, Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom and many others, each chairing a hub dedicated to one of the 17 SDGs.

According to Franklin, Associate Director of Strategic Engagement at Juncture, higher education institutes are in a unique position as ‘trusted brokers’, particularly in a time of widespread societal distrust and misinformation.

“Rigour and empirical evidence are the tools of our trade. With a seat at the table, we can inform policy and practice with an evidence base. Universities are uniquely placed to act as trusted brokers — equipping our researchers and mobilising our students to drive real-world impact,” he says.

Participants were acutely aware of the proximity to 2030 - the target date for achieving the current SDGs - and discussed collaborative strategies to accelerate progress.

“No country can meet these challenges alone,” Lythberg told the conference.

“This is precisely where the UN Academic Impact network becomes vital in strengthening efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda. It offers a global infrastructure for cooperation, shared evidence, and moral imagination.”

Each hub chair presented on their respective SDG and the contributions of their university towards achieving the goals.

The University of Auckland is hub chair for SDG 8 - sustainable economic growth and decent work for all. Lythberg discussed the inherent tension within this goal, describing it as holding two ambitions together: dignity and opportunity in people’s working lives, and growth that's inclusive, sustained, and sustainable.

She also highlighted the University’s contributions to SDG 8, including the research and courses focused on this goal. She said the Sustainability Hub acts as a central function supporting the University at large, and the role of the Business School in developing students’ skills, adaptability, and ethical awareness essential for the future of work. Also profiled were:

• The QS Future17 Global Challenge (run with the University of Exeter)
• Capacity-building through the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Business School research centres: the Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women; the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery; and the Dame Mira Szászy Research Centre

Franklin gave examples of where the Business School, University, and country can contribute to addressing ‘wicked problems’ associated with SDG 8. These included:

• Eradicating modern slavery
• Social protection and stronger monitoring of safe workplaces for climate-exposed workers 
• Helping to develop frameworks for digital labour standards
  Recognising the value of work in the care economy

According to Franklin, the interconnection between the 17 SDGs was a common theme of the conference.

“We can’t disaggregate the SDGs. We’re working on SDG 8, but so many outcomes stem from decent work and economic growth. Economic growth helps health and well-being, but also if you are thinking about decent work, fair pay and dignity in work, then you’re leaning heavily on other SDGs, such as SDG 5 – gender equality,” says Franklin.

“Then there’s George Mason University’s work on understanding organised crime, including human trafficking in supply chains as part of their UNAI hub chair work for SDG 16 – peace, justice and strong institutions – but it’s also connected to modern slavery under SDG 8.”

“I came away feeling much more optimistic about the work we can do because of the UNAI network,” says Franklin.

“Working together, the impact will be exponential,” adds Lythberg.

Following the conference, Franklin and Lythberg reflected on the University of Auckland’s unique contribution on the international stage.

“Aotearoa New Zealand, and by extension the University, is distinct in ‘forcing the long view’ – asking what real stewardship looks like – with concepts of guardianship (or Kaitiakitanga), and thinking of those that come behind us,” says Franklin.

This ethos is present in the University’s sustainability strategy, Te Rautaki Aronga Toitū, and in the uniqueness and strength of the Indigenous voice at the University of Auckland.

Lythberg’s key takeaway from the conference is that New Zealanders consistently punch above their weight, and we can have more impact than we think. In her address, Lythberg noted how New Zealand appears at the top of the UN globe, and invited conference attendees to “Come visit us at the top of the world!”