The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), launched in the lead-up to the Rio+20 Conference in 2012 as an open partnership between several United Nations entities and the higher education community, aims to enhance the role of the higher education sector in advancing sustainable development by facilitating multi-stakeholder discussions, actions, and the dissemination of best practices.
HESI is currently co-chaired by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), UNESCO, the United Nations University (UNU), and Sulitest. HESI brings together UN entities and organizations, university networks, higher education institutions, student and youth organizations, and other partners committed to advancing sustainable development through higher education. Together, they form a global HESI community that connects expertise, initiatives and perspectives across the higher education ecosystem.
2026 HESI Global Forum, 9 July
On 9 July 2026 (virtually), the 2026 HESI Global Forum, held as a special event to the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), was 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.
HESI Community of Practice
At the 2025 HESI Global Forum, HESI launched the HESI Partnership Framework — a mechanism designed to coordinate the contributions of its broad and growing community of over 1,300 United Nations entities, university networks, student organizations, and higher education institutions.
At the heart of the framework are the HESI Communities of Practice (CoPs) — thematic groups that provide a structured, action-oriented space for members to collaborate, exchange knowledge, share innovative solutions, and co-develop relevant policy recommendations. Each CoP focuses on a critical priority area of higher education’s contribution to sustainable development:
Networking Forum
On 21 May 2025, the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) marked a major
milestone with the successful launch of its first-ever Networking Forum, drawing more than 140
participants from across the globe. Held virtually on 21 May 2025, the event featured 68 interactive
breakout rooms and provided an inclusive space for dialogue, peer exchange, and partnership-
building among universities, student groups, UN agencies, and networks.
More information:
https://sdgs.un.org/HESI/Networking
Rankings, ratings and assessments (9 February 2023)
Education for Green Jobs (1 March 2023)
SDG Publishers Compact (22 March 2023)
Transformation of higher education post COVID-19 (27 April 2022)
The disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused to societies, including in the education sector, is unprecedented. The webinar explored how the pandemic has transformed higher education’s approaches to education and learning, its ability to reach and engage students, including challenges and inequalities for those that lack capacities for rapid digital transformations and online learning.
Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into higher education (1 June 2022)
On 01 June 2022, the second HESI+10 Webinar on “Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into higher education”, organized by DSDG, took place lining up to the preparation for the HESI+10 Global Forum (to be held on 6 July as a special event during HLPF 2022). The webinar, attended by 70+ participants from various sectors, explored explore different approaches to integrating SDGs into higher education, through research, teaching, and learning. Speakers included the United Nations University, Iscte Business School, University of the West Indies, PRME Working Group Sustainability Mindset, IPB University and Monash Sustainable Development Institute & Climateworks Centre. The discussion was moderated by Jean-Christophe Carteron from Sulitest. The next webinar in the series will take place on 21 June to showcase “Inspirational higher education initiatives for SDG 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17
Inspirational higher education initiatives for SDG 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17 (21 June 2022)
As 2022 marks 10 years since the establishment of the HESI network, the webinar and the forum will highlight and celebrate key higher education initiatives that drive implementation of the 2030 Agenda through education, teaching and learning - particularly around SDGs under review at HLPF (Goal 4, 5, 14, 15, 17).
Action Groups
Each year, HESI designates Action Groups to tackle topics related to higher education for sustainable development. Action Groups draw upon the full HESI community to carry out its work and is often composed of several organizations and contributors. Results are published on the HESI website and promoted by the network.
Annual HESI forums
Each year, HESI organizes a global forum as a special event to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) – UN’s main platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level - to highlight the critical role of higher education in achieving sustainable development.
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