FILAMO workshop 2023

Teaching ocean science and SDGs in higher education: Perspectives from IAU HESD Clusters and South-African Masters program in Ocean Science (SAMOS)

The workshop took place in Cape Town (South Africa), on board the tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl (reception) and at the Breakwater Lodge, 15-17th January 2023.

More information about the workshop can be found here.


The IAU HESD Cluster for SDG14 Life below water invited to a meeting in Cape Town, 15-17th of January 2023, organised by the University of Bergen, University of Cape Town, and IAU. Here we will shared experiences and practices at universities against the wider backdrop of the whole institution approach to sustainability at higher education institutions. Our goal was to better engage with and integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in teaching and learning in higher education globally.

Drawing on the vast expertise and experience of the participants from different disciplines, institutions, and countries, we discussed the general principles and practical tools to teach sustainability effectively, and how to promote student learning and engagement with the SDGs. This has become an important research field, with at least two international journals dedicated towards the theme, and it is a central focus for universities all over the globe. Universities are key institutions for progress on the 2030 agenda and SDGs; and the IAU HESD Cluster global network of universities are instrumental to achieve and realize our common responsibility for each of the SDGs in higher education, research and community engagement.

Furthermore, in South Africa a new initiative aims to establish a joint national Masters program in Ocean Sciences through a 3-year EU Erasmus+ project ‘South-African Masters program in Ocean Science’ (SAMOS).