Awareness and skills at a distance: the contribution of distance learning higher education institutions to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Distance Learning Higher Education Institutions (DL-HEIs) can advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by expanding access to education, fostering research and innovation, and promoting collaboration on a global scale. This study aims to identify the strategies conducted by DL-HEIs to increase learners’ awareness, knowledge, and skills related to the SDGs and explore how DL-HEIs around the world incorporate the SDGs into their activities. More specifically, it uses a mix of case studies and a global survey that covers six continents and 52 countries to identify important strategies, drivers, and barriers in this field. The case study findings reveal that technology in distance education fosters innovative teaching, boosting engagement and comprehension of complex sustainability topics. The survey results show that DL-HEIs mainly incorporate sustainability through their curriculum and research, with teaching staff and researchers as the main contributors. They often use a mix of live and recorded learning to teach skills like critical thinking, focusing on SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 13 (Climate Action). While commitment from institutions and sustainability policies are significant drivers, limited financial resources and awareness create obstacles. The study concludes that technology-based distance education offers a strong and inventive platform for promoting global sustainability education.