Empower to grow through higher education

IU International University of Applied Sciences with more than 120,000 enrolled students at present and more than 200 bachelor’s and master’s programmes in total is a member of the UN Global Compact and its higher education initiative. The principles of these two initiatives are the key factors which define the sustainability approach of the university. The university has defined several key areas in which it is working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Social aspects play a prominent role and are consistently pursued in the three key areas of students, employees, and community. The paper focuses on the key area of students and sets out the starting points for implementing the university’s mission ‘Everybody can access education to grow’ in relation to the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. Aspects like opening up access for non-traditional students, facilitating access for students facing barriers, and implications for academic teaching will be addressed, and the paper illustrates close and multiple relationships between higher education and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. For the necessary trans-sectoral and transdisciplinary effort, the development, consistent implementation, and evaluation of a sustainability-oriented strategy is key.