DO SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES CAPACITATE STUDENTS TO MEANINGFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE REALISATION OF AGENDA 2063?

Abstract

Globalisation, digitalisation, and modernisation of economies have affected the world in ways that continuously destroy the planet’s climate, landscapes, economies, humans, and animals that occupy the world. The article explores strategies that could be used to ensure that learners and students are empowered to be change agents towards sustainable development. The study adopted a qualitative research method where secondary sources were reviewed. These sources included journal articles, books, newspaper articles, speeches, and electronic media. The researchers also did a review of university websites. The researchers also followed a phenomenological method by interviewing students from two universities in the country to capture their lived experiences. The researchers found that most South African universities offer Education for Sustainable Development in their curriculum and have adapted their organisational structures to meet Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals. The study also found that what is lacking, is reaching out to students outside lecture halls through co-curricular programmes to facilitate learning in Education for Sustainable Development. The researcher recommends that the Department of Higher Education should insist on a co-curricular training programme on Education for Sustainable Development for universities and colleges in general. The researcher concludes that unless universities introduce structured co-curricular programmes geared towards the attainment of sustainable development goals, Vision 2063 will not be realised.