Toward the 2030 Agenda: What Role Does Academic Management Play?

We know that an educational institution's academic management is the nerve center from which actions are taken to simplify school administration and raise the quality of education. Today, however, it plays an even more important role: serving as a bridge toward one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

What is the 2030 Agenda, and what does it establish regarding education?

The 2030 Agenda is the action plan adopted by the member countries of the United Nations to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They include topics such as gender equality, health, and quality education—the latter being Goal 4 of the Agenda.

This Goal considers quality education one of the fundamental pillars of society. Accordingly, the targets set out in this SDG are that, by 2030, girls and boys, young people, adults, and vulnerable people—including people with disabilities and members of indigenous communities—will:

• Complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

• Have access to quality technical, vocational, and higher education.

• Achieve literacy and basic numeracy.

• Have the skills needed for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.

• Have equal access to all levels of education and vocational training, eliminating gender disparities.

• Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including:

• sustainable lifestyles,
• human rights,
• gender equality,
• the promotion of a culture of peace and nonviolence,
• global citizenship and the appreciation of cultural diversity.

• Enjoy educational facilities that provide safe, inclusive, nonviolent, and effective learning environments for all.

• Benefit from a larger number of scholarships worldwide to ensure access to higher education in developing countries, especially the least developed ones.

• Have qualified teachers, through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries.

What role does school academic management play in the context of the 2030 Agenda?

As you might expect, schools' academic management plays a crucial role in meeting the 2030 Agenda, specifically within the framework of SDG 4. That's why it is essential for schools to foster leadership and educational innovation to promote quality education in society.

To this end, one measure schools can take is adopting cutting-edge technologies that make teachers' work easier and boost student performance. This can promote socioeconomic mobility that makes it possible to:

• Narrow the gap for people who lack access to quality education
• Encourage the progress of those who receive quality education

In this regard, having educational software that can integrate learning management features is a major advantage. With this type of system, it is possible to continue education remotely (when in-person attendance isn't possible) and to foster skills in several areas, including science, technology, and innovation.

This helps expand the production, dissemination, and use of knowledge, helping to overcome the challenges associated with this SDG.

Technology = An ally that keeps education from stalling or stopping

Other measures educational institutions can take to support SDG 4

Some other general actions schools around the world can take to support SDG 4 are:

1. Acquiring tools that promote inclusive education for people with disabilities

1. Raising public awareness about the importance of never stopping education, regardless of the circumstances (such as the health emergency experienced in 2020)

1. Communicating the benefits of keeping education present in the community at all times

Without a doubt, education should concern us all, as it is the foundation for building equitable, healthy, and prosperous societies. At Phidias, our purpose is to help build better schools with the support of state-of-the-art technology. Contact us and start transforming your school to be part of the change!