Higher Education Institutions’ Sustainable Development towards Agenda 2030: A Global Goals in Policy and Curriculum

A shift in Higher Education (HE) for sustainable development towards achieving Agenda 2030 Global goals is required in Africa for HE to be in alignment with global sustainability agenda. A major transformation in HE needs to occur across all disciplines to ensure addressing Agenda 2030 Global goals. The main objective of the study was to evaluate how Higher Education institutions have gone towards attaining Agenda 2030 on sustainable development. The specific objectives were to: examine the interplay of structure, culture and agency in achieving Agenda 2030; find out why universities are failing to propel themselves towards the agenda; identify mechanisms and strategies that can be taken to enhance the achievement of the goals; examine the level of preparedness of Higher Education management in achieving Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the role stakeholder should play in strengthening the achievement of ESD. Data was collected through interviewing deans, lecturers and administrators from the National University of Science and Technology, Midlands State University and the University of Zimbabwe. While efforts have been made to move towards ESD many structural, agential and challenges were found across universities including growing number of students, lack of financial support, absence of ESD strategy in institutions and others. Further, institutional administrative structures are rigid and immune to innovation. Several recommendations are made including funding to enable a reorganisation of HE structures that will propel the achievement of ESD.