Number of Courses in the School of Arts and Sciences Curricula Related to Each Global Goal

The global south faces a challenge in closing the sustainable development gap due to historical marginalization, which has resulted in deep-rooted economic and social inequalities. Many countries in the global south are still grappling with the legacies of colonialism, including unequal access to resources and markets and institutional weaknesses.

Closing the sustainable development gap requires concerted efforts from universities, governments, civil society, and the private sector. This entails addressing systemic inequalities, promoting inclusive and equitable development strategies and addressing various forms of deprivation. 

The Lebanese American University embraced the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were collectively adopted in 2015 by the Member States of the United Nations.  As such, it was among the first universities in the world to mainstream the SDGs into the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC).  Furthermore, special care was taken to address the SDGs across most of the School’s curricula and research.  This includes the following key components:

• Introduce all students to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enable them to explore how science contributes to achieving these goals through a mandatory core, the Change Makers series.
• Enhance students’ scientific literacy through a series of Digital Cultures courses.
• Address healthcare and education, mitigate inequality and promote economic advancement, all while confronting the challenges of climate change and preserving our precious oceans and forests. 

We believe that all the School’s curricula engage the students and enable them to establish a sustainable connection between humanity and the planet. The approach is grounded in the fundamental premise that every student should possess a foundational understanding of SDGs and their fundamental principles, which can be applied in their future careers and personal lives.