The College of Education at Al-Mustaqbal University organized a "Sustainable Development" activity, including a lecture titled "Education is the Key to Sustainable Development." The lecture aimed to achieve the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education. The lecture was delivered on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 11:00 AM, in the Humanities Building, Hall 309, for students of the Educational and Psychological Sciences and Quranic Sciences and Islamic Education departments. The lecture was delivered by Professor Dr. Thanaa Bahaa El-Din Abdullah, and covered three main topics: the concept and importance of education, the concept of sustainable development, and the relationship between education and sustainable development.
Education is defined as the process through which an individual acquires the knowledge, skills, and values that enable them to interact with society in a positive and productive manner.
The importance of education includes:
1. Building the capacity of individuals to achieve their full potential.
2. Contributing to reducing poverty and achieving social justice.
3. Promoting innovation and creativity.
4. Empowering individuals to face various life challenges.
Sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It relies on three main dimensions:
1. The environmental dimension: conserving natural resources and reducing pollution.
2. The economic dimension: achieving economic growth in a sustainable manner.
3. The social dimension: achieving justice and equality and enhancing the well-being of individuals.
Education plays an important role in achieving sustainable development through:
1. Raising environmental awareness: Education enables individuals to understand the importance of preserving the environment and take practical steps to protect it.
2. Promoting equality: Education contributes to reducing the gap between social classes and provides equal opportunities for all.
3. Empowering women: Providing education to women increases their participation in economic and social development.
4. Poverty reduction: Education is considered the most powerful tool for raising the standard of living and reducing poverty.
5. Encouraging innovation: Education enhances individuals' ability to innovate and develop sustainable solutions to challenges.
The challenges of education in achieving sustainable development are:
1. Educational gaps: The disparity in educational opportunities between countries and societies.
2. Lack of resources: weak investment in educational infrastructure.
3. Climate change: the impact of natural disasters on schools and educational institutions.
4. Crises and wars: the disruption of the educational process due to conflict.
There are solutions to enhance the role of education in sustainable development:
1. Ensuring universal access to education: providing education for all regardless of gender, race, or social class.
2. Integrating sustainability principles into curricula: teaching students the importance of sustainability and how to achieve it.
3. Encouraging continuous education and lifelong learning: enabling individuals to keep pace with global changes.
4. Increasing investment in education: improving infrastructure and providing teacher training.
From the above, we conclude that education is the fundamental pillar for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which the United Nations has identified in 17 goals. The fourth goal, in particular, focuses on "ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all."
In conclusion, we can say that education is the key to achieving sustainable development. By investing in education, we can build more informed, just, and sustainable societies. Therefore, we must all—whether individuals or institutions—work together to enhance the role of education in building a better future for us and for future generations.
ALMUSTAQBAL UNIVERSITY is the premier university in Iraq.