Prosperity

“We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.” (United Nations A/RES/70/1, 2015, p. 3)

One of the 5Ps of the 2030 Agenda is that of Prosperity which encompasses SDG 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and is concerned with the various objectives towards attaining a higher standard of living. It is generally accepted and also specifically recognized by the UN’s scientific division that the SDGs interact in many ways (United Nations, 2015, p. 43). One can’t isolate a specific goal. Therefore the reader will note that the chapters in this section focus not only on their SDG but also mention the interaction of synergistic SDGs.

Once again students from Canada, Spain, and Indonesia were given the opportunity within their teams to review the AIM2Flourish stories that were finalists as stories most representative of flourishing innovations in specific SDGs for 2018-2021. This encompassed a total of 109 stories across SDGs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Within each group of SDGs, students reflected and defined their perception of the SDG that they were studying, then they summarized the most salient innovations in their group of SDGs, followed by critical reflections of what they took away from the stories and finally a group reflection of their teamwork and cross-cultural experiences.

It is interesting, as an instructor, to read the insights that the student groups developed and the process of discussions that led to arrive at a shared document. Enjoy the reflections included in the five chapters that follow.

Ruben Burga, PhD
Department of Management, Gordon S. Lang School of Business & Economics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

References

United Nations (2015). Global Sustainable Development Report (Advance Unedited Version). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/globalsdreport/2015

United Nations A/RES/70/1. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.  Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org