Driven by rapid technological innovations, global crises, and growing uncertainty about the role of universities in the 21st century, higher education is at a critical inflection point. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for understanding how these circumstances may be navigated, with a focus on the changing knowledge ecosystem, marked by exponential knowledge growth stemming from the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). While these changes offer important opportunities for enhanced learning, they also raise significant ethical and educational concerns that must be addressed. Throughout these shifts, one element that remains unchanged is how humans learn in the context of relationships. Drawing on evidence from medical research and educational theory, this paper argues that social connection and communities of practice are fundamental for institutions that seek to use technology to support, rather than replace, the human connections that shape students into competent and ethical professionals.
Christian higher education is rooted in fundamental and axiomatic human values that are open to transcendence and orient toward the fullness of humanity. Christian universities are increasingly challenged to remain faithful to their true identity while responding creatively to new social, cultural, and global realities. Drawing on the experiences of the Universitas Katolik Parahyangan (UNPAR), whose Spirituality and Basic Values emphasize charity in truth, living in diversity, and integral humanity, this paper discusses how collaboration across institutions, disciplines, cultures, and regions, becomes a process of mutual transformation rather than mere resource sharing. Particular attention is given to interdisciplinary initiatives, with the Erasmus+ EcoGreen Project presented as a case study that demonstrates how Christian universities can lead interdisciplinary and global collaboration while remaining firmly rooted in faith-based values.The study suggests that Christian higher education institutions should prioritize wider, value-based collaboration across institutions, nations, and disciplines.
Background The Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment (IGEE) at Yonsei University established the Social Engagement Fund (SEF) in 2018 to align with institutional commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study examines how IGEE's student-led projects as part of Yonsei University's SEF program have expanded SDG coverage over the past seven years and identifies factors contributing to improved integration across multiple goals.
Methods
We analyzed all 49 SEF projects implemented between 2018 and 2025, coding each project for SDG alignment and tracking coverage patterns over time. Annual SDG engagement was measured using two indicators: (1) the total number of SDGs addressed per year and (2) the average number of SDGs addressed per project.
Results
The number of SEF projects increased steadily from 5 in 2018 to 12 in 2025, reflecting growing student participation and institutional support. Over the same period, annual SDG coverage expanded from 9 total SDG mentions in 2018 to 59 in 2025, demonstrating a marked diversification of focus areas. The average number of SDGs addressed per project rose from 1.8 in the early years (2018–2021) to 4.9 in 2025, peaking at 8.3 in 2022. Early projects primarily centered on institutional and educational goals such as SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), while later years showed stronger engagement with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Some goals—including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water)—remained relatively underrepresented.
Conclusions
Student engagement initiatives like SEF can significantly broaden and deepen SDG coverage through structured mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and targeted project funding. By enabling applied, student-driven practice, IGEE’s SEF model demonstrates how universities can translate institutional SDG commitments into measurable and expanding impact across a wide range of sustainability goals.
Purpose This study assesses the Global Citizenship Education (GCEd) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiatives at the Yonsei Institute of Global Engagement and Empowerment (IGEE). The objective is to identify strengths and areas for improvement in promoting ESD and GCEd principles and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Design/Methodology/Approach: This research employs a comprehensive analysis framework to evaluate Yonsei IGEE's initiatives, including the "Understanding Sustainable Development with Ban Ki-moon" lectures, "Social Engagement Fund (SEF)" research program, "SDG Initiative," and "Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum (GEEF))." It considers objectives, environmental focus, pedagogical strategies, topic coverage, learning dimensions, and outcome measurement.
Findings: Yonsei IGEE initiatives demonstrate strengths in terms of clear objectives, environmental focus, and pedagogical strategies. They complement each other, fostering synergy in promoting ESD and GCEd principles. The lecture series offers a holistic view of SDG issues, whereas SEF empowers students to address challenges practically. The SDG Initiative guides Yonsei's research community, and GEEF disseminates SDG knowledge and fosters collaboration.
Originality: This study contributes originality in two aspects. First, it presents an innovative evaluation framework specifically designed to assess the diverse GCEd and ESD programs at Yonsei IGEE. This framework serves as a valuable tool for future evaluations of similar initiatives in higher education institutions. Second, the data and contents analyzed in this research, drawn from Yonsei IGEE's programs, are novel and provide unique insights into the efficacy of the GCEd and ESD efforts.
Summary
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Student Involvement in SDG Projects: Seven Years of Yonsei University’s Social Engagement Fund (2018–2025) Sarah Soyeon Oh, In Han Song, Shinki An IGEE Proceedings.2025; 2(3): 178. CrossRef