By Daisy Atino and Lilian Letingiso

The University of Geneva, in partnership with CitSci Africa Association at USIU-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, is hosting the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summer School. This program targets Bachelor's and Master's students passionate about sustainable development and global health, specifically those aligned with the United Nations SDGs.

This exciting opportunity is part of a global SDG Olympiad and delves into the critical theme of "Planetary Health," exploring the far-reaching effects of climate change on human health. The competitive four-week program emphasizes teamwork and problem-solving through the development of practical prototypes.

Throughout the school, students will tackle real-world challenges formulated by experts from International Organizations based in Geneva. To foster continuous improvement, students will participate in weekly pitching sessions where they present their progress to a diverse jury. This valuable feedback allows teams to refine their solutions and strengthen their prototypes.

Inspired by a legacy of innovation

The hands-on, collaborative approach employed in the SDG Solution Space draws inspiration from Jean Piaget, a pioneer in educational innovation at the University of Geneva. Piaget, the founder of the International Bureau of Education (a precursor to UNESCO), championed challenge-based and solution-oriented learning. This methodology empowers young people to proactively address global issues.

Because the program follows a hybrid format, teams working locally at the SDG Solution Space will collaborate online with other SDG Summer Schools across the globe. Upon successful completion, students will receive a prestigious Certificate of Completion from the Geneva Summer Schools at the University of Geneva, worth 6 ECTS credits.

A student's perspective: Collaboration and learning

"I am thrilled to share my experience at the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summer School hosted by the CitSci-Africa Association Youth Innovation Center at USIU Africa," says Joyce Shabene, a second-year Pharmacy student at USIU-Africa.

Shabene highlights the program's emphasis on collaboration and global connection. "During the first week, I had the opportunity to connect with new people and fellow participants who share a passion for creating positive sustainable impacts in their communities," she says. "We exchanged numerous innovative ideas across various fields, including health, climate, and air quality among others."

"One of the highlights was meeting an official from UNESCO who provided valuable advice on our projects and informed us about the opportunities available through UNESCO that could integrate with our initiatives," Shabene explains. "Throughout the week, we also participated in Zoom meetings with other summer school attendees worldwide, from locations such as Geneva, Nigeria. These sessions allowed us to delve deeper into the UN SDGs and explore pressing environmental issues affecting Africa, such as pollution, climate change, and diseases."

The program also draws inspiration from past successes. The 2023 SDG Summer School showcased impressive projects, including smartphone-based self-monitoring for tuberculosis patients and machine learning adaptations for physical education curricula in African schools. These projects were mentored by organizations like the Global Fund for the Fight against AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, and UNESCO, with support from the International Olympic Committee.