CIFAL Newcastle, Place Where UN Meets Community
Newcastle, Australia – The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Progress Report 2024 of the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Newcastle (CIFAL Newcastle) is a collective effort by the University of Newcastle community and broader stakeholder engagement. The report details linkages between SDGs, the university and the community as a whole, illuminating opportunities for stakeholders to foster partnerships and work towards common goals.
Within the community and surrounding region, CIFAL Newcastle has made a profound impact. As the first CIFAL training center in Australia, it has produced lasting social and economic benefits through training and research activities, paving the way forward for cross-sector collaboration, with an important impact not only within the University of Newcastle but also in the community.
In 2024, the Times Higher Education Rankings recognized the University of Newcastle as the 39th most impactful commitment to the SDGs, highlighting:
SDG 6: Global Rank 4th and Australia Rank 2nd
CIFAL Newcastle
The dedication of the University of Newcastle to advancing the 2030 Agenda is reflected in its capacity to progress regional cooperation and exceed global standards. Their efforts to progress SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation have been internationally and nationally recognized as one of the top contributors to sustainable water management.
The University of Newcastle has applied its research as a key collaborator for teaching and learning with the UNITAR Global Water Academy. The academic community has jointly developed training courses on integrated water management and SDG 6 awareness. Together, the University of Newcastle and UNITAR Global Water Academy embody the shared vision of developing global capacity for sustainable water management and further enhancing the impact of SDG 6 initiatives worldwide.
Community outreach is one of the core tenets of CIFAL centres, and the partnerships among the University of Newcastle stakeholders are exemplary of SDG initiatives’ value and impacts in local environments. One example is their creation of a large-scale ‘Hydro Harvester’, a solution to the water-energy nexus that aims to support remote communities. This groundbreaking technology generates up to 1,000 liters of water per day by harnessing renewable energy sources to treat water for drinking or irrigation. Their commitment to expanding STEM education has accelerated discoveries in water technology solutions.
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