By Viliame Tawanakoro in
Wuhan, China
In an aspiring step towards global sustainability and leadership, Wuhan University in China has launched its Luojlia Global Summer School 2024, which is focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The program includes more than 30 university students from diverse backgrounds, including Vietnam, Laos, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, China, The United States (USA) and the Fiji Islands.
“SDG is not a slogan but an action,” said Professor Ji Li, a professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University.
“As a world-class comprehensive research university domestically and internationally, why don’t we run an SDG-focused program when we welcome so many international students on our campus?”
She said the SDGs provided a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and in the future.
“Chinese people cherish peace and prosperity, which have only been achieved in recent history for a short time. We have developed in recent years based on our own experiences and lessons learned.”
Professor Ji said the program’s goal was to build a network to promote the SDG idea and share with the world what we have experienced, what we have learned, and what we can do collaboratively to inspire youth to work together to create a better world.
“My vision is to let the youth do their job on SDGs. Help them to become future leaders by enlightening the youth with the ideas. Train them with essential skills to practice the ideas. Build a network to work together when the youth innovates bright ideas.
“I sincerely call for support from all sides for our summer school. Welcome more students from Fiji to join us and act together. Let summer school be sustainable for you, me, and the world,” she said.
Dr Kalinga Seneviratne, a Senior Journalist and Consultant to the Summer School Program who also taught at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, said students from different countries may have different priorities to bring to discussions and projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
“For Vietnamese, food security due to Mekong river flows decreasing or salivating could be an issue. For the Pacific, the impact of climate change on coastal communities, in particular, would be an issue. For Sri Lanka, the impact of the debt crisis on public health and education may take priority.”
He said students can develop some of the key skills or competencies through their participation in this summer school and understand the SDGs through the content or perspective of grassroots communities.
“How to listen to their concerns and draft reports to reflect these without pointing fingers at governments purely because governments are supposed to be accountable to the people.”
“There are many other players that should be held accountable, and students need to understand these relationships.”
Dr Seneviratne added,” Academia needs to develop methodologies to work with communities. It should be a vehicle for providing knowledge and research material to help tackle SDG issues.”
Benuka Senadheera, a student from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, said the insight we gained from both theoretical and practical lectures expanded our understanding of the sustainable challenges faced by different regions, including developed countries.
“Coming from a south Asian country, sustainable development has always been in the discourse of our learning curriculum. However, due to the poor living conditions of the general public, the discourse is limited to academic gatherings and interested parties such as NGOs.”
He said at this global event, he expected to gain insight into how to apply sustainability to our projects to have a powerful impact on the general public.
Among the many Wuhan University students involved in this program, Danhua Liao has expressed her appreciation for participating in this cross-collaboration summer program.
“In my view, challenges are always there, and I really appreciate the Summer Program with the focus on SDG, which emphasises the whole benefits to mankind.”
She said learning with students from different cultures has been wonderful and has improved her experience during the summer school.
“Although we may face language barriers that hinder our understanding, I believe it’s crucial to be courageous in expressing ourselves and striving to comprehend each other,” she said.
Similar sentiments were shared by Phoutthasack Senamounty, a Commerce student at the National University of Laos.
“This program has motivated me a whole lot, from the economic point of view ‘A nation cannot survive without its people’.
“This has prepared me to step into my role of contributing to aiding my country. I have had the opportunity to lead projects, discuss, create guidelines for the SDG, and bring these approaches from China’s eyes to the home country of Laos,” he said.
The program not only imparts theoretical knowledge but also fosters practical skills through open discussions, field trips, and interactive sessions led by esteemed professors and experts in various fields from Tashkent State University of Economics (Uzbekistan), Wuhan University, Duke University (USA), and many more.
Through Wuhan University’s visionary approach, the summer school program stands as a beacon of empowerment and collaboration, united under the banner of the SDGs, which aim to cultivate a new generation of leaders equipped to drive meaningful change worldwide.
Viliame Tawanakoro is a student of The University of the South Pacific who is part of the Summer School Program at Wuhan University in China.
