91探花

Quality Education
Quality Education Public resources for lifelong learning Vocational training events Educational outreach Lifelong learning access Staff Professional Development and Training on Sustainability Research Centres for SDGs Education on Sustainability Public Educational Events

Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goals: Progress Report | Reporting Year 2025–26

1. Introduction & Institutional Commitment

Sustainable Development Goal 4 calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. For a university, the goal is both a core purpose and a chance to shape how a generation understands sustainability. JGU’s vision of becoming “a world-class university creating global leaders” is closely aligned with its emphasis on interdisciplinarity. All academic programmes offer cross-listed electives open to students across the University.

JGU advances SDG 4 through inclusive policies, innovative teaching and global collaboration. It widens access by increasing its student intake every year, supports students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds through scholarships, and has reached near gender parity among its students. Through a holistic model that goes beyond traditional academics, quality education at JGU is accessible, equitable, inclusive and attuned to the UN SDGs.

Sustainability education runs through degrees, electives, online courses and staff training. More than 350 cross-listed SDG electives are offered each year, mapped to the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets. Dedicated programmes range from the B.A. and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Environment & Sustainable Development to online and law-based master’s degrees. JGU was also the first university in Asia to offer the Sulitest TASK sustainability-knowledge assessment. Its MOOCs align with India’s National Education Policy 2020, and the Naveen Jindal Young Global Research Fellowship brings early-career scholars from across the world into its research community.

This report presents JGU’s progress, key initiatives and impact under SDG 4 across the following areas: access to tertiary and lifelong learning, skills for employment, equal access for vulnerable groups, education for sustainable development and inclusive learning environments.

2. Key Figures at a Glance

Indicator Achievement
Students enrolled 16,000+
Students receiving financial assistance About 50%
Female students 49%
Global partnerships 600+ across 83+ countries
Cross-listed SDG electives offered each year (all SDGs) 350+
Electives mapped to SDG 4 28
JGU average TASK sustainability-literacy score 64.79 / 100 (global average 53.8)
TASK assessees above the global average 53 of 69
TASK assessees scoring above 70 25 of 69
TASK test-takers, 2024 → 2025 52 → 69
MOOC enrolments (two environmental courses) 1,326 + 507
Completion rate, Introduction to Environmental Science More than 2× the domain benchmark
Naveen Jindal Young Global Research Fellowship applications 500+ (2026), up from 300+ (2025)
Students on South–South immersion programmes (2025) 66
Scholarly output on SDG 4 (2025) Nearly 300 publications

3. Research Progress in SDG 4

Research on education and sustainability at JGU has grown every year. Between 2021 and 2025, JGU’s SDG 4 scholarly output rose steadily, reaching nearly 300 publications in 2025. JGU’s SDG 4 research trend is on track, while India’s overall trend on this goal is moderately improving. Around 4.2% of JGU’s scholarly output contributes to SDG 4, well above the world average share for the goal.


 

Researcher Research theme Worldwide prominence percentile (2020–2025) UN SDG 4 target
Prof. Tony George Puthucherril Sustainability education in higher learning institutions 99.60 4.7


Building a global research community. The Naveen Jindal Young Global Research Fellowship was introduced to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and academic growth among young Ph.D. scholars and faculty members. It draws on JGU’s network of more than 600 partnerships across 83+ countries.

4. Policy & Governance

JGU’s SDG 4 commitment is carried through its scholarship programmes, university-wide curriculum mapping, the Disability Support Committee, the Policy on Women’s Access and its work on academic freedom.
Policy objectives

  • Widen access to higher education by increasing the annual student intake and supporting students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds through scholarships.
  • Map courses to the 17 SDGs and 169 targets every semester, so that sustainability is part of every discipline.
  • Provide individual accommodations and accessible learning resources for students with disabilities, under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and UGC guidelines.
  • Open access to higher education for women, including those from first-generation and disadvantaged backgrounds, through targeted outreach and scholarships (Policy on Women’s Access).
  • Protect academic freedom in teaching, inquiry and research (Academic Freedom Policy).

Oversight & responsibility: The Office of Academic Governance leads curriculum mapping. The Office of Sustainability and the Learning & Development team lead sustainability training. The Disability Support Committee oversees accommodations.

5. Progress Against Targets

Target 4.3: Equal access to quality tertiary and lifelong learning

Expanding access. JGU increases its student intake every year and now provides quality higher education to more than 16,000 students, which helps ease the pressure on India’s government-funded institutions. About 50% of students receive financial assistance, with priority for individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

MOOCs on environmental science and policy. JGU’s online learning has been recognised worldwide for environmental MOOCs reach learners from government, retail and consumer, design, construction and engineering.

  • Introduction to Environmental Science: 7,785 unique visitors and 1,326 enrolments. Its completion rate is more than twice the domain benchmark, and it is rated 4.5 across 13 metrics.
  • Environmental Issues, Policies, and Practice: 5,240 unique visitors and 507 enrolments, an advanced, policy-oriented course.

Both align with the National Education Policy 2020 and its emphasis on education for sustainable development.
Online and law-based master’s degrees. JGU offers an online M.Sc. in Environmental Change & Sustainability, an online M.Sc. in Global Health & Human Development and an LL.M. in Environmental Law, Energy & Climate Change.
Short-term study abroad. Summer and winter schools with Harvard University, Columbia Law School, the University of Pennsylvania, Pace University, Seattle University, the University of Oxford and UNITAR give students international experience.
Research fellowship. The Naveen Jindal Young Global Research Fellowship received 500+ applications from 35+ countries in 2026, up from 300+ applications from 30+ countries in 2025.

Target 4.4: Relevant skills for work and life

Inclusive and innovative teaching. JGU is committed to experiential and lifelong learning. Curricula use contemporary case-analysis methods, including docudramas and docuseries, so that students are academically prepared and also build critical thinking, creativity and adaptability, which sustainable development depends on. The learning environment values diverse perspectives and encourages continual professional and personal growth.
Mandatory sustainability training for staff. Academic, administrative and grassroots staff complete multi-tiered training led by the Office of Sustainability and the Learning & Development team. Its objectives are SDG literacy, operational alignment and a sustainability mindset. The latest cohort focused on breaking down departmental silos.
South–South immersion. Organised by the Office of Institutional Advancement & Strategic Global Engagement (IASGE), these programmes gave 66 students hands-on experience in business, sustainability and creative industries in Indonesia and Vietnam.
Professional skills. The cross-listed elective “Nurturing Soft Skills: Essential Strategies for Professional and Personal Success” is the SDG 4 spotlight course.

Target 4.5: Equity and inclusion

Near gender parity. Female students make up 49% of JGU’s student body, which reflects the University’s commitment to reducing educational disparities.
Scholarships for disadvantaged students. Financial assistance for about half of all students gives priority to those from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Disability Support Committee. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and UGC guidelines, the committee provides individual accommodations for physical, visual, auditory and mental health-related needs. It also arranges tailored learning adjustments, with a strictly private registration process.
Policy on Women’s Access. Targeted regional outreach, dedicated scholarships and fellowships, and a commitment to at least 33% female representation in decision-making bodies advance equal access for women.

Target 4.7: Education for sustainable development

Embedding the SDGs into university-wide courses. More than 350 cross-listed SDG electives are offered each year, 28 of them mapped to SDG 4. The courses are mapped to the 17 SDGs and 169 targets, which informs curriculum design and encourages faculty to bring in issues such as climate change and food security.
Learning beyond the classroom. JGU promotes lifelong learning beyond campus by organising multidisciplinary events with scholars, activists, artists and policymakers. These events connect global and local issues for students, staff and the wider community.
Sulitest TASK: measuring sustainability literacy. JGU is the first university in Asia to offer TASK, through a three-year pioneer partnership with Sulitest. The assessment covers the UN SDGs, the planetary boundaries framework and Doughnut Economics. It was expanded from JSES students to administrative staff, and test-takers rose from 52 in 2024 to 69 in 2025. The 2025 cohort averaged 64.79 out of 100, against a global average of 53.8.

  • 53 of 69 test-takers scored above the global average, up from 24 in 2024.
  • 25 of 69 scored above 70, showing high sustainability knowledge, up from 3 in 2024.
  • The strongest domain was Social Welfare (77.2), the strongest subject was Access to Energy (73.47) and the best individual score was 91.6.

Degree programmes in sustainability. These include the B.A. (Hons.) and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Environment & Sustainable Development and the online M.Sc. in Environmental Change & Sustainability. JGU is the first institution in India to be approved as a University Partner by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP).
Research. Prof. Tony George Puthucherril’s work on sustainability education in higher learning institutions ranks in the 99.6th percentile worldwide.

Target 4.a: Inclusive learning environments

Accessible campus and library. Ramps, Braille-signed lifts and wheelchair-accessible electric carts support physical access. The Global Library’s Abhigamya wing uses assistive technology to convert any library resource into digital Braille or audio, for learners on campus and remote.

6. Programmes, Research & Curriculum

  • Degrees: B.A. (Hons.) and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Environment & Sustainable Development; online M.Sc. in Environmental Change & Sustainability; LL.M. in Environmental Law, Energy & Climate Change; online M.Sc. in Global Health & Human Development.
  • 28 electives mapped to SDG 4. Spotlight: “Nurturing Soft Skills: Essential Strategies for Professional and Personal Success”.
  • Teaching methods: case analysis through docudramas and docuseries, supporting critical thinking, creativity and adaptability.
  • Naveen Jindal Young Global Research Fellowship. 2026 round: 500+ applications, 35+ countries, 150+ selected (2025: 300+, 30+, 100+).
  • Research theme: sustainability education in higher learning institutions (Prof. Tony George Puthucherril, 99.6th percentile).

7. Community, Partnerships & Outreach

JGU’s international collaborations, with 600+ partnerships across 83+ countries, broaden access to global knowledge systems and support shared progress towards the SDG 4 targets.

  • Sulitest: TASK assessment partner.
  • Coursera: hosting and learner analytics for MOOCs.
  • Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP): University Partner.
  • WWF India Centre for Environmental Law: LL.M. collaboration.
  • Study-abroad partners: Harvard University, Columbia Law School, University of Pennsylvania, Pace University, Seattle University, University of Oxford and UNITAR.
  • Immersion hosts: Universitas Ciputra Surabaya, Universitas PGRI Semarang (UPGRIS) and HUTECH, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Community events: multidisciplinary events with scholars, activists, artists and policymakers.

8. Events & 91探花 Timeline

Date Programme Host Participants UN SDG 4 target
5–26 Jan 2025 Discover Indonesia: Business, Innovation and Cultural Immersion Universitas Ciputra Surabaya 20 students 4.4
2–24 Dec 2025 Discover Indonesia: Southeast Asia’s Emerging Sustainable Markets Universitas PGRI Semarang (UPGRIS) 16 students 4.7
2–24 Dec 2025 Discover Vietnam: Cultural & Creative Immersion HUTECH, Ho Chi Minh City 30 students 4.4

9. Future Commitments & Roadmap

  • Curriculum: keep mapping student projects, guest lectures, study-abroad opportunities and core courses against the SDGs, semester by semester.
  • Sustainability literacy: continue the three-year pioneer partnership with Sulitest on the TASK assessment.
  • Academic freedom: engage with the Scholars at Risk (STAR) Network in 2026, linking academic freedom to the pursuit of the goals.

Education is where JGU’s strengths are most visible: nearly 300 research outputs on the goal in 2025, more than 350 SDG-mapped electives, dedicated sustainability degrees, MOOCs with a completion rate above twice the domain benchmark, and a literacy assessment on which 53 of 69 test-takers beat the global average. Scholarships for about half of its students, near gender parity, disability support and an accessible library extend that quality to every learner. The result is a diverse and empowered graduate community, equipped to make meaningful contributions at local, national and global levels. The Sulitest partnership and the SDG-mapped curriculum give JGU a strong base to keep raising sustainability literacy across students and staff.