Partnerships with academia as an accelerator for local innovation and sustainable communities

​Higher education institutions, together with students and civil society, play a critical role in delivering transformative, equitable and innovative action on the Sustainable Development Goals, far beyond a narrow focus on SDG 4 alone. This virtual side event of the 2026 ECOSOC Partnership Forum brings together universities, youth-led organisations, UN actors and global networks to explore how partnerships with academia can accelerate local innovation and sustainable communities.

​Through a short keynote and concrete case studies, the session will showcase how universities, students, cities and civil society co-create solutions linked to SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, including water, energy, infrastructure and sustainable urban development. The discussion will highlight youth leadership, whole-institution approaches and place-based partnerships, and reflect on how ECOSOC and HLPF processes can better leverage these collaborations towards 2030 and beyond.

​The event is open to policymakers, UN stakeholders, higher education leaders, researchers, students and civil society actors interested in practical partnership models, governance innovation and the future role of higher education in sustainable development.