Measuring Sustainable Development from edX

Sustainable development is the most important global movement of our time. In 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These interconnected Goals aim to end poverty and promote economic prosperity, ensure social equity, and protect the environment. Above all, the 2030 Agenda commits to “leaving no one behind.” How do we know if we are on track to achieve the SDGs? Which Goals should different countries prioritize? And what kind of data do we need to ensure that everyone is counted?

Launched in 2015 by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the Sustainable Development Report is the first worldwide study to assess where the world stands with regard to achieving sustainable development. The Report contains the SDG Index and Dashboards, which use a combination of official and unofficial data and indicators to understand each country’s progress on the 17 SDGs.

In this short course, you will hear from some of the experts responsible for creating the Sustainable Development Report about the value of measuring progress on the SDGs, and how a tool like the SDG Index and Dashboards helps policymakers and other stakeholders make important decisions about their development priorities. You will examine the different types of data that can be used to measure development progress, and learn the technical steps needed to construct an index for the SDGs. Finally, you will explore regional and city-level indices, and discuss new approaches to SDG measurement and data-based decision-making.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the value of measuring progress on the sdgs.
Use the sdg index and dashboards as a tool for understanding sdg progress in your country, region, or city.

Differentiate between data sources and select the most appropriate source for different types of data.
Identify the steps necessary to construct an sdg index.

Understand the value of measuring progress on the sdgs.
Use the sdg index and dashboards as a tool for understanding sdg progress in your country, region, or city.
Differentiate between data sources and select the most appropriate source for different types of data.
Identify the steps necessary to construct an sdg index.

Syllabus

Module 1: An Introduction to SDG Measurement

Module 2: Constructing an Index, Part I: Methodology and Data

Module 3: Constructing an Index, Part II: Technical Training

Module 4: Regional and City Indices

Module 5: Conclusions and Goals Ahead

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by experts responsible for the Sustainable Development Report, who are recognized for their work in the field of development economics

Provides a practical understanding of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their importance, and how to measure progress towards them

Develops a solid understanding of the different types of data used to measure development progress, including both official and unofficial data

Covers the technical steps involved in the construction of an SDG Index from scratch, including methodology development and data selection

Introduces regional and city-level indices, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities for implementing the SDGs at different levels

Examines new approaches to SDG measurement and data-based decision-making, keeping learners abreast of the latest advancements in the field

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Measuring Sustainable Development with these activities:

Complete the SDG Index and Dashboards online course

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Enhance your understanding of the course material through guided instruction and exercises.

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Enroll in the free online course.
Complete the course modules.
Take the quizzes and complete the assignments.

Review 'The Sustainable Development Goals Report'

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Read and engage with the report that provides a foundation for the index and dashboards used in the course.

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Obtain a copy of 'The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021'.
Review the report's key findings.
Identify the countries that are making the most progress towards achieving the SDGs.
Identify the countries that are facing the greatest challenges.

Write a blog post about the SDGs

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Deepen your understanding of the SDGs and improve your communication skills by writing about them.

Browse courses on SDGs

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Choose a topic to write about.
Research your topic.
Write your blog post.

Five other activities

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Practice using the SDG Index and Dashboards

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Gain proficiency in using the tools introduced in the course to track SDG progress.

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Access the SDG Index and Dashboards.
Explore the different features of the tools.
Use the tools to track the progress of a specific country or region.

Create a dashboard

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Develop a practical understanding of how data can be used to track and measure progress towards the SDGs.

Browse courses on Dashboard

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Choose a country or region to focus on.
Identify the data that you need to create your dashboard.
Design and create your dashboard.

Create a presentation on the SDGs

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Enhance your communication skills and demonstrate your understanding of the SDGs by creating a presentation.

Browse courses on SDGs

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Choose a topic for your presentation.
Research your topic.
Create your presentation.
Practice your presentation.

Participate in a data hackathon

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Apply your skills in a practical and challenging environment, potentially making impactful contributions to SDG-related initiatives.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Find a data hackathon that focuses on the SDGs.
Form a team with other data scientists and developers.
Develop a solution to a problem related to the SDGs.
Submit your solution to the hackathon.

Contribute to an open-source SDG project

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Make a meaningful contribution to the SDG community by participating in the development of open-source tools and resources.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open-source SDG project that interests you.
Join the project's community and learn about their work.
Make a contribution to the project.
Share your experiences and help others get involved in the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Measuring Sustainable Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Analyst

Sustainability Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to assess how well companies and organizations are meeting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make better decisions. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts develop and evaluate public policy. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Sustainability Advisor

Sustainability Advisors provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their sustainability performance. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Advisor

Sustainable Development Manager

Sustainable Development Managers develop and implement plans and programs to promote sustainable development. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainable Development Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects to achieve specific goals. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

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Program Manager

Program Managers develop and implement programs to achieve specific goals. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers develop and implement strategies to improve the sustainability of organizations. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

ESG Analyst

ESG Analysts evaluate the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of companies and organizations. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Analyst

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers develop and implement programs that promote social and environmental responsibility within organizations. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Environmental Consultant

Environmental Consultants help organizations understand and comply with environmental regulations. They also develop and implement plans to reduce environmental impact. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Research Analyst

Research Analysts conduct research to help organizations understand trends and make better decisions. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and its interactions with humans and other organisms. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

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Urban Planner

Urban Planners develop plans for the development and use of land in urban areas. This course will help you build a foundation in measuring and assessing sustainable development. You will learn how to use the SDG Index and Dashboards, which are used by policymakers and other stakeholders to make important decisions about their development priorities. This course will also help you develop the skills you need to communicate your findings to a variety of audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner