UNAD and the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs

This paper analyzes the ethical and political position of Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD) regarding the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), proposing the development of an institutional strategy aimed at the metasystemic appropriation of sustainability. This research arises from the need to rethink socioecological relationships and strengthen the capacity of educational institutions to contribute to social, environmental, and territorial transformation through perspectives grounded in foresight and sustainable development. Its main objective is to present the conceptual and operational foundations of the UNAD´s Model for Measuring and Owning the SDGs (MUMO17), aligned with the university’s substantive responsibilities.

The methodological proposal is developed through documentary analysis of UNAD’s institutional policies, development plans, and academic guidelines, complemented by the design of a model structured in four phases: institutional self-assessment of the SDGs, participatory prioritization, phased implementation, and continuous forward-looking improvement. The model incorporates tools such as self-assessment matrices, institutional perception surveys, interoperable indicator systems, and intersystemic coordination strategies to evaluate the university’s impact on the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

The results demonstrate the consolidation of an institutional approach aimed at integrating the SDGs into processes related to education, research, innovation, social inclusion, internationalization, and regional development. Furthermore, the Unifying Framework for Sustainable Development (TDS) is proposed as a mechanism for understanding the interrelationships among the 17 SDGs and facilitating their local implementation through context-specific and participatory actions. The model also includes the creation of the UNAD´s Inter-Systemic SDG Network and the SDG Support and Coordination Center (CAODS), aimed at strengthening processes of monitoring, coordination, and institutional appropriation of sustainability.

The research identifies the need to move beyond institutional coordination toward mechanisms that promote the comprehensive appropriation of the SDGs, thereby strengthening the university’s capacity to generate measurable impacts in sustainability, governance, social inclusion, and territorial transformation. The proposed model outlines a methodological pathway for integrating the 2030 Agenda into university planning, academic processes, and institutional engagement with communities and territories.