Srijan Banik, founder and coordinator of Social Impact Lab at BRAC University, recently took part in an Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum highlighting the critical role universities can play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Organized at the United Nations headquarters in New York from 16 to 18 April, the forum provides a global platform for dialogue among member states and young leaders from around the world on solutions to challenges affecting youth wellbeing.
It also serves as a unique space for young people to share their vision and actions as well as provide an opportunity to advance youth solutions to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
Srijan Banik was in a delegation comprising students selected for Millennium Fellowship, a semester-long leadership development program presented by the United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Campus Network (MCN) Fellowship program to support student leadership for the SDGs.
“…we need an army of changemakers, and universities are the training grounds,” said Banik, emphasizing the power of intergenerational partnerships between universities and students to drive social innovation.
Students bring fresh ideas and passion, while universities provide resources and guidance, he added.