Africa, AU Agenda 2063 & UN SDGs is a semester long spring course that includes travel over spring break (March 29 - April 6, 2025). This course will focus on African development that engages the interface between the UN 17 SDGs and AU Agenda 2063 and their respective priority areas. Held in partnership with one of Cornell's Global Hub partner institutions, the University of Ghana, students will link readings and discussions with visits to relevant historical and cultural sites, including Cape Coast castle, that will provide learning milieus to satisfy academic as well as cross-cultural objectives.   

The purpose of this course is to offer students a platform for a critical examination of the political, educational, social, and economic conditions of African countries. The topics will range from eradication of poverty, access to nutrition, health care, clean water and energy, education, elimination of inequality with a special emphasis on gender equity, sustainable and environmentally sensitive industrial development, responsible consumption, protection of land and life below water, promotion of sustainable communities and global peace and partnership. Of critical importance is the issue of how African states can achieve culturally relevant development goals.

Program Timeframe:

This program is embedded as part of a spring course titled African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Students are expected to take the full spring course with travel over spring break as part of this program:

• ASRC/GOVT 2063: African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Spring 2025, Class Times: TBD, Travel: March 29-April 6, 2025)

Faculty

N’Dri Assié-Lumumba, Director of the Institute for African Development (IAD), Professor of Africana Studies, College of Arts & Sciences