Higher Education’s Role in Achieving SDGs through OBE and Character Education

Abstract

Higher education holds a strategic and central role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by shaping human resources who are knowledgeable, ethical, and committed to sustainability. Universities serve not only as centers of knowledge and innovation but also as transformative agents that embed sustainability values into academic culture and social engagement. Through the integration of sustainability principles into the curriculum and the implementation of the Outcome-Based Education approach, institutions of higher learning can effectively cultivate moral values, social responsibility, critical thinking, and environmental awareness among students. This study aims to analyze the role of higher education in aligning Sustainable Development Goals with character education by employing a literature review of scholarly works published in the last five years. The results reveal that the application of Outcome-Based Education and character education significantly contributes to enhancing ecological consciousness, promoting social innovation, and advancing sustainable development both within universities and across communities. Furthermore, higher education institutions are encouraged to strengthen their roles in education, research, and community service to produce graduates of integrity who possess global competitiveness and a strong sense of ethical and environmental responsibility.