2018 Proceedings of the SADC international on postgraduate research for sustainable development

Abstract

Achieving sustainable development requires the human resource with the right sustainability knowledge and skills to respond to the challenges facing our world today. Governments, communities and businesses are tackling the practical challenges that come with creating a sustainable future. Innovation is a big part of overcoming these challenges, thinking differently and finding new ways to reconcile the needs of people and businesses with those of our environment. Sustainable development is now a mainstream agenda, with implications for every area of society. These areas include industry that ensures that sustainability informs every aspect of its operations, from the environmental and social impacts of product design, manufacturing, logistics, and waste management, to communicating with shareholders, the workforce and consumers; governments and policy makers who create the frameworks of innovation that ensures pro-sustainability changes; and Individuals who make better choices about things like food sourcing and waste, energy use, transport and buying goods and services. Academic institutions are argued to play a key role in educating future generations with the right sustainability knowledge and skills. The SADC International Conference on Postgraduate Research for Sustainable Development has been organized to provide a platform for academics, industry experts, policy makers and all other stakeholders to share and debate on issues that relate to enhancing postgraduate research for sustainable development.