A quantitative approach to attaining sustainable development goals through higher institutions in Rivers State

Abstract

The study investigated a quantitative approach to attaining sustainable development goals through higher institutions in Rivers State.  The study employed two objectives, research questions and hypotheses respectively. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the  study. Sample size consisting 826 respondents representing 56% of the population of 1,475 academic staff in two higher institutions in  Rivers State, the participants were also selected using simple random sampling technique. Instrument for data collection was Higher  Education and Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals Questionnaire (HEASDGQ). To validate the instrument, the researcher  presented the questionnaire items to two experts in Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education in Rivers State  University for scrutiny. A reliability coefficient index of 0.90 was obtained using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The  data gathered were analysed using mean ( __ X ) and rank order for research questions while z statistics was used in testing the  hypotheses at 0.05% alpha level. The study revealed among others that higher education is the powerful mechanism and foundation for  achieving Sustainable Development Goals via entrepreneurship education for students (youths) and research productivity by academics.  The study recommended inta-alia that higher education curriculum be redesigned to offer basic knowledge that will safeguard the  interest of the future generation and geared towards sustainable development both at state and national levels respectively.