Perceptions of an international branch campus' impact on the Sustainable Development Goals in the Ivory Coast

Abstract

This qualitative and descriptive research examines the effect of international branch campuses (IBCs) on the achievement of four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via the lens of the University of Colombia (pseudonym) and the higher education system promoted through their IBC at the University of Ivory Coast (pseudonym). This research was conducted with the intention of determining whether or whether not these initiatives considerably enhance the quality of life for current students, faculty members, and alumni, in addition to the communities that are located in the surrounding areas. The data obtained from these university's websites and other sources were supplemented by firsthand accounts obtained by the researcher through the use of a questionnaire and interviews with members of the students, alumni, consultants, faculty of each institution, as well as the two presidents of the universities. This study acknowledged and investigated the positive effects that would result from incorporating South-South international collaboration activities into higher education institutions. It was also shown that IBCs could be able to assist underdeveloped nations in accomplishing some of the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations. This dissertation contributes to the existing body of knowledge by proposing potential areas for future research, such as the need to examine and analyze this South-South type of cooperation agreement to determine how the IBC partnership can assist these nations and the perceptions of four of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.