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Sustainable Development Goal 4 and the curriculum: The effects of their integration on global citizenship and organisational development and change in South African universities

Monument Thulani Bongani Makhanya ORCID ↗ · Makhosazana Faith Vezi-Magigaba ORCID ↗

International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2026 · Vol. 14 / Issue 10 · 389-401

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Overview

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine how incorporating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 Quality Education into South African university curricula promotes global citizenship and aids in organisational reform. This paper aims to address the disparity between educational methods and the global citizenship skills that are essential for a globalised world. It further aims to evaluate how teaching frameworks that are in line with SDG 4 can improve educational quality and foster a global civic culture in higher education. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to examine the body of research on the connection between SDG 4, curriculum integration, global citizenship, and organisational development using major academic databases. The findings show that incorporating SDG 4 concepts enhances instructional content and gives students a sense of accountability for global issues. Integration of this kind also promotes flexible corporate cultures that place a high value on social responsibility, creativity, and diversity. This paper recommends that educators receive specialised training on integrating the SDGs, that students participate in co-curated learning activities, and that evaluation techniques be updated to include global citizenship outcomes. Finally, by bringing curricula in line with SDG 4, South African institutions can greatly improve their educational offerings, which will promote student development, social progress, and major organisational change.

Keywords: {'name': 'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Global Citizenship, Organisational Development, Quality Education and Curriculum Integration'}

Authors & affiliations

Monument Thulani Bongani Makhanya
University of Zululand

Makhosazana Faith Vezi-Magigaba
University of Zululand

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