<strong>Paper Title</strong><br>
ACTING ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) THROUGH GLOBALLY NETWORKED LEARNING (GNL)<br>
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<strong>Abstract</strong><br>
Abstract - Problem statement: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) encompass 17 goals set forth by the United Nations in 2015. The SDGs established a 15-year blueprint for achieving a peaceful and healthy planet for all people by the year 2030 (United Nations, 2015). While the SDGs are vital for the global community, many young people— including undergraduate students at the university level— have little to no awareness of the SDGs and their purposes (Byker, 2023). The purpose of this paper is to describe and report on a comparative and international research project related to Globally Networked Learning (GNL) project among students in Germany (n= 28) and the United States (n=37). The focus of the GNL project was to investigate and compare aspects of SDGs in Germany and the United States. 

Methods: Globally Networked Learning (GNL) is a type of international virtual exchange for the purposes of collaboration, intercultural communication, and knowledge creation. The undergraduate students in this GNL project participated in the experience for 8 weeks.  Using case study research design (Yin, 2009), the students’ perceptions of the GNL experience was investigated using artifact analysis, pre and post survey questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. 

Results: The preliminary results from data analysis show that a significant majority of the students (88%) agreed or strongly agreed that the GNL project facilitated a deeper understanding of the SDGs. Likewise, almost all the students (96%) agreed or strongly agreed that they would take action on the SDGs in their future career. Finally, over 80 percent of the students agreed or strongly agreed that GNL projects help to facilitate intercultural communication and the development of global competencies. 

Conclusion:  Education is a key to making progress on the SDGs. This research has found that Globally Networked Learning is a way to help advance education on the SDGs.