
Inner Development Goals (IDGs)
Transformational skills for sustainable development.
The University of York is proud to announce a significant collaboration with the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in July 2024. This partnership brings new methodological approaches to international research and innovative pedagogical strategies to enhance academic programmes.
What are the Inner Development Goals?
While the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set an ambitious roadmap for global sustainability by 2030, progress has been slow. The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) offer a complementary framework that emphasises the development of skills and qualities necessary to tackle these complex global challenges. The IDGs research, collect and communicate science-based skills and qualities that help us to live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives.
Through this initiative, the University of York aims to hasten its advancement towards the SDGs by upskilling and providing network opportunities among our research and academic community.

IDGs framework
The Inner Development Goals Framework simplifies a complex field of human development to help us better identify, understand, communicate, develop, and integrate the inner skills needed for sustainable development. Rooted in interdisciplinary research, the IDG Framework consists of 5 dimensions with 23 skills of human inner growth and development.
Drawing from these five guiding principles, this alliance is based on creating dynamic networks with fellow academics from across the world who are looking at similar social, environmental, health, educational and political issues to name a few.

Join a hub or network
The IDG initiative has over 500 international hubs, engaging more than 35,000 members across 80 countries. Organisations like IKEA, Stena, and Google are already leveraging the IDG Framework in their sustainability efforts. This partnership opens up opportunities for our University academic researchers and teaching staff to engage with the IDGs by joining a network or hub.
Explore a wide range of international hubs focused on diverse themes such as environmental, social, health, educational, and political issues. By Joining a hub, you can collaborate with peers globally on transformative research that applies the IDG Framework.
Contact details
For more information, you can explore the IDG Framework or join a hub to get involved. Dr Jo Rose and Dr Claudia Milena Adler are custodians of the MOU and you are welcome to contact them for more information.
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Dr Jo Rose | Dr Claudia Milena Adler |
Programme Leader of the MSc International Humanitarian Affairs | Deputy Programme Leader of the MSc International Humanitarian Affairs |
Email: jo.rose@york.ac.uk | Email: claudiamilena.adler@york.ac.uk |