The Mandela Institute for Sustainable Futures (MISF) aligns its work with key national, continental, and global frameworks that guide sustainable development and higher education impact. These frameworks provide both strategic direction and measurable indicators for MISF’s contributions to transformative change.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• Advancing global sustainability by aligning research, teaching, and engagement with the 17 SDGs through integrated, impact-driven approaches.

African Union Agenda 2063

• Supporting the realisation of “The Africa We Want” by promoting Afrocentric knowledge and inclusive, resilient development.

Nelson Mandela University Vision 2030

• Embedding sustainability into Nelson Mandela University’s core mission, driving institutional transformation and societal impact.
• To be a dynamic African university, recognised for its leadership in generating cutting-edge knowledge for a sustainable future.

Department of Higher Education and Training

• Aligning with national higher education goals by strengthening graduate readiness, research excellence, and institutional sustainability.

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

• Enhancing Nelson Mandela University’s global benchmarking performance by tracking, reporting, and improving SDG-related impact indicators.