The Sustainable Development Goals through graphic novels in Higher Education

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), promoted by the United Nations, presents 17 goals to be achieved in the year 2030. In order to achieve them, their incorporation into education is essential to involve young people and the future agents of change in their assimilation and application. Graphic Novels allow us to examine a large number of topics and how these and the geographical places are represented. A teaching experience in higher education is presented through the analysis of nine graphic novels with the purpose of analyze, from a geographical perspective, the 17 SDGs, observing their interrelation and interdependence and the contrasts and similarities between “real” and “realm”. Through the analysis of current socio-economic and socio-ecological problems and their debate in the classroom, students were able to develop their capacity for analysis, reflection and discussion, but also critical thinking was stimulated from a close and creative perspective. The students were motivated and satisfied with the activity, despite the difficulties to unravel the different problems exposed in the graphic novels. Moreover, they increased their knowledge about the SDG, which were, before this is experience, almost non-existent.