The teaching of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in universities serves as a foundation for theoretical knowledge, yet often lacks practical application. Our study employed a methodology centered around graph theory and in-depth interviews with instructors from four universities (two private and two public) during the first semester of 2022. The findings revealed that instructors predominantly approach the teaching of SDGs from a theoretical standpoint, emphasizing the need to raise awareness about the pressing real-world challenges our planet faces in the absence of intervention. While the SDGs are integrated into various subjects’ curricula, little effort is made to actively contribute to sustainability. In conclusion, instructors primarily teach the SDGs within their respective courses but fail to adopt a cross-disciplinary approach to foster widespread awareness. While teaching the SDGs is crucial in understanding the limitations of our resources, it is equally essential to do so in a practical manner, employing real-life examples from society to facilitate effective learning and application.