SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

50 related courses were offered in the 2021-22 academic year.      

From 2018 to 2022, HKUST published 646 research papers related to SDG 11.   

The HKUST High Performance Building Standards & Guidelines aims to guide our campus growth with smart and sustainable principals and policies that serve as a model for others. The policy emphasizes flexibility in spaces, anticipation of future energy needs, maximum potential for metering and monitoring, integration of surroundings, design for social interaction, and opportunities for student experimentation and research.  

The Staff Mobile Computing Guidelines facilitates remote working by equipping staff to transition from desktop PCs to laptops. The guidelines highlight the benefits in employee well-being through flexible office design and work-life balance, strengthening HKUST's employer value proposition and competitiveness, enhancing staff productivity, transparency and efficiency through digitalization, and improving university agility and resilience.  

HKUST Library regularly organizes exhibition at the Ping Yuan and Kinmay W Tang Gallery, which is accessible to all campus visitors. With exhibitions like The Power of Diversity - Artistic Visionaries from HKUST, featuring four alumni artists who have pursued their artistic dreams, showcasing the beauty in diversity and the collective strength of the HKUST community.

HKUST Center for the Arts (CFA) promotes the appreciation and participation in artistic and cultural activities through a range of programs, including exhibitions, concerts, film shows, seminars, workshops, and off-site visits. The CFA's mission is to integrate art and culture into the university, which is primarily focused on business and science, aiming to nurture students' artistic awareness and appreciation of the arts. In 2022, the CFA organized 14 performances and exhibitions and 7 workshops and talks, providing students and the broader community with opportunities to engage with and explore various artistic and cultural expressions. 

The Division of Humanities at HKUST actively engages in community conservation initiatives to preserve and promote Hong Kong's cultural heritage. Led by Prof. LIU Tik-Sang, the South China Research Center records and publishes events and rituals undergoing rapid changes due to modernization. They also focus on the preservation of traditional sewing techniques of cheongsam, applying for its recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritage.  

The Division also engages in various Community Conservation Initiatives including field trips to Tai O introduce students to local traditions, academic collaborations with Pearl River Delta universities preserve the region's rich heritage, and heritage preservation projects such as the restoration of disused salt pans and the territory-wide survey for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong since 2009. 

Service-Learning initiatives include salvaging heritage in Yim Tin Tsai Village since 2007, participating in the Tai O Dragon Boat Parade since 2008, and promoting Tai Po's cultural heritage since 2009. Study trips to Northern Guangdong and Eastern Jiangxi provide opportunities to explore local history, social conditions, and culture while engaging in volunteer service and reflecting on personal practices in the eco-social environment of the communities.  

HKUST's Institute for the Environment (IENV) and the HKSAR Environmental Protection Department have announced a collaboration with other universities and international experts to study and develop science-based strategies for controlling regional ozone and photochemical smog. This partnership aims to improve understanding of emission sources, transport pathways, and transformation processes in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. 

HKUST has partnered with the Clean Air Network (CAN) and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong to launch the Clean Air Challenge in October 2021. The initiative aims to raise awareness about air quality and foster innovative solutions to combat air pollution through workshops and knowledge-sharing events. On 20 August 2022, the Clean Air Challenge Awards Ceremony recognizes secondary school winners and provides a platform for students to showcase their research findings. 

PRAISE-HK, developed by HKUST, is an app that provides real-time air quality monitoring, forecasts, and health risk information. The app aims to raise public awareness and engagement in air pollution issues, while contributing to the development of innovative environmental education programs for younger generations. 

To encourage staff members to choose more environmentally-friendly commuting options, HKUST also operates commuter buses and emphasizes the use of public transport. Our goal is for over 90% of staff to utilize sustainable transportation alternatives, which not only reduces energy consumption but also minimizes greenhouse gas emissions and alleviates road congestion.  

Smart Mobility: Indoor Navigation and Bus Queue Analytics project supported by the Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab initiative enhances campus transportation and navigation experience by harnessing WiFi sensing and machine learning analytics technology to provide real-time queue waits times at bus stops, optimizing bus services and convenience. Additionally, the project includes the development of Path Advisor 2.0, which utilizes indoor signal changes to determine one's precise location within campus buildings.

Blockcerts for ARO and DSTO leverages blockchain technology to provide secure and verifiable student confirmations, certification verification, and student CVs. By registering these documents on the blockchain server, they are cryptographically signed, ensuring tamper-proof integrity and enabling easy sharing. This alternative "opt-in" service complements the existing certification and verification process, offering an additional layer of transparency and trust in the academic and professional records of HKUST students.