SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals 

Green Finance Research 

Amid the rising global demand for green finance talent, HKUST published a first-ever in-depth research study to help Hong Kong chart the way forward in green and sustainable finance talent building.  The study maps out the key stakeholders, desired skill areas and knowledge progression path of the current Green and Sustainable Finance market, helping to guide the city’s strategic talent development into a green finance hub.  We also welcomed our first cohort of students admitted to the city’s first GSF undergraduate program BSc in Sustainable and Green Finance in September 2022. 

Global Sustainability Collaboration with Higher Education Institutes 

HKUST is an active member in the International Sustainable Campus Network, international forum to support higher education institutions in the exchange of information, ideas, and best practices for achieving sustainable campus operations and integrating sustainability in research and teaching.  ISCN recognized HKUST with a 2022 Excellence in Sustainability Award for our unique campus as a living lab approach, where we combine “Sustainable” with “Smart” elements for funded pro

Super Soft Hydrogel

A team of researchers from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering together with a local medical start-up has developed a Super Soft Hydrogel which could be applied to cure dry eye disease, macular degeneration and knee osteoarthritis. This breakthrough has successfully addressed SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), delivering a Gold Medal at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.

Wildfire Mitigation

Our PPOL researcher are looking into Spatial Prioritization of Wildfire Mitigation efforts in Indonesian tropical rainforests using a complex interplay of multi-source data, REDD+ program and GIS Modelling. As a result of collaboration with international education institutions such as Institut Teknologi Bandung, University of Tokyo and University of Technology Sydney, this paper addresses SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

ESG Investment Policy

In December 2022, HKUST became the FIRST university in Hong Kong to implement the ESG investment strategy to eliminate investments in fossil fuels. The Net-Zero Carbon Investment pledge also outlines the intention to allocate 5 per cent of investment to climate contributors by 2025.   

Sustainable Catering Policy

The Sustainable Catering Policy regulates food and dining facilities to meet sustainable goals. On-campus food caters must comply to sustainable food practices plan established by the Hong Kong Green Label Scheme and are strongly encouraged to take part in educational campaigns related to sustainable consumption.

Guidelines

Comprehensive guides are publicly accessible to advice for waste reduction during operation of events or and maintenance of sustainable concepts during performance of duties. Some examples include the encouragement to purchase Second-Hand Goods, Digitalization and Metering.

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Conference (CARE 2022)

The Climate Adaptation & Resilience Conference (CARE2022) was held on 10-12 December 2022 as an effort to convene stakeholders from various sectors to address Hong Kong's adaptation and resilience planning in response to climate change. The conference emphasized the importance of incorporating climate considerations across sectors, enhancing energy efficiency through building regulations, raising public awareness, and engaging youth. By highlighting Hong Kong's potential as a climate leader, the conference aimed to foster collaboration and concrete actions towards achieving carbon neutrality and building resilience. 

Sustainability Dialogue with Alumni

Through a recent Sustainability Dialogue, Luke Tam, a HKUST alumni shares insight into the tourism industry, more specifically how it is adopting sustainability. His agency, Kaifong Tour itself pushes forward the preservation of local culture through storytelling and understanding of local communities 

Global: HKUST Hosts Data for Policy Conference 2022

HKUST hosts the Data for Policy Conference 2022, a premier global forum while closely collaborating with UCL, Alan Turing Institute, Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, and more partners with the aim to utilize data-driven innovation to tackle societal challenges. The event was attended by researchers, policymakers and experts from around the world to engage in dialogue relating to data governance, ethical use of data as well as leveraging big data across China, EU, the US, the Philippines, Japan, Russia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Regional: HKUST & IST signs MOU

In November 2022, HKUST Business School signed partnership with The Institute of Sustainability and Technology (IST) to advance agenda for best practice in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). It was supported by over 100 industry leaders as well as the HKSAR Secretariat for Administration with the aligned vision of “developing Hong Kong into a green and sustainable hub in the region”. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) builds the partnership on ESG initiatives through education and technology. 

Jockey Club Sustainable Campus Consumer Programme 

Under the Jockey Club Sustainable Consumer Programme (JCSCCP), HKUST kicks open doors for carbon reduction efforts through the AI-driven Reusable Meal Container Lending System, FIRST of its kind, eliminating 300 disposable lunchboxes from landfills pushing down carbon emissions. 

This strategic three-year program aims to leverage cross-campus impact and facilitate information sharing and best practices among member universities.

Water-Saving Smart Showerhead

The Water-Saving Smart Showerhead urges users to save water by implementing a timed-LED system to lower average shower time saving close to one million liters of water, equivalent to average daily water consumption of seven thousand and seven hundred residents.

HKUST Connect

HKUST Connect is a social initiative built to facilitate engagement of the university’s community with sustainable goals. During the 2022-2023 academic year, the program oversaw over 90 community engagement programs spanning over 14 SDGs. Through the Global Service Day 2023 in April, 30 volunteering opportunities were provided garnering 395 participants, lending hands to Non-Profit Organizations such as Feeding Hong Kong, Crossroads Foundation and Project WeCan.

HKUST Connect is also one of our main initiatives to raise civic awareness and develop sustainable partnerships with the wider community to deepen student learning and promote a benevolent world. Over the past decade, HKUST Connect has partnered with United Nations Volunteers (UNV) to contribute to global volunteerism, providing students with valuable opportunities to work in United Nations Agencies across Asia and support various SDG-related initiatives.  

As part of the Changemaker Gear Up Training Series to equip students to lead and inspire change, HKUST Connect organized the Possible World - the simulation game for our shared future event that allowed students to explore of complex global sustainable development challenges and encouraging them to take action. 

Green Team

To facilitate and nurture interest for community engagement, students and staff members can join the Green Team, a community with passion in sustainability. Additionally, staff and faculty members are entitled to take up to four working days of Special Leave for participating in volunteering service with full pay.

SIGHT

Student Innovation for Global Health (SIGHT) bridges innovation by undergraduate students in forms of tangible/systemic health solutions to underserved communities spanning from Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. Collaborating with various department, SIGHT manifests itself as Courses, Camps and Final Year Projects. Some notable projects include MedEasy and Malaria Prevention at a Refugee Settlements. 

SDG Data

The Sustainability/Net-Zero Office (SUST) publishes publicly accessible SDG Reports and ESG Reports showcasing snapshots of the campus’ yearly progress and achievements across various sustainability dimensions, based on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The university’s effort has been reflected as it was ranked the World’s 36th in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.
 

Minor program

The Minor Program in Sustainability exhibits our university’s commitment to foster strong sustainability mindset in students while fulfilling interdisciplinary learning with their main Bachelor Degree.

Annual Course Evaluation

As a regional leader in sustainability education with a global outreach, the Sustainability Education Advisory Group (SEAG) conducts annual Sustainability Course Evaluation to document and update our database of Sustainability-related courses. This aligns with our aim to accentuate and improve students’ exposure to sustainability. 
 

HKUST Sustainable Smart Campus acts as a Living Lab for to experiment on smart innovative approaches to deliver Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for our community by our community. Some 2023 projects include Smart Building Integrated Photovoltaic Systems for energy efficiency, Zero- Green House Gases-refrigerant cooling system. and AI Ambassador to embrace digital resources.

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