Building a sustainable future: faculty retreat on SDGs and development strategy
Faculty members gather on March 10 for a retreat to reflect on past achievements and discuss strategies to align with the University's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Professor May Cheng May-hung, Vice President (Academic) of the University, briefly joins the retreat’s afternoon session, offering valuable perspectives to the attendees.
Approximately 50 faculty members and administrative team members attended a full-day retreat on 10 March to deepen their understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their significance in university rankings, and to discuss faculty’s strategic development plan for the years to come. The SDG Coordinator of the faculty, along with the Head of the Office of Institutional Data and Research (OIDR) and senior management staff from Estates Office of the University shared their expert insights on the topic. Professor Li Wai-keung, Dean of FLASS, and Associate Deans led reflections on the previous year’s work. Participants also discussed the importance of SDGs in university education and how to incorporate them into departmental and faculty development strategies.
Professor Li officiated the commencement of the retreat by highlighting challenges in research, branding and publicity, and organisation. This was followed by the keynote speech of the morning session by Professor Keith Ho Wing-kei, Faculty SDG Coordinator and Head of the Department of Science and Environmental Studies (SES). He outlined the University’s vision to enhance its societal impact through research, education, and innovation, and to improve its positions in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and THE Impact Rankings.
Professor Ho, SDG Coordinator of the faculty, says that the University has highlighted four SDGs to guide its strategic development.
“Among United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call for action to address global challenges and to ensure peace and prosperity for all people, the University highlights four key goals to guide its strategic development. These are Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17),” Professor Ho remarked.
He also shared insights regarding the two major ranking exercises: the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and THE Impact Rankings. While THE Impact Rankings assesses an institution’s performance in research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching, the QS World University Sustainability Rankings rate institutions based on their commitment to prioritising environmental issues, social impact and corporate governance (ESG). He highlighted that the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium (HKSCC)’s, of which EdUHK is a member, has a joint commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. *
Mr Jesse Xiao Sizhe, Director of the Office of Institutional Data and Research (OIDR), shares his expert views on SDGs impacts and University Rankings exercises.
In addition to Professor Ho, Mr Jesse Xiao Sizhe, Director of the Office of Institutional Data and Research (OIDR), Dr Chan Man-ho, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies and Student Learning) of FLASS, and representatives from the University’s Estates Office also gave presentations on SDGs. Mr Xiao reminded faculty members that teaching, learning, student activities, and research efforts can all contribute to SDGs impacts. He also encouraged academics to use the SDG Impact Assessment Tool provided by the University to assess SDG relevance and incorporate SDGs impacts into the EdUHK Research Repository.
Representatives from the Estates Office updated attendees on the University’s efforts to meet various SDGs, including waste reduction, energy saving, green buildings, renewable energy on campus, water conservation, and green transportation. Dr Chan updated the audience on his involvement in a project team led by Professor May Cheng May-hung, Vice President (Academic), focusing on research, development, and mapping of curriculum framework to address SDGs at the undergraduate level. He also presented a summary of SDG-related programmes and courses at FLASS.
Professor Philip Yu Leung-ho opens the afternoon session with a speech on FLASS’ proactive approach to initiating research on big data and AI. He also emphasises that, with the diverse academic disciplines of the faculty, FLASS is strong in conducting interdisciplinary research to tackle sustainability challenges.
Professor Philip Yu Leung-ho from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology set the scene for the afternoon session with a speech about the faculty’s response to the emergence of big data and AI technologies, and the pressing needs for sustainable development. Professor Yu noted that the faculty’s diverse academic disciplines position it well for conducting collaborative interdisciplinary research that leverages expertise in computational science, social sciences, natural sciences and health sciences to address sustainability issues.
Professor Daniel Chow Hung-kay, Associate Dean (Research & Postgraduate Studies), shares his observations and analysis about research output of the faculty.
Professor Stephen Chiu Wing-kai, Associate Dean (International Engagement), and Professor Daniel Chow Hung-kay, Associate Dean (Research & Postgraduate Studies), shared their insights following the opening remarks. Professor Chiu reviewed the faculty’s achievements in student exchanges and international collaborations in teaching and learning during the previous year. He raised questions about how to strengthen work in these areas. Professor Chow discussed research impact metrics and presented a SWOT analysis of the faculty’s research endeavours.
At the one-day retreat, participants were divided into four groups to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the faculty in formulating its strategic plan for 2025-2031. There was a lively exchange of ideas as attendees brainstormed how to integrate SDGs into curriculum development for FLASS programmes in the plan. They engaged in discussions on enhancing work in research, community engagement, and partnerships to boost performance in SDGs in the coming years.
Professor Stephen Chiu Wing-kai, Associate Dean (International Engagement), third from left, leads one of the groups to brainstorm measures to enhance international collaborations on teaching and learning.
Professor Li thanked all attendees for making the retreat successful. “Higher education faces an increasingly challenging environment that requires constant strategic adjustments. We value the opportunity for faculty members to come together to reflect on past experiences and share insights regarding future development. The retreat led to several immediately actionable items and inspired us to find ways to address challenges. As a cohesive team sharing a common goal, FLASS will succeed despite recent challenges,” said Professor Li.
Apart from the Dean and Associate Deans, heads of departments, programme leaders and chair professors joined the annual exercise to exchange ideas on various topics. We were honoured to have Professor May Cheng May-hung, Vice President (Academic) of the University, join us during the lunch break and part of the afternoon session. Professor Cheng offered valuable insights regarding admissions and internationalisation issues that the University and FLASS need to address.
Note:* In May 2010, eight publicly-funded universities and higher institution signed the Hong Kong Declaration, pledging their commitment to responding the challenges posed by climate change and sustainable development. To address these challenges, the eight institutions joined forces to form the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium (HKSCC) in 2010. EdUHK is one of the signatories.
