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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) hosted the SDSN Thailand University Sustainability Study Tour 2024 on 5 and 6 December 2024. The tour brought together CUHK and 29 distinguished leaders from 14 leading Thai universities, creating a dynamic platform to explore innovative approaches to sustainable development in higher education. The study tour, themed “Advancing Sustainable Development in Higher Education”, aimed to foster strategic collaboration and knowledge sharing among participating institutions. The focus is on how universities can effectively contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.

The event was inaugurated with a high-level round-table discussion led by CUHK’s senior management, providing participants with pivotal insights into integrating sustainable development into higher education. Professor Alan K.L. Chan, Provost of CUHK and J.S. Lee Professor of Chinese Culture, said: “CUHK is honoured to support the SDSN Thailand Sustainability Study Tour 2024, which fosters exchange and collaboration to resolve sustainable development challenges in the higher education sector. We are committed to mobilising our community and leveraging our strengths to advance the 17 UN SDGs both locally and internationally.”

Professor Chol Bunna, Co-manager of SDSN Thailand, Assistant Professor at Thammasat University, and Director of the Centre for SDG Research and Support (SDG Move), emphasised the unique opportunity this study tour presents to foster significant inter-university collaboration. He noted: “This study tour represents a crucial step in enhancing collaboration among universities in Thailand and Hong Kong. By sharing our experiences, we can learn from each other, and work together to address the pressing sustainability challenges we face today.”

During the tour, the leaders from Thai universities engaged in a series of sessions designed to facilitate in-depth discussion and practical knowledge exchange. These interactions highlighted exemplary sustainability research and the practical integration of the SDGs into university governance and operations. They emphasised student engagement in sustainability initiatives by means of innovative programmes that empower them to actively champion sustainability on campus and in the wider community. The event also featured tours of CUHK’s sustainability-focused facilities, which provided a solid view of how CUHK implements sustainable practices within its operations. The delegates left with a lasting impression of CUHK’s innovative approaches to sustainability, reinforcing CUHK’s role as a pioneering institution in this critical global endeavour.

The SDSN Thailand University Sustainability Study Tour reaffirms CUHK’s commitment to sustainability and underscores its stature as a 21st-century civic university at the forefront of nurturing knowledge and cultivating a sustainable future. By uniting academic leaders from diverse backgrounds, the tour fosters a collective resolve to tackle global sustainability issues, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.

About Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Hong Kong

The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust have co-hosted the Hong Kong chapter of the SDSN since 2018. Under the umbrella of the global SDSN, the Hong Kong chapter seeks to mobilise expertise, information and resources from academics, philanthropy, government, businesses and non-profits to address the most pressing environmental, social and economic issues in Hong Kong and advance sustainable development. SDSN Hong Kong is dedicated to identifying means of collaboration on research and pursuing sustainability solutions with local and international researchers and leaders in sustainable development. More details can be found at https://sdsn-hk.org/en/.