2025 Sustainability Global Leaders Conference | Institutional Planning and Analytics Office

Prof. Geoffrey Shen, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Director of Global Engagement, Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, and the IPAO team were invited to participate in the 2025 Sustainability Global Leaders Conference, organised by the World Green Design Organisation and Sina Group, held in Shanghai, China, from 16 to 18 October.

With the theme “Joining Hands to Address Challenges: Global Action, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth”, the Conference brought together over 500 distinguished guests including heads of international organisations and industry leaders, as well as Nobel Prize winners, scholars and professionals. The Conference featured over 50 topics spanning carbon neutrality, green finance, sustainable consumption, technology and public welfare, and included policy discussions, academic research presentations and industry case studies.

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During the panel discussion on “Breaking Through to a Sustainable Future: Innovative Pathways for Talent Development”, Prof. Shen pointed out that PolyU has integrated ESG elements into its educational objectives. He affirmed the University's commitment to nurturing professionals and societal leaders who possess a sense of national identity, a global perspective, and a strong sense of social responsibility. He highlighted PolyU's service-learning courses, which are designed to foster social responsibility in students. He also elaborated on the University's efforts in broadening students' global perspectives and its innovative practice of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics (DA) into all undergraduate curricula.

When asked by the moderator how to implement these core principles and partner with enterprises, Prof. Shen introduced the University's long-standing university-enterprise collaboration schemes. These initiatives were established to enhance students' practical skills and deepen their industry knowledge. Furthermore, Prof. Shen presented PolyU's pioneering Master's program—the first of its kind in Hong Kong—an inter-faculty, interdisciplinary program designed to cultivate talents in ESG and sustainable development. In his concluding remarks, he called upon the delegates to join hands in nurturing a new generation of socially responsible professionals and societal leaders.

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In another panel discussion co-hosted by PolyU and the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance on "Embedding Sustainability in Higher Education and Tomorrow’s Talent Pipeline", Prof. Li shared practical approaches to integrating sustainability into curricula through hands-on learning experiences and collaborative industry partnerships. PolyU has established several research institutes dedicated to sustainability, focusing on challenges such as climate change, urban development, carbon neutrality, and resource management through interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The recent establishment of the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities further underscores PolyU’s commitment to advancing sustainable development in Hong Kong, the nation, and globally.

In discussion with industry leaders, PolyU reaffirmed the University's commitment to sustainability leadership by equipping students with the expertise and global perspective needed to address real-world sustainability challenges.