THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2025
As the regional co-host, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) was proud to be part of bringing the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Sustainable Development Congress to a close on 19 June in Istanbul. The event convened 3,500 delegates from 110 countries and 1,200 institutions and organisations, all gathered under the theme of ‘Convening the global sustainability and higher education community’ to discuss the role of higher education in driving new alliances and creating positive action for a sustainable future.
Prof. Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost, led a delegation to share the University’s commitment to sustainable development at the Congress. The PolyU delegation included Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Geoffrey Shen, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships); Prof. Hongxia Yang, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Prof. Jerry Yan Jinyue, Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings; Prof. Christina Wong, Director of Research and Innovation; and Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office, as well as representatives from the Institutional Planning and Analytics Office.
In the first session, “The Role of AI in the Race to a Greener Future” moderated by Prof. Christina Wong, the panel brought together leading experts Prof. Erdal Aydin from Koç University, and Prof. Geoffrey Shen, Prof. Jerry Yan and Prof. Hongxia Yang from PolyU to share their insights on how AI can drive sustainability and environmental conservation across sectors.
On day two, Prof. Christopher Chao, together with other leading experts including Prof. Karim Darban from the University of Hassan II Casablanca and Prof. Heng Wang from Singapore Management University discussed key issues in the session "AI Ethics and Governance: Navigating the Path to Responsible Innovation to Achieve SDGs," moderated by Prof. Şirin Karadeniz from Doğuş University. The panel highlighted the importance of education in preparing students to navigate the complexities and biases of AI and emphasised the university's responsibility to provide diverse ideas and resources, while also underscoring the need for comprehensive training to address the legal challenges posed by AI.
In another session, Mr Kelvin Wong discussed the role of universities in driving knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship, emphasising PolyU's commitment to creating a sustainable future. He highlighted the University's focus on translating research into practical solutions for urban resilience, renewable energy and overcoming social challenges, as well as its support for alumni start-ups to stimulate economic growth and global expansion.
On day three, PolyU continued its contribution with effectual exchanges on the role of higher education in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In the discussion “The Missing Piece: Enhancing the Role of Universities in Driving Progress Towards the SDGs”, Deputy President and Provost Prof. Wing-tak Wong joined Prof. Dawn Freshwater from The University of Auckland and Dr Matsheliso Molapo from The University of South Africa to critically examine how universities can move from rhetoric to real, measurable progress.
The Congress was filled not only with high-impact discussions, but also with enlightening exchanges of knowledge and memorable networking experiences. The PolyU delegation also showcased the University’s research achievements in deep space exploration, sustainable manufacturing, new materials and new energy, and optometry—highlighting our role in translating research breakthroughs into innovative, practical solutions and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that contribute to global advancement.
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