Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

16 related courses were offered in the 2023–24 academic year.

CUHK has joined forces with other universities to combat the threat of climate change by becoming a member of the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA). The University works closely with IUCA in developing a framework for assessing and modelling effects on climate-sensitive health. This will enable decision-makers to improve their understanding of the potential impact of climate change on health, facilitating their policymaking on climate readiness, adaptation, and mitigation.

The Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC) was established in 2011 by Oxford University and CUHK as a non-profit research centre for carrying out research, training and community knowledge transfer in the area of disaster and medical humanitarian response in Greater China and the Asia-Pacific Region. After 12 years of fruitful collaboration, the two universities renewed their cooperation for another three years.

Engaging in social entrepreneurship is a way for CUHK members to create a positive social impact in a sustainable manner.  A number of schemes and programmes set out to do this within the CUHK community.  The Sustainable Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (S-KPF), the first funding scheme of its kind in Hong Kong, allows academics to transfer their academic knowledge and launch social enterprises.  Two-year seed funding, incubation services, training and support are provided so that these social enterprises can become self-sustaining organizations and obtain support from external investment or other funding resources.  The Social Enterprise Start-up Scheme of the Office of Student Affairs supports students and recent graduates in their social enterprises.  Under the mentorship programme in 2023/24, six selected teams were awarded up to HK$100,000 in seed funding and were coached by prominent businessmen who were also distinguished alumni of CUHK on how to start their social enterprises.

Seven CUHK research teams were accepted into the inaugural Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme which helps local universities transform and commercialize their research and development (R&D) outcomes, and facilitates collaboration between the government, academia and industry.  CUHK Innovation Limited, a company wholly owned by CUHK which invests in new ventures which seek to find practical applications for technological innovations developed at CUHK, supported 6 of the 7 selected project teams.  These pioneering initiatives included innovative ideas in the fields of health and medical sciences, robotics, and advanced manufacturing, reflecting CUHK’s strong ties with industry and its commitment to translational research.

In April 2024, CUHK worked together with the Hong Kong Chapter of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN HK), the Polar Research Institute of Hong Kong, and the Shanghai Antarctic and Arctics Logistic Center to hold the two-day ‘Global Conference on Climate Change: Polar Studies, Environment and Climate Change’, one of several events which marked the visit of China’s first domestically built polar icebreaker, Xuelong 2, to Hong Kong. Over 2,000 scientists, policymakers, industry leaders and guests came together to discuss the recent developments in the field of polar studies, particularly with regard to climate change.

The Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024, organized by Times Higher Education (THE), was held in Bangkok in June 2024. CUHK, one of the regional co-hosts, sent a delegation to attend the congress, and shared their insights into sustainable development at several panel discussions. The congress brought together 3,000 global leaders and innovators to discuss urgent solutions to the sustainability emergency.