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HKBU advocates sustainable health at THE Global Sustainable Development Congress
31 Jul 2024
The urgency to address sustainable health has become a top priority across all sectors, with policy makers, businesses, and educational institutions recognising the symbiotic relationship between physical, mental, and digital well-being and their impact in creating a healthier, more sustainable future.
Attended by over 3,000 international academics and specialists, the Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024 organised by Times Higher Education (THE) from 10 to 13 June in Bangkok, Thailand, provided a dynamic platform for the academia to share their findings and next-steps on sustainability. As one of the participants and a key sponsor of the “Health, Well-being, and Demography” track, HKBU showcased its commitment to sustainability and transdisciplinary excellence through a series of presentations, thought-leadership discussions and a branded exhibition.
Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development), delivered a keynote address highlighting the unique integrative medical system in China that combines traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine, and its potential in promoting sustainable development in healthcare. Professor Lyu shared his insights on how higher education institutions could effectively leverage interdisciplinary research and collaborate with other sectors, to apply these novel approaches and improve healthcare systems at scale.
Meanwhile, Professor Yannis Pitsiladis, Head of the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health and a member of the International Olympic Committee Medical and Scientific Commission, enlightened the audience with his research findings on the nuanced connection between the athletes’ mental health and sustainability.
In a thought-leadership panel discussion, Professor Christy Cheung, Chair Professor of the Department of Management, Marketing and Information Systems and Director of the Research Office, was joined by Professor Jason Thatcher from the University of Colorado Boulder and Dr Marten Risius from the University of Queensland, in the discussions about the cultivation of trust and safety in the social media realm, as well as the fostering of a sustainable digital ecosystem within professional and scholarly environments.
Dr Mu Jingwen, Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Strategic Planning (OIRP), was invited to join the workshop and masterclass on rankings and the Sustainable Development Goals. Covering topics from innovative approaches for research evaluation to optimising organisational structures and leadership strategies to effectively implement sustainability initiatives, Dr Mu offered insights on how to champion sustainability at a strategic level.
The presentations by HKBU scholars resonated well with the attendees and underscored the university’s role as a vanguard and a valuable partner in tackling pressing global sustainability challenges through cutting-edge research. The university's branded exhibition also complemented the speaker sessions and served to highlight HKBU’s dedication to collaborative, transdisciplinary research, as encapsulated within its four research clusters.