University Sustainability Index (USI)

Dr. Nahid Yazdani, Assistant Professor in Global Business Operations, University of Nottingham

Universities have an important role not only in advancing knowledge about sustainability, but in demonstrating it through the way they teach, research, govern and operate. I see the USI as a valuable opportunity to encourage universities to reflect on this broader responsibility and, importantly, on the difference between having sustainability commitments and demonstrating meaningful outcomes. I hope the Index will continue to foster constructive dialogue and mutual learning, helping universities move from aspiration and activity towards measurable and lasting societal impact.

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, Hong Kong Baptist University

The Research, Education and Social Responsibility Imperative

In today’s interconnected world, universities hold a unique responsibility: to educate future generations while generating knowledge that advances academic frontiers and addresses society’s most pressing challenges. At Hong Kong Baptist University, education, research, and social responsibility are mutually reinforcing pillars of institutional excellence.

Research drives innovation, informs policy, and equips future leaders with the tools to navigate complex global issues. Yet, knowledge alone is not enough. True impact emerges when research is guided by a commitment to societal good. This is when scholarship directly contributes to health, education, sustainability, and equity. It is the essence of social responsibility: ensuring that what we discover serves communities locally, regionally, and globally.

Our case study in Chinese Medicine in Communities highlights the critical role of universities in establishing the academic foundations of a discipline that already holds deep cultural, clinical, and educational significance for our local communities. The transparency of this work and its global applications have been undertaken in the spirit of social good, global responsibility, and partnership.

Today, the culture of academic excellence we foster must also be paired with ethical responsibility, in which transdisciplinary collaborations extend beyond academia to include industry, government, and community partners, and in which every researcher understands the broader implications of their work. By aligning education and research initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4 on quality education, HKBU is preparing scholars and socially conscious global citizens for our sustainably challenged world.

Dr. Jingwen Mu,  Director of Institutional Research and Strategic Planning, Hong Kong Baptist University

Participating in the first University Sustainability Index has been both affirming and instructive. The VPI framework crystallises a challenge many of us face: translating well-articulated sustainability values and robust management systems into measurable, long-term impact for our stakeholders. HKBU’s Model Achiever result is encouraging, yet the persistent gap between Practice and Impact reminds us that the real work of university social responsibility lies in sustained programmes, transparent data governance, and genuine accountability to the communities we serve. I look forward to contributing to the collective learning that the USI seeks to foster.