Sustainability Report 2025-2026

Sustainability Report 2024 Sustainability Report 2024

Founded in 1956, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) aims to be a leading research-led liberal arts University in Asia for the world delivering academic excellence in a caring, creative and global culture. HKBU is dedicated to nurturing the future generations of civically engaged community members, and shouldering the responsibility to foster them with humanity and care for the natural world through a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes up to the doctoral level. As one of Asia’s finest institutions of higher education, the University prides itself on the attraction for talents from all around the world, as well as having a vibrant and active alumni network.

HKBU is committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of our education, research, day-to-day operations, and continuous development. This report provides an overview of our current academic and research endeavours that are aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, it showcases our operational initiatives and engagement activities aimed at fostering a greater integration of the SDGs into the fabric of university life.

sustainable-development-goals sustainable-development-goals
1 No Poverty 1 No Poverty
2 Zero Hunger 2 Zero Hunger
3 Good Health and Well-Being 3 Good Health and Well-Being
4 Quality Education 4 Quality Education
5 Gender Equality 5 Gender Equality
6 Clean Water and Sanitation 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
7 Affordable and Clean Energy 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10 Reduced Inequalities 10 Reduced Inequalities
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 Responsible Consumption and Production 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
13 Climate Action 13 Climate Action
14 Life Below Water 14 Life Below Water
15 Life on Land 15 Life on Land
16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17 Partnerships for the Goals 17 Partnerships for the Goals
HKBU Sustainability Report 2025-2026 HKBU Sustainability Report 2025-2026
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SDG MAPPING APPROACHES
    SDG MAPPING APPROACHES

HKBU’s contributions to the SDGs have been mapped through a diverse range of methodologies. This approach ensures a comprehensive mapping of our efforts, allowing us to effectively measure and evaluate our progress in achieving the SDGs. This report covers the period from 2025 to 2026.

 

Course mapping

HKBU is committed to understanding and reporting how our courses align with or are related to the SDGs. The SDG mapping exercise exemplifies the University’s dedication to equipping our students with the skills and knowledge to address global challenges and the complex issues facing societies today and in the future.

Our course mapping method builds on the SDG mapping approach pioneered by the University of Auckland. This text-mining method has encompassed and contextually expanded upon SDG-related keywords sourced from Elsevier’s Scopus database, documentation provided by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and the United Nations (UN). We flagged HKBU courses that explicitly mention SDG-related keywords in their titles or aims and objectives as presented in the course outline. This effort has led to the identification of 1,149 SDG-related courses from a total of 2,301 offered by the University in the academic year 2025-26.

 

Research mapping
 

HKBU has implemented a structured approach to mapping research contributions to the SDGs for the year 2026. This process involves leveraging both SciVal and the Integrated Research Information and Management Systems (IRIMS) to identify scholars and their publications that align with specific SDGs. SciVal, an integral tool within the Elsevier Research Intelligence ecosystem, uses a machine learning model to link publications to the corresponding SDGs. Conversely, within IRIMS, research outputs are tagged with relevant SDGs using an algorithm tested and validated by Elsevier. This algorithm uses a targeted keyword search mechanism to determine the alignment of research outputs with individual SDGs.