HiESD is an interdisciplinary research-based and innovative application institute with the main purpose of proposing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is the partner-expert and service provider of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (IRD Ref No. 12958). HiESD focuses on promoting “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and is the partner-expert of United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). HiESD is also the member of the CNFUCA, founding association and secretariat of UNESCO HK, host of UN75 Dialogues, and the member of UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (UNSDSN).
Promoting Education for Sustainable Development and let world to be more sustainable
Enrichment of formal education with Education for Sustainable Development. Supporting & cooperating UN's Sustainable Development Goals and targets for 2030
To proliferate the culture and awareness; to uplift people's education and knowledge of Sustainable Development. To drive the implementation & actions of UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals
In the 4th stage (2021-2030), an important stage of promoting ESD 2030 by creating new opportunities in global crisis, applied research will be carried out based on the forward-looking fundamental research by UNESCO, for the sake of building an inclusive, open, peaceful, adaptive and sustainable city to nurture elites, while bringing the effect of dual circulation by serving the local with national and international network and platforms. By reinforcing national and international exchange and cooperation, and through interdisciplinary and interdepartmental cooperation, solution towards problems and the road to sustainable development can be found for the promotion of learning cities with the emphasis of Ecological Civilization and ESD, and the realization of the 2030 ESD roadmap.
The third stage of ESD promotion in Hong Kong (2016-2020) focuses mainly on the establishment of an SDG lifelong learning system. Aligning with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations in 2015, the Sustainable Development Planning (SDP) Programme and a series of teaching materials were developed as the blueprint of promoting UN SDGs, to build a lifelong learning system for professionals of different fields. With the participation and learning of various professionals, along with the support from Nobel Laureates, professionals from UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (UNPRME), the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners was established, while Certified Sustainable Development Planner (CSDP) and Certified Sustainable Development Corporation (CSDC) certification were also developed. At the same time, collaboration with UN-related organizations was enhanced; for example, the Association was the organizer of UN 75 Dialogue in Hong Kong invited by UNAI, regional reporter under United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), thematic project coordinator of a global SDG project collaborated with United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), as well as the UNIDO expert advisory organization and service provider.
In Stage 2 (2009-2015), the Global Action Plan for ESD of UNESCO (GAP) was fully implemented in Hong Kong with the promotion and enhancement of research and projects, including the 12th Five-Year Global Comparative Study on the Cultivation of International Elites under Basic Education (Hong Kong Region), An International Study on Lifelong Education System and Its Execution: Inspiration on Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as Research on Education for Sustainable Development in Cross-Straits, Hong Kong and Macao. Furthermore, at the critical point of education reform in Hong Kong, the Education for Sustainable Development Learning Programme, in short the “ESD Learning Programme”, were launched with research and learning camps. Centering on the 21st century educational targets and “knowledge, capability, values and attitude”, the ESD Learning Programme blended with experiential learning, mobile learning and research learning with contents covering sustainable environment, agriculture and tourism, life education, and STEM education. What’s more, the concept of “smart + healthy + ecological schools” was promoted with the application of ICT under the Smart Healthy School Project, an educational project that allows collection of quantitative data from schools and the development of sustainable and healthy life.
Stage 1 (2003-2008) is the stage of accumulation of network building, learning and exchange, and publicity and promotion. In this stage, Hong Kong participated in the First International Forum on ESD, hosted the 7th National Workshop on ESD, recruited ESD member schools and experimental schools, and offered students, teachers and the community with training workshops and school support.