Cross-Sector Collaboration for Green Skills: Insights from THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024
On June 12, 2024, representatives from QCU participated in a crucial “Cross-Sector Collaboration for Green Skills” session at the Times Higher Education – Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024. This session was part of the International Green Skills Summit, which aimed to bring together influential figures from academia, business, government, and civil society. The summit was held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand.
Engaging Civil Society in the Green Agenda
The first major discussion point centered on how higher education institutions and governments can more effectively engage civil society in the green agenda. Pariphan Uawithya, Managing Director for Country Delivery, Asia, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, highlighted the importance of integrating sustainability into education and research. “Sustainability should be integrated into education, research, and across all sectors,” Uawithya emphasized. His remarks underscored the need for educational institutions to embed sustainability principles deeply within their core activities to create a pervasive and lasting impact.
Public-Private Green Partnerships
The session then explored the challenges and opportunities of public-private partnerships in advancing the green agenda. Wong Yuen Chow, Chief Sustainability Officer at United Overseas Bank, shared his insights, stating, “The amount of knowledge you have here can make a great impact. There is a need for public-private partnerships within higher education. Bring back home and consider the collaborative partnerships that we have.” Chow underscored the critical role of leveraging the vast knowledge within higher education to form impactful partnerships with the private sector. He highlighted the urgent need for these collaborations to address the anticipated challenges of population growth and increased consumption by 2030, emphasizing the necessity of accelerating the adoption of decarbonization solutions.
Shifting the Sustainability Narrative
A key theme of the panel was the need to shift the perception of sustainability from being a burden to being viewed as a significant opportunity. Hemavathi Shekhar, Founder and Director of Enact Earth Foundation – SEA, drew attention to the substantial financial requirements for sustainable development, noting, “3.6 trillion dollars are needed for sustainable development in Southeast Asia.” Shekhar’s comments highlighted the scale of investment needed and the importance of seeing sustainability efforts as opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and societal well-being.
The session was attended by Mr. Angelito P. Bautista Jr., Director of the Research, Extension, Planning, and Linkages – Research Management Office. The Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024 aims to unite higher education, governments, industry and civil society to ensure a more sustainable future. More than 3,000 delegates including representatives from 56 Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) led by the Commission on Higher Education attended the event.
#1QCU
#IbangKlaseSaQCU
#THEGSDC2024
#GlobalImpactRanking
#SustainableDevelopment
#PhilippineHEIs
#QuezonCityUniversity
#TayoAngQC
