The Lily holds roundtable discussion on leadership challenges in implementing Education for Sustainable Development in Asia

On 5 November 2024, The Lily Gokongwei Ngochua Leadership Academy, in partnership with the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, and Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines, held its second roundtable discussion, this time focused on leadership challenges in implementing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Asia. 

The discussion featured Dr Choon Heng Leong, former Director of the Education and Social Progress Programme at Sunway University’s Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia; Mr Andoni Albert, CEO of Kation Technologies Inc; and Ms Katherine Custodio, Executive Director of WWF Philippines. 

Dr Leong delivered the keynote presentation, where he spoke about his work in implementing ESD in higher education institutions, and how it continues to inform the work he does now. He shared the steps that Sunway University has taken in ESD, which includes:

• embedding sustainability as topics, subjects, and assignments in coursework;
• using their own campus as a living laboratory;
• greening spaces on campus, gardens, and walkways;
• placing recycling facilities;
• installing solar panels and batteries;
• composting food waste from canteens and cafeterias;
• and enforcing a ban on single-use plastics. 

He also talked about mainstreaming ESD at the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Academy at Sunway, made possible by support from the Ministry of Education. This support helped carry out teacher training on sustainable development in seven government schools as a pilot project, he said.  

Furthermore, he emphasized that ESD must be targeted at government institutions as these are the policymakers who create and institute regulations, funding, incentives, and mandates. It’s also important, he stressed, to strengthen the call for consumer activism.

Later on, Dr Leong was joined by Mr Albert and Ms Custodio for the roundtable discussion moderated by Dr Assunta Cuyegkeng, Executive Director of The Lily. They talked about the necessary skills and competencies for practicing sustainability, whether as leaders of a corporation or organization, or as individuals; the challenges and opportunities of ESD in the Asia-Pacific region; and the steps that must be taken in order to further embed sustainability in the mainstream.

For more information on upcoming discussions and programs by The Lily, visit their website.