Sustainability Networks

Universiti Malaya via UM Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC) is a proud member of the following sustainability networks (but not limited to):

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
The SDSN Association is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States and a nonprofit Association 1901 in France. These entities host the Secretariat of the SDSN, which supports and manages SDSN’s programs and projects, and the SDG Academy.

The SDSN Association serves as the institutional home of the SDSN, manages its relations with donors and partners, and ensures that the work of the SDSN complies with all US and international laws. The SDSN has offices in New York, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur.

In 2012, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) was launched under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. Starting with ten thematic working groups on a range of environmental, social, and economic topics contributed to the debate and, ultimately, the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDSN quickly grew and founded its global networks program, a membership-based alliance of top-tier knowledge-generating institutions focused on sustainable development, organized in national and regional clusters. As of 2022, SDSN has over 1,700 members in 50 networks across 144 countries.

1) UMSDSN - represented by UMSDC for Universiti Malaya [established in 2014 by the then UM Sustainability Science Research Cluster (SuSci)]
2) SDSN Malaysia - hosted by The Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University

Contact points for UMSDSN:
Honorary Professor Dr. Nik Meriam Nik Sulaiman (Council Member, SDSN Malaysia Leadership Council) (meriam@um.edu.my)
Associate Professor Dr. Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad - Primary Contact Point (zeeda21@um.edu.my)
Mr. Mohd Fadhli Rahmat Fakri - Secondary Contact Point (fadhli@um.edu.my)

 

Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE)
In 2003, in response to the UN resolution on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD), the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) launched the ESD project, with funding support from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. The ESD project designs and implements research and development activities through two flagship initiatives: a global multi-stakeholder global network of Regional Centres of Expertise on ESD (RCEs) and a network of higher education institutions called the Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research Network (ProSPER.Net).

Moving forward, UNESCO has presented the ESD for 2030 Roadmap with its five priority areas of action: advancing policy, transforming learning environments, building capacities of educators, empowering and mobilizing youth, and accelerating local-level actions. At all levels of society, RCEs play a crucial role in implementing these goals using their local knowledge and global network.

As of January 2022, over 170 RCEs have officially been acknowledged by the United Nations University worldwide. The Global RCE Service Centre is headquartered at UNU-IAS, where it provides assistance to individual RCEs and facilitates their communication and networking.

RCE Central Semenanjung - represented by UMSDC for Universiti Malaya since 2022 (established in November 2014 by the then UM Community and Engagement Centre / UMCares)
 

Contact Points for RCE Central Semenanjung:
Associate Professor Dr. Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad - Primary Contact Point (zeeda21@um.edu.my)
Vacant - RCE Central Semenanjung Youth Coordinator
Dr. Azizi Abu Bakar - Secondary Contact Point (azizi.bkr@um.edu.my) 

 

Southeast Asia Sustainability Network (SEASN)
The South East Asia Sustainability Network (SEASN) is an alliance of higher education institutions and other related sustainability organisations, agencies, NGOs and industries in South East Asia countries committed to promote, engage and integrate sustainability in their teaching, research, community engagement and institutional arrangement.

SEASN provides a platform to support higher education institutions, other related sustainability organisations, agencies, NGOs and industries in South East Asia countries in the exchange of ideas, findings, information, and good practices in teaching, research, community engagement and institutional arrangement with a focus on Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Biodiversity; Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, Consumption & Production and Population & Poverty (WEHAB+3).

The benefits of this network are;

• Exchange ideas, findings, information and good practices in teaching, research, community engagement and institutional arrangement with a focus on Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Biodiversity with cross section areas on Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, Consumption & Production and the Population & Poverty.
• Enhance opportunities to promote, engage and integrate sustainability in the networking arrangement in partnership.
• Leveraging of resources, knowledge and expertise amongst its members to joint collaborations in South East Asia Projects on Sustainability.
• Disseminating and sharing research of SEASN members on Journal articles, books/e-book or any other publication covering sustainability issues on WEHAB+3.
• Build and strengthening members’ knowledge on sustainability issues on WEHAB+3.
• Showcasing best practices and niche areas of each member in South East Asia countries on sustainability.

Universiti Malaya is a member of SEASN since 2015 (represented by members of UM Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UMSDSN) c/o Sustainability Science Research Cluster). UM has participated in the SEASN's INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (ICSDG2023) and contributed a chapter in book for SEASN A Compendium of Selected Best Practices on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Vol. 1 2019 - available HERE.

Contact point for UM in SEASN:
Mr. Mohd Fadhli Rahmat Fakri (UM Sustainable Development Centre) - fadhli@um.edu.my

 

AUN Thematic Network on Ecological Education and Culture (AUN-EEC)
With the increasing awareness of the phenomenal global impact that human activities have on the Earth’s ecosystem, the ASEAN University Network on Ecological Education and Culture (AUN-EEC) aims to help develop a generation of Southeast Asians who will have the mindset and competencies to conserve and preserve the environment, even as they face the challenges of social change and economic growth. AUN-EEC was established in 2018, and the secretariat is based at the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, Loyola Schools of Ateneo de Manila University. 

Associate Professor Dr. Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad (Director, UMSDC) has been appointed committee member of AUN-EEC representing Universiti Malaya and Malaysia since January 2022, renewed for 2024-2025. 

 

The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI)
An open partnership between several United Nations entities and the higher education community launched in the lead-up to the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. It is currently chaired by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Sulitest Association - a non-profit organization and online platform aimed at improving sustainability literacy for all. Other UN partners include UNESCO, UN Environment Programme, UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, UN University, UN-HABITAT, UNCTAD, UNITAR, UN Office for Partnerships, and UN Academic Impact.

Through its strong association with the United Nations, HESI aims to provide higher education with an interface between higher education, science, and policy making by raising the profile of higher education’s sector in supporting sustainable development, convening multi-stakeholder discussions and action, and sharing best practices.

Universiti Malaya via UM Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC) with support of Corporate Rankings Centre (CRC) officially joined HESI in mid 2023.