Aligning student learning with a sustainability mindset Davis Bookhart, Head, HKUST Sustainability Unit

About Hong Kong

About Hong Kong

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Sense of Place Surrounding have strong influence on our ability to understand sustainability

Surroundings influence behavior

Surroundings influence our social lives

Campuses create experiences for of learning

Campuses are becoming essential components to the

learning experience

Research Question:WHAT DO STUDENTS GAIN FROM THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE THAT PREPARES THEM FOR 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES?

Changing landscape 82% of young Millennials*

◦ consider a company’s CSR commitments when deciding what job to take

74% of Millennials*◦ say they would volunteer for a cause supported

by a company they trust (vs. 56% U.S. average)

1 of 3 Students today◦Will be alive in the year 2100

* Source: 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study

How might we categorize our current students?

Generalists:Pursue sustainability careers• Cross-disciplinary training• Value added on multiple levels

Specialists:Pursue specialized tracks within sustainability fields• Focused-disciplinary training• Value added in specific areas

Flexitarians:Pursue traditional careers• Add broad-based sustainability

knowledge• Flexible and adaptable• Value added on multiple levels

Authorities:Pursue traditional careers• Add specific sustainability-

related skills• High level of expertise• Value added in specific areas

Discipline-driven career

track

Broad, cross-disciplinary knowledge

Sustainability- driven career

track

Specific training / skills

Can We Confirm Any of This? Current research project

Focus on employers in Hong Kong

1) What advice would you give to a student?

2) What is important to your business?

Sustainability Knowledge and Skills Survey

Soft skills

Hard skills

Specific knowledge

General knowledge

Evaluation of KnowledgeGeneral Knowledge Specific Knowledge

• Broad familiarity with sustainability principles • Focused familiarity with specific sustainability principles

• Sustainability in global context • Sustainability within local context

• Historical & economic context of • current environment • Industry knowledge

• Policy development • Regulatory compliance

• General engineering or technology • Specific engineering or tech

• General business management • Competency in business discipline (i.e., marketing, finance)

Evaluation of SkillsHard Skills Soft Skills

• Systems thinking • Communication (written)

• Process management (i.e., 6 sigma) • Communication (presentation/spoken)

• Financial analysis • Networking

• Life cycle analysis • Consensus-building / conflict resolution

• Risk assessment • Strategic thinking / visioning

• Sustainability reporting • Flexibility & adaptability

• Carbon accounting

Respondent ProfilesSenior Execu-tive (C-Suite or

VP)22%

Director or Senior Manager

41%

Pro-fessor

2%

Man-ager,

Coordi-nator, or Special-

ist31%

Researcher2% Other

2%

I work primarily on sustainability-related issues 50%

Sustainability is included as one of several overall responsibilities 28%

I work occasionally on sustainability issues, but not as my primary responsibility

19%

I rarely get involved in sustainability work 4%

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.80

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Skills and Knowledge for Students in the 21st Century

Value to Student

Valu

e to

Org

aniza

tion

Low

Low High

High

Taught hard skills and training

Learned soft skills and

experience

Important Attributes in Employees

5% 5%

69%

17%

5% Commitment to volunteering and helping others

Broad and diverse array of expe-riences

Inquisitiveness and willingness to learn new things

Strong sense of ethical and moral grounding

Sense of humor

Important Attributes for Applicants

Overall strong academic record

Academic major in a field that is relevant to your business

Industry experience (from in-ternships or other work activi-ties)

Leadership in groups, student so-cieties

Strong letters of recommendation

45%

25%23%

Overall strong academic record

3%

Learned soft skills and

experience

Brief ConclusionsExperiences matter

How can we best utilize the campus as a learning lab?

Interpersonal and social skills mean everythingHow do we create vibrant spaces that foster interconnections?

Inquisitiveness opens the worldHow can we foster a life-long love of learning?

Questions?