KU Sustainability Newsletter, Spring 2026 (고려대학교 지속가능 뉴스레터, 2026년 봄)

KU Sustainability Newsletter, Spring 2026 (고려대학교 지속가능 뉴스레터, 2026년 봄)

2026. 5. 15.

KU Sustainability Newsletter, Spring 2026 (고려대학교 지속가능 뉴스레터, 2026년 봄)

▪️The Changemakers Program is officially certified as a 2025 UNESCO ESD project and recognized as a scalable model linking campus and society.

▪️New ESG and SDGs micro-degree programs are expanding to meet the demands of an era that calls for leadership in building a sustainable society.

▪️A total of 199 sustainability-related courses are offered across the general, special, and professional graduate schools in Spring 2026.

▪️KU co-developed the world’s first quantitative indicators for water resources.

▪️Prof. Yoon-Hyeong Choi received a commendation from the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment for her contributions to regulating damage caused by humidifier disinfectants.

▪️Prof. Woo-Kyun Lee received the Service Merit Medal from the 2050 Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for his contributions to disaster risk prediction and the development of region-tailored climate crisis response strategies.

▪️A student-led reusable cup circulation system achieved a 77% return rate at campus cafés, fostering a sustainable campus culture.

▪️A total of 754 members of the KU community participated in the 2025 KU Sustainability Literacy Survey, an approximately 31% increase from the previous year.

▪️The 2nd KU Vegan Seminar was held to explore veganism as a sustainable lifestyle.

▪️KU has become the first Korean university to declare a "Nature Positive" vision, building on its earlier carbon neutrality commitment.

▪️KU ranked 5th in Asia, 2nd in Korea, and 92nd globally in the 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings.

▪️KU ranked No. 1 in the Sustainability category in the 2025 INUE–Hankyung University Rankings.

◽ESG/SDGs Curricular Programs

KU's Freshman Seminar features online ESG/SDGs content that introduces students to corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

The KU Global Research Institute hosted a former Climate Change Ambassador to highlight the importance of international cooperation in climate action.

From Biodiversity to ESG: A Convergence Course has become a flagship elective, enrolling over 300 students per semester and integrating biodiversity, evolution, and ESG into real-world sustainability.

The Lee Tae-seok Leadership and Global Citizenship Education program promotes a sense of public responsibility and fosters global leadership.

◽ESG/SDGs Extracurricular Programs

The 2026 International Environmental Experts Training Program strengthens capacity to actively respond to the growing global demand for environmental cooperation.

The International Conference on Regional Human Rights Systems Under Different Political Orders examined the EU and ASEAN human rights frameworks and explored opportunities for future Europe–Southeast Asia cooperation.

The 2025 ARAL SEA Environmental Restoration and Regional Revitalization Contest was held, featuring global projects developed with Uzbek partners to address environmental challenges.

KU and Yale University co-hosted a forum on global challenges and a sustainable future.

The Climate Corps 2026 Online Forum addressed climate communication, global equity, and carbon and finance gaps, fostering dialogue on key challenges in global sustainability.

The 2026 SAGE DAY Special Lecture Series explored carbon neutrality, renewable energy, and climate technology in the new energy industry.

The ESG Management in the Era of Climate Crisis course presents strategic corporate directions for the climate crisis.

The Global ESG Lecture Series shares corporate sustainability management strategies through the case of Yuhan Corporation.

The Illusion of Non-Discrimination Seminar advances efforts to reduce inequality and discrimination.

The SDGs Training Program for Marine Environment Citizen Scientists strengthens SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

The Environmental Impact Seminar featuring the CEO of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) presented a vision for the global water environment industry.

◽ESG/SDGs Related Activities

KU and Haemill School collaborate to promote diversity by expanding multicultural education and youth mentoring, while also providing scholarships and support.

Korea Cyber University has established an Institute for Sustainability, positioning ESG as a core pillar of digital education to foster future-ready talent and expand its global impact.

◽ESG/SDGs Research

Engineering

Profs. Insoo Ro and Wangyun Won and their team developed a sustainable upcycling process that converts waste plastic into gasoline and jet fuel, achieving over 90% conversion without external hydrogen.

Environmental Engineering

Two undergraduate researchers from the Eco Industry–Convergence and Open Sharing Center, Sejong received the Grand Prize and the Excellence Award at the 2026 WATER KOREA Conference.

Public Health

International Environmental Health Academic Week in Uzbekistan links academic programs with field activities, enhancing collaboration and practical learning on environmental health issues.

Public Health

People with disabilities face significantly higher health risks from climate change, underscoring the need for more inclusive data and policies, according to research by Prof. Jong-Tae Lee and their team.

Behavioral Sciences Research by Prof. Yongjun Sung and their team shows that minority eco-friendly behaviors can match majority norms in persuasion when paired with the right emotional appeals.

Materials Sciences The development of gluten-based vegan leather opens up new possibilities for a more sustainable and ethical fashion industry.

Energy Sciences The SDG Best Paper Award Ceremony, hosted by the Hyunsong SDG Preparatory Institute, highlights a commitment to a sustainable future.

Guidelines for Research Ethics ▶️

◽SDGs Education for Local Communities

KU students conducted educational sharing activities and discussion sessions in collaboration with the local community through the 2025 Seongbuk Future Sharing School.

KU students from a physical education club participated in the 2025 Winter Yoelwon Vision Education Camp and organized sports, teamwork, and creative activity programs for children at the Yoelwon childcare facility.

The KU College of Education Volunteer Group conducted on-site mentoring in Goseong (Gangwon), supporting local middle school students and enhancing the quality of community education.

The DREAM LECTURE: Science and Engineering Advanced Career Development Project offers hands-on university experiences that enable students to explore STEM careers.

KU College of Medicine and Armed Forces Capital Hospital are strengthening collaboration in public healthcare and medical education.

KU Ansan Hospital drives regional healthcare innovation through clinical care, research, and collaboration.

◽International Dialogue on SDGs

KU has launched global sustainability courses in partnership with institutions in the US and Singapore, integrating environmental science and ESG through lectures, case studies, and hands-on analysis.

The International AI Bill of Human Rights Seminar discussed normative solutions from a human rights perspective, exploring global norms and opportunities for cooperation to protect rights in the AI era.

KU faculty participated in the 2026 Emerging Media for Communicating SDGs Symposium, discussing the intersection of media and the SDGs.

KU alumnus Dr. Steven Kwon, CEO of NEI, has dedicated over two decades to addressing Afghanistan's food crisis through soybean cultivation training and farmer education.

With more than 1,900 participants from 40 countries, KU's International Winter Campus (IWC) became Korea's largest international winter program.

◽Beyond Diversity

Alumni from the KU Center for Human Rights & Gender Equity who advocate for gender equality shared these values in both their professional and daily lives.

The KU Center for Human Rights & Gender Equity's student supporters group, HuE, organized a bazaar during Human Rights Week to promote human rights awareness, donating all proceeds to charity.

The KU Center for Students with Disabilities' student supporters group, Mohae, organized a disability awareness campaign, engaging 183 campus members to foster an inclusive campus culture.

◽Achievements Toward the SDGs

The Director of KU Medicine Center for ESG received the Seoul Metropolitan Council Chair's Commendation for contributions to creating social value through medical services.

◽Steps Toward Diversity and Equality

The KU Center for Human Rights & Gender Equity published the 2025 KU Human Rights Report in March 2026, presenting key insights across the university community.

The KU Center for Human Rights & Gender Equity published the KU Gender Equality Plan 2025–2026 in January 2026, outlining major gender equality issues on campus.

The KU Institute for Korean Peninsula Health and Social Studies signed an MOU with the Inter-Korean Cooperation Support Association (IKCSA) to build a foundation for inter-Korean health and social cooperation.

The KU Center for Students with Disabilities hosts a Disability Awareness Education talk concert.

Disability Awareness Education ▶️

◽Actions Toward Carbon Neutrality

The KU–SNU–Yonsei–POSTECH 4th Workshop of the Sustainable Campus Initiative explores collaboration on ESG/SDGs, strengthening partnerships and identifying joint actions for sustainable campuses.

The KU Carbon Neutrality System has been renewed to visualize carbon neutrality efforts and progress, with a campus greenhouse gas map and building-level energy consumption data.

KU Medicine published its ESG Report for the third consecutive year, demonstrating its commitment to SDG values through medical waste reduction and sign language interpretation.

KU Medicine signed an MOU with a global content company to advance ESG management and social contribution initiatives.

🔎 Quiz 1 At the Nature Positive Declaration Ceremony held by KU, which tree was planted as a commemorative tree?

A. Korean Pine (잣나무)
B. Korean Stewartia (노각나무)
C. Korean Whitebeam (팥배나무)

🔎 Quiz 2 Which of the following KUIS programs has been officially recognized as a 2025 UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) project?
A. Changemakers
B. SDGs Academy
C. Green Ambassador

📢 This event is open only to Korea University students.

🎁 The first 10 participants who answer correctly will receive a Starbucks mobile gift card (Iced Americano)!

KU Sustainability Newsletter Quiz Answer Submission ▶️

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Korea University Institute for Sustainability

B113, Central Plaza, Korea University

145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Email: kuis@korea.ac.kr | Tel: +82-2-3290-5292

Publisher ㅣ Jae Hyeok Shin

Planning & Editing ㅣ Jihye Oh, Dahye Lee, Yujin Lee

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고려대 지속가능성 뉴스레터, 2025년 가을(KU Sustainability Newsletter, Autumn 2025)

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KU Sustainability Newsletter, Summer 2026 (고려대학교 지속가능 뉴스레터, 2026년 여름)

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