A two-day symposium brought together stakeholders to discuss how the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles could collectively drive meaningful and sustainable change.
The SDG-ESG Synergy Symposium was organised by Management and Science University (MSU), in collaboration with Times Higher Education.
It addressed the growing demand for ESG-related competencies and the role of universities and industries in preparing graduates for an increasingly sustainability-focused workplace.
MSU’s commitment was reflected in 950 documented SDG-related initiatives carried out between 2022 and 2025, including 81 international projects and 92,000 community engagements, the university said in a statement.
Through its Community Outreach Programme, it supported 2,408 families from 2023 to 2025 and continued to provide RM50mil in scholarships annually through its foundation, Yayasan MSU, to widen access to education.
The university’s community efforts also include its Covid-19 vaccination programme, which reached more than 30,000 people in 2021.
MSU president and founder Prof Tan Sri Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid launched the symposium at its campus in Shah Alam.
Also presnt was the university’s pro-chancellor Prof Emeritus Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang, who contributed to a session focusing on governance for impact.
Other speakers included Times Higher Education Asia-Pacific region president Lim Mei Mei; Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry’s industry environmental, social and governance division director Shireen Jasmin Ali and Affin Group strategy and operations managing director Jozaimah Johan Ali;
Others speakers were University of Manchester social responsibility and civic engagement executive director Dr Julian Skyrme; and Western Sydney University pro vice-chancellor Prof Dr Amir Mahmood.
They were joined by sustainability and governance experts from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the health sector and local government.
Centred on the sub-themes of ESG practices, environmental impact, social impact and governance impact, the programme comprised governance-for- impact sessions, sustainability plenaries, social and environmental impact segments and roundtable discussions.
The symposium drew on MSU’s focus on holistic education, applied research, industry engagement, entrepreneurship and international collaboration.
The university placed 88th worldwide in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026, its highest position to date.
