What is sustainable finance? How do companies implement sustainable strategies? The College of Management at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) aspires to become a role model for business and management education in the Asian region. It is committed to promoting ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability education and nurturing relevant talents. Since 2018, the College has published its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) annual report for four consecutive years and has established the Office of Sustainability and Social Responsibility. To fulfill its social responsibility, the Career Development Office, the NSYSU Sustainable Innovation Society, and the NSYSU Holt Prize Society jointly organized a Sustainable Finance Workshop on April 23, 2024.

This workshop, jointly organized by the Hult Prize Society and the Sustainable Innovation Society, was held on the evening of April 23 (Tuesday). Despite being held in the evening, it attracted the enthusiastic participation of 30 students. We invited Mr. Chen Zhaowei, Senior Assistant Vice President of Bank SinoPac, to share with NSYSU students the concept of sustainable finance and an analysis of the current status of corporate sustainability development.

During his presentation, Mr. Chen detailed the sustainability dimensions currently emphasized by corporations and their implementation results, emphasizing the trend towards net-zero carbon emissions internationally. He then utilized his own professional experience to discuss the actual actions and product services of the financial industry regarding sustainability issues, covering topics such as financing, green deposits, and equipment replacement. Additionally, Mr. Chen explained the benefits brought by various enterprises' actions in sustainable development and introduced a roadmap for achieving net-zero carbon emissions, providing students interested in sustainability issues with a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the operational aspects of green finance.

In the practical group work session at the end of the presentation, Mr. Chen divided the students into five groups to discuss the sustainable development of different industries (service industry, financial industry, manufacturing industry), exchanging ideas on specific actions, transformation strategies, business opportunities, and risks among enterprises. The speaker then provided comments and suggestions to each group.

Students in the financial industry group shared a series of initiatives currently being actively promoted by Cathay Financial Holdings, including launching Climate Action+ (CA 100+), offering green insurance, and formulating strategies for divesting from coal. Furthermore, the group suggested reducing the number of branches and keeping up with the trend of online banking development. Through group discussions, students were able to apply the knowledge they learned in the lecture to real-world scenarios and learn from the different perspectives of others. It is believed that such discussions have been greatly beneficial to the students.

💡For more information on the Hult Prize or Sustainable Innovation Society, please follow our Facebook fan page and Instagram, and stay tuned to the official website of National Sun Yat-sen University Hult Prize. In addition, the Hult Prize Society and Sustainable Innovation Society will also bring students a series of valuable lectures, training sessions, and various activities. Welcome to continue following us and participating in our events!

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●Hult Prize：https://www.facebook.com/HultPrizeNsysu/
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