On May 29, the inaugural programme of the “Global Chief Sustainability Officer Leadership Building Initiative” was officially launched in Beijing. This marks another substantial deep‑going cooperation following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for comprehensive collaboration between the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, and the Prosperity Division of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in 2023. Zhou Qing’an, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University; Jiang Qiaolei, Vice‑Dean; Michael Adalla, Representative of the Director of the UNITAR Prosperity Division; Ding Zhifeng, President of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association; and senior expert Li Zhiyong jointly attended the launch ceremony.

Jointly initiated by the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University and the Prosperity Division of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, with the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association as the supporting partner, the initiative aims to respond precisely to the profound shifts in the global sustainable‑development landscape and enterprises’ growing urgency for sustainable transformation. It seeks to cultivate high‑calibre leadership talents for sustainable development equipped with global‑governance vision, strategic implementation capabilities and cross‑cultural communication literacy.

In terms of cooperation mechanisms, the programme will give full play to the disciplinary strengths of the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University in international communication and global governance, digital transformation and international exchanges. It will integrate UNITAR’s professional pool of international experts and its expertise in global sustainable‑development standards. Leveraging the professional resources of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, which holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the partners will jointly build a tripartite collaborative talent‑development model featuring “academic support, international empowerment and practice orientation”.

The inaugural programme will focus on cutting‑edge topics including global risks and sustainable‑development strategic frameworks, ESG governance and corporate diagnosis, green transition and industrial upgrading, artificial‑intelligence‑driven digital empowerment, as well as strategic communication and global influence. Going forward, the initiative will continue as an annual programme, providing intellectual support and talent guarantees for domestic and international enterprises to engage deeply in global sustainable‑development governance and enhance their capacity for international communication and responsible leadership.