SDG and ESG Strategy and Implementation Unit
1. Overview
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU) has established a dedicated institutional structure — the SDG and ESG Strategy and Implementation Unit (SESIU) — under the PSAU Rankings, Strategy, and Institutional Advancement Department (RASU) to serve as the university’s principal mechanism for the advancement, coordination, governance, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of sustainability-related initiatives across the institution.
The establishment of SESIU reflects PSAU’s strategic commitment to embedding sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into all dimensions of university operations, teaching, research, innovation, governance, partnerships, and community engagement.
The Unit was constituted in alignment with:
- Saudi Vision 2030;
- the PSAU 2030 SDG Roadmap;
- the PSAU Global South Partnership (PSAU GSP);
- national higher education transformation priorities;
- global sustainability frameworks;
- ESG reporting and accountability standards;
- international university sustainability benchmarking systems, including the QS Sustainability Rankings and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
The Unit operates as the university’s sole and principal institutional entity with university-wide responsibility for sustainable development governance and ESG integration.
2. Purpose of the Unit
The SDG and ESG Strategy and Implementation Unit (SESIU) was established to:
- institutionalise sustainability governance across PSAU;
- coordinate implementation of the university’s SDG Roadmap;
- integrate ESG principles into institutional strategy and operations;
- serve as Desk Office/Secretariat to oversee implementation and governance of the PSAU Global South Partnership;
- support sustainability-related reporting, rankings, benchmarking, and compliance;
- coordinate sustainability education and literacy initiatives;
- support sustainable research, innovation, and community engagement;
- strengthen institutional transparency, accountability, and ethical governance;
- advance local and international sustainability partnerships;
- support inclusive and equitable institutional development;
- embed sustainability into academic curricula, mobility, funding, and operational systems.
The Unit additionally serves as PSAU’s central coordinating body for sustainability-related policy development, institutional evidence generation, impact reporting, and strategic international engagement.
3. Governance Structure
The SDG and ESG Strategy and Implementation Unit operates within the PSAU Rankings, Strategy, and Institutional Advancement Department (RASU), under the strategic oversight of university leadership.
3.1 Institutional Reporting Structure
3.1.1 University Council
Provides institutional oversight and approves strategic sustainability policies, ESG frameworks, and major institutional sustainability initiatives.
3.1.2 University President
Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for sustainability integration and institutional transformation.
3.1.3 Supervisory Vice Rectorate (Research & Postgraduate Studies)
The Unit operates under the supervision of the relevant Vice Rectorate responsible for institutional development, strategic advancement, and sustainability integration.
3.1.4 PSAU Rankings, Strategy and Institutional Advancement Department (RASU)
The Institutional Advancement unit of RASU serves as the institutional umbrella coordinating:
- sustainability governance;
- ESG integration;
- SDG research, innovation, and development;
- SDG-focused mobility;
- SDG partnerships;
- sustainability reporting;
- policy alignment.
3.2 SDG and ESG Strategy and Implementation Unit (SESIU)
The Unit functions as the operational and coordinating arm for sustainability implementation across PSAU.
3.2.1 Internal Governance Architecture
To ensure institution-wide implementation and accountability, the Unit operates through an integrated governance framework comprising:
3.2.1.1 SDG and ESG Steering Committee
A university-level strategic committee chaired by senior university leadership and comprising representatives from:
- Vice Rectorates;
- academic colleges;
- research centres;
- relevant Deanships;
- quality assurance bodies;
- student affairs;
- SDG Ambassadors;
- community engagement units.
Responsibilities include:
- approving sustainability priorities;
- reviewing institutional ESG performance;
- monitoring SDG implementation progress;
- endorsing sustainability policies and frameworks;
- coordinating university-wide sustainability initiatives;
- supporting institutional alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
3.2.1.2 College SDG and ESG Coordinators Network
Each college and major administrative unit designates a an SDG Ambassador responsible for coordinating local implementation and reporting.
Responsibilities include:
- coordinating college-level SDG activities;
- supporting curriculum integration;
- collecting evidence and institutional data;
- monitoring sustainability-related KPIs;
- coordinating outreach and awareness activities;
- facilitating student and staff engagement.
3.2.1.3 Sustainability Data, Reporting and Rankings Committee
A specialised technical committee responsible for:
- ESG reporting;
- sustainability metrics;
- institutional evidence management;
- data quality assurance;
- impact measurement;
- sustainability benchmarking.
The committee supports submissions to:
- QS Sustainability Rankings;
- THE Impact Rankings;
- UI GreenMetric;
- national sustainability frameworks;
- ESG reporting initiatives.
3.2.1.4 SDG Research and Innovation Coordination Group
Coordinates sustainability-focused research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation ecosystems.
Responsibilities include:
- oversight of the PSAU SDG Research and Development Funding Programme;
- alignment of funded projects with SDGs and ESG priorities;
- support for interdisciplinary and Global South collaborations;
- promotion of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship;
- monitoring societal impact of funded projects.
3.2.1.5 Sustainability Literacy and Engagement Committee
Responsible for sustainability education, awareness, and capacity development.
Activities include:
- sustainability literacy programmes;
- Sulitest TASK implementation;
- SDG Weeks and exhibitions;
- staff development workshops;
- student engagement initiatives;
- community awareness programmes;
- sustainability-focused mobility preparation.
3.2.2 Duties and Responsibilities of the Unit
The SDG and ESG Strategy and Implementation Unit is responsible for the following institutional functions:
3.2.2.1 Strategic Sustainability Governance
- Developing and implementing institutional sustainability strategies;
- Aligning university operations with SDGs and ESG principles;
- Coordinating sustainability governance structures;
- Supporting implementation of the PSAU 2030 SDG Roadmap and Green PSAU initiative;
- Supporting sustainability-focused institutional transformation.
3.2.2.2 ESG Integration and Reporting
- Coordinating institutional ESG reporting;
- Managing sustainability data collection and verification;
- Producing annual sustainability and SDG reports;
- Supporting transparency and accountability initiatives;
- Coordinating external sustainability benchmarking exercises.
3.2.2.3 SDG Policy and Institutional Frameworks
- Developing sustainability-related institutional policies;
- Supporting sustainable procurement and operational policies;
- Embedding sustainability into governance frameworks;
- Supporting climate and environmental commitments;
- Integrating sustainability into strategic planning and institutional performance management.
3.2.2.4 Oversight of PSAU Global South Partnership (PSAU GSP)
The Unit serves as the Desk Office/principal governance and coordination body for the PSAU Global South Partnership.
Responsibilities include:
- managing strategic international sustainability partnerships;
- coordinating Global South institutional collaborations;
- overseeing partnership governance and accountability;
- coordinating sustainability-focused mobility programmes;
- facilitating joint SDG research and innovation initiatives;
- supporting equitable international collaboration frameworks;
- monitoring impact of partnership activities.
The PSAU GSP operates across the five pillars of:
- People;
- Planet;
- Prosperity;
- Peace;
- Partnerships.
The partnership promotes collaborative solutions addressing climate resilience, inclusive innovation, sustainable livelihoods, public health, digital transformation, ethical governance, and social development across partner institutions worldwide.
3.2.3 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Governance
The Unit additionally oversees institutional coordination of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) governance frameworks.
Responsibilities include:
- supporting inclusive institutional policies;
- coordinating accessibility and disability inclusion initiatives;
- supporting gender equity and participation;
- promoting equitable student opportunities;
- monitoring inclusive engagement across sustainability programmes;
- supporting culturally responsive and socially responsible governance.
The Unit ensures that sustainability implementation remains aligned with Saudi cultural values, Islamic ethical principles, and international good practice in inclusive development.
3.2.4 Sustainability Literacy and TASK Integration
The Unit coordinates institution-wide sustainability literacy and competency development initiatives.
This includes implementation of the Sulitest TASK assessment framework as PSAU’s institutional sustainability literacy assessment mechanism.
TASK is integrated into:
- staff sustainability training;
- student sustainability literacy assessment;
- mobility preparation programmes;
- SDG research funding requirements;
- sustainability-focused academic activities;
- curriculum-linked continuous assessments.
The Unit oversees mandatory pre- and post-engagement TASK assessments for:
- PSAU Global South Partnership funding programmes;
- SDG research initiatives;
- international mobility programmes;
- sustainability-focused student exchanges.
3.2.5 Community Engagement and Knowledge Exchange
The Unit coordinates sustainability-focused outreach and public engagement initiatives including:
- SDG Weeks;
- exhibitions and innovation showcases;
- sustainability conferences and workshops;
- policy dialogues;
- community partnerships;
- public awareness campaigns;
- student-led sustainability initiatives.
The Unit additionally supports dissemination of sustainability knowledge through publications, collaborative projects, policy engagement, and international partnerships.
4. Institutional Commitment
The establishment of the SDG and ESG Strategy and Implementation Unit demonstrates PSAU’s commitment to embedding sustainability as a core institutional principle rather than a standalone activity.
Through this dedicated governance structure, PSAU seeks to:
- strengthen institutional sustainability governance;
- advance ESG integration;
- enhance transparency and accountability;
- promote ethical and inclusive development;
- support sustainability-focused innovation;
- strengthen global partnerships;
- empower students and staff as sustainability leaders;
- contribute meaningfully to Saudi Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The SESIU therefore serves as the institutional engine driving PSAU’s transition towards a globally engaged, sustainability-oriented, and socially responsible university ecosystem.
