Two students from the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) were selected to participate in the AUA-SNU Youth Forum 2025: Sustainable Cities and Living Heritage, held from January 19 – 26, 2026 in Seoul. 

Hosted by Seoul National University, the forum gathered around 50 students from across Asia, including our students CAI Chenxiao from the MPhil in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship program and Ekko CHIU Hoi Yin from the BSc in Environmental Management and Technology program. The theme focused on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: "Sustainable Cities and Communities," particularly in historic cities like Seoul.

Participants attended lectures on housing, placemaking, living heritage, sustainable transport systems, and simulation-based urban design, while engaged with various sites in Seoul, such as Bukchon Hanok Village, the National Museum of Korea, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Seoul TOPIS. This experience provided them with field-based learning opportunities that extend beyond theoretical understanding.

By the end of the forum, participants presented ideas on how to transform a city into a more sustainable and inclusive urban environment under SDG 11. Chenxiao’s team, which focused on Hong Kong, was recognized as the third-place winner among the presentations. He shared, “One of my key takeaways from the AUA–SNU Youth Forum 2025 was a clearer understanding of how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build upon and update the earlier Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)—shifting from meeting basic development needs to more integrated, people-centered, and city-scale approaches.”

Ekko said, “This forum reminded me that while technology and good infrastructure are important aspects to consider while developing, preserving heritage and culture is just as important for a community to be truly sustainable. I'm excited to carry these insights into my future projects.” 

The AUA Youth Forum, organized annually by the AUA Executive Presidency, is a flagship program dedicated to addressing developmental issues in the Asian region while enhancing youth empowerment and promoting cultural and academic exchanges among AUA students.