Taylor’s Education Group Steps Up Its Climate Commitment Across Southeast Asia

Taylor’s Education Group (TEG) isn’t just talking about sustainability—it’s living it. With 10 schools and campuses spanning Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, the education powerhouse is rolling out a cross-border strategy to weave environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into everything it does—from classrooms and campus operations to the very mindset of its students and staff.

The move was announced at the Taylor’s Environmental, Social and Governance (Taylor’s ESG) Festival, themed “Embedding Impact: From Action to Culture”, held at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus. And that theme couldn’t be more fitting.

According to UNESCO’s Education and Climate Change: Learning to Act for People and Planet (2024), while education is essential to advancing sustainable development, it’s often missing from national climate strategies. At the same time, climate change itself is disrupting education, with 75% of major climate-related disasters in low- and middle-income countries leading to school closures over the past two decades.

Malaysia knows this struggle well—recurring floods, haze, and heatwaves have repeatedly shut down schools, throwing learning schedules into chaos. These realities underline one thing: it’s no longer enough to teach sustainability. It has to be built into the DNA of our education systems.

From Policy to Practice

For Taylor’s, the answer lies in a three-pillar ESG strategy that focuses on delivering measurable impact, creating sustainable campuses, and embedding ESG values into everyday life.

“At Taylor’s, we see sustainability as a core responsibility of a future-ready institution. Our efforts are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 on climate action. By embedding ESG into our campuses and daily operations, we are well positioned to strengthen our resilience to climate-related risks, contributing to the global net-zero movement, and nurturing a culture of sustainability in our students, staff, and leadership. This is about creating lasting impact – not just through policy, but through mindset and behaviour,” said Dato Loy Teik Ngan, Chairman of Taylor’s Education Group.

Pillar One: Data with a Purpose

The first step in TEG’s ESG journey is accountability. Enter the Impact Measurement Dashboard, a centralised system that tracks carbon emissions and sustainability performance across all institutions in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

It’s not just about numbers—it’s about ownership. Each campus can see its own environmental footprint, understand its progress, and make data-driven decisions to do better. The dashboard also ensures transparent reporting towards the Group’s net-zero goals while aligning with global frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

More than that, it turns the data itself into a living classroom. Students can use real-time sustainability metrics for research and innovation projects, making learning hands-on and impact-driven.

Pillar Two: The Campus as a Living Lab

TEG’s second focus? Transforming its campuses into breathing examples of sustainability. From how classrooms are designed to how students commute, every detail is being reimagined to reduce carbon impact and promote greener lifestyles.

This approach echoes UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) philosophy—making sustainability not a subject, but a way of life.

Key initiatives include:

The Green Classroom Initiative — Think sustainable furnishings, energy-efficient lighting, natural ventilation, and zero single-use plastics. Beyond the physical design, it’s about cultivating habits. Programmes like Nexus International School’s Forest Walk take learning outdoors, letting students connect with nature in immersive, hands-on ways.

The Sustainable Transport Plan — The goal is to electrify shuttle fleets by 2030, expand EV charging stations, promote carpooling, and stagger class schedules to reduce congestion. Transport data is tracked through the same dashboard to ensure progress stays on course.

The Net-Zero Energy Campus pilots — British University Vietnam has achieved EDGE certification, an international green building standard, while Taylor’s University is making waves with its Thermal Energy Storage system to cut down peak energy demand. Solar panels, smart tech, and resource-efficient designs are all part of the Group’s low-carbon blueprint.

Pillar Three: Sustainability in Everyday Operations

Sustainability at Taylor’s doesn’t end with infrastructure—it’s in the supply chain too. The Green Procurement Policy sets clear standards for ethical and environmentally responsible purchasing, prioritising vendors and materials that are low-emission, fair, and future-conscious.

From what’s used in classrooms to the services that keep campuses running, every purchase is now a statement of values.

“Sustainability isn’t just a target to meet; it’s a mindset we nurture, a behaviour we model, and a culture we live every day. Our goal is not just to create sustainable campuses—but to inspire a generation that sees sustainability as second nature, wherever they go and whatever they do,” said Dato’ Loy, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to deep, meaningful change.

The Taylor’s ESG Festival: Ideas, Action, and Impact

Over 230 participants—from educators and students to corporate leaders and social entrepreneurs—came together for the Taylor’s ESG Festival, a lively showcase of ideas and action.

The event culminated in a thought-provoking panel, “Shaping a Regenerative Future through Mindsets, Metrics and Movements,” moderated by Karl Engkvist, President of Taylor's Education Pte Ltd and Co-Chair of ESG at Taylor's Education Group. Speakers included Ng Tsu Mae, Head of Corporate Responsibility at CIMB Bank Berhad; Chook Yi Jean, Senior Manager of Sustainability Reporting & ESG Strategy at Pos Malaysia; and Benjamin Soh, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ESGpedia.

The festival also featured an Impact Bazaar and hands-on workshops spotlighting social enterprises and student-led sustainability projects—proof that climate action can be tangible, community-driven, and yes, even fun.

Embedding Impact from the Ground Up

With initiatives like these, Taylor’s Education Group is proving that sustainability isn’t just a chapter in a textbook—it’s a way of running institutions, shaping futures, and leading by example.

As Southeast Asia faces mounting climate challenges, TEG’s efforts are a powerful reminder that real change starts where minds are shaped: in schools and universities.

For more information, visit esg.taylorsedu.my.