The inaugural Global Green Development and Healthy Lifestyle Summit was held in grand fashion at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 31 August to 1 September 2025. International experts from academia, scientific research, public health and corporations and over 2000 guests gathered at the summit in Singapore to explore the integration of green development and healthy living, and to witness the global launch of the Healthy Lifestyle Coach Certification (HLCC) Framework.

Experts and distinguished figures from around the world graced the inaugural summit, including Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of Singapore’s National Research Foundation; Jin Li, Director of the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation; Yang Yuexin, President of the Chinese Nutrition Society; Li Ming, Founding Director of the UNESCO-ICHEI and Secretary-General of the IIOE Secretariat; Professor Joseph Sung, Senior Vice President of Nanyang Technological University; Kalpana Bhaskaran, President of the Singapore Nutrition & Dietetics Association; Dr Eric Wu, International Education Consultant, UNESCO-ICHEI, President of ILEA; well-known artistes and HLCC ambassadors Fann Wong and Li Wenhan; Professor Hung Ho Seng from the Singapore University of Social Sciences; Sun Yongping, Honorary Chairman of the Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation; Li Ning, Vice President of BGI Group; Park Jung-ho of South Korea’s Lotte Group, and more than 100 other distinguished guests who participated in this grand event.

At the opening ceremony, Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation, emphasised that green development and healthy living are not only vital drivers of social progress and economic transformation, but also key directions for building a sustainable future through global collaboration. Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung, in his video address, underscored the close connection between healthy lifestyles and national public policy, pledging Singapore’s commitment to contribute both scientific policymaking and international cooperation to the world. Jin Li, director of the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation (UNESCO-ICHEI), also emphasised via his video message that education, research, and cross-sector collaboration play an irreplaceable role in addressing global health and environmental challenges.

A major achievement of the summit was the official global launch of the HLCC International Certification. Jointly initiated by UNESCO-ICHEI, the Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association amongst other international bodies, HLCC will be delivered via the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) platform. HLCC is not only a comprehensive curriculum on healthy living, but also a standardised, replicable, and vocation-oriented international education and professional platform. Backed by a global education network, support in six UN official languages, and AI-powered personalized learning, IIOE ensures the credibility and excellence of the certification system.

The summit also presented the 2025 IIOE Higher Education Digitalisation Pioneer Case Award, recognising institutions and individuals for their outstanding contributions towards digitalisation and innovation in education.

Over the two-day programme, the summit attracted more than 2,000 participants, with over 30 experts and scholars from more than 30 universities and research institutes worldwide delivering keynote speeches and taking part in high-level panel discussions. Distinguished speakers included Professor Yang Yuexin, President of the Chinese Nutrition Society and President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS); Professor Joseph Sung, Senior Vice-President of Nanyang Technological University of Singapore; Tatiana Murovana, Expert at the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education; and Professor Mona Abdel- Aal Elzahry, Public Health Professor from the Ain Shams University of Egypt.

Adding star power to the occassion, renowned Singaporean artist Fann Wong attended the event as the HLCC Healthy Lifestyle Ambassador, attracting widespread attention from both the public and the media.

The inaugural summit was hosted by UNESCO-ICHEI and FANS, and co-hosted by SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization), the Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association, Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation, GMC Education Group, Singapore and the International Leading Education Alliance (ILEA). 

This landmark event not only forged global consensus on health and green development, but also set forth an international vision through the implementation of HLCC — shared blueprint for co-creating a greener future and advancing healthier lifestyles worldwide.