This book highlights how universities contribute to addressing critical challenges related to water security, sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and green campus transitions across Developing Asia.

This book explores curriculum transformation, indigenous knowledge integration, smart technologies, sustainable infrastructure, flood resilience, urban heat management, water governance, and carbon-neutral campus initiatives. It demonstrates how Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) extend their impact beyond academic boundaries through research, innovation, partnerships, and community outreach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Designed for researchers, academicians, policymakers, planners, sustainability practitioners, students, and institutional leaders, this book presents practical insights into emerging challenges and opportunities for embedding sustainability into higher education systems.

Baskaran Venkatesh is affiliated with Alagappa Chettiar Government College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikudi. His research has contributed to urban sustainability monitoring and assessment and urban infrastructure planning. He has published his research works in reputed indexed journals and authored some book chapters from popular publishers. He reviewed various journal articles related to urban sustainability studies. He has completed a Construction Management and Geographic Information Systems specialization course offered by Columbia University and University of California, Davis. In addition to these specialization courses, he achieved Introduction to Sustainability and Responsive City certifications from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich. He is recognized as an Innovative Mentor by Startup TN, a Government of Tamil Nadu unit. He has been involved in various consultancy activities for construction projects implemented under Smart City Mission and other infrastructure schemes. Currently, he is actively participating in assessing and monitoring the implementation of different infrastructure-related targets from Sustainable Development Goals at the City and Municipality levels. He is a part of the SDG Club of ACGCET, which was established to foster youth in social, economic and environmental initiatives at the college level. He has initiated a Circle for Climate Change and Community Collaboration, a platform dedicated to advancing climate action through education and engagement.