The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) has become the first higher education institution in Macau to initiate the “ARC sustainability performance assessment”, adopting an international framework to evaluate and improve campus operations, according to a statement by the private university yesterday.
The statement said that the ARC assessment will measure the university’s actual operational performance instead of focusing only on design-based sustainability goals.
According to the statement, ARC Skoru is a global digital performance platform developed by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) in conjunction with the US Green Building Council, which is behind the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system. The statement noted that the platform assesses verified performance data across five key areas: energy, water, waste, transportation and human experience.
The ARC framework provides performance benchmarks and allows transparent monitoring, helping institutions make informed decisions and pursue continuous improvements in line with international sustainability standards, the statement said, adding that it also converts operational data into a performance score to provide a clear and comparable view of sustainability progress over time.
The statement said that the ARC process began in September last year, with data collection and analysis continuing throughout 2026, adding that sustainability consultancy firm Urban Practice is supporting USJ during the assessment process.
According to the statement, the initiative aims to reflect its strategic commitment to embedding sustainability into institutional governance and campus management practices, while aligning the private Catholic university’s academic values with global environmental responsibility.
This image downloaded from the University of Saint Joseph’s (USJ) website yesterday shows the logo of ARC Skoru above the private university campus in Ilha Verde district as it becomes the first higher education institution in Macau to commit an ARC sustainability performance assessment.
