This course is the first part of the Global Challenges courses. It introduces the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global challenges, the underlying complexity, and innovative solutions resulted from efforts of transcending boundaries of disciplines. The course adopts a theme-based design, allowing students to map the SDGs throughout the learning process. Global Challenges I focus on raising awareness of the SDGs, whereas Global Challenges II emphasizes fostering positive attitudes and motivating behavioural changes. Students will learn via (1) lectures to gain understanding of global challenges, and transdisciplinary development of related innovations; (2) field trips to gain empathy and identify emerging issues and problems in real-world settings; and (3) group work to frame questions and/or exercise appropriate methodologies for problem-solving. Students, after taking the course, should also develop an aptitude to recognise the importance and potential hurdles of crossing disciplinary boundaries for innovation.