Al-Zayani: Gulf University is committed to implementing practices that protect the environment and conserve resources.
Al-Mashhadani: Integrating sustainability subjects into academic programs to raise student awareness.
Formation of a “Sustainability Club” to empower students to actively contribute to sustainability goals.
Sustainability Week raises community awareness and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals.
Blibesh: Implementation of projects and initiatives focused on enhancing sustainability within the university campus.
On Sunday, October 20, Gulf University launched the first edition of “Sustainability Week,” with the participation of the Secretary-General of the Higher Education Council, Vice – Chair of the Boars of Trustees of the Higher EducationCouncil, Dr. Diana Abdul Karim Al-Jahrami. Professor Mona bint Rashid Al-Zayani, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors, highlighted that organizing Sustainability Week reflects the university’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices and raising awareness among students and the community about the importance of preserving the environment and natural resources.
Sustainability Week featured active participation from the Supreme Council for Environment, Ministries of Public Works, Housing and Urban Planning, Health, Industry and Commerce, Youth and Sports Affairs, and the Bahraini Scientific Center for Sustainable Development Goals.
Professor Al-Zayani emphasized that Gulf University is steadily advancing towards achieving Bahrain’s Vision 2030, striving to create an innovative educational environment that contributes to building a sustainable future for the next generations.
In his opening speech, Gulf University President, Professor Mohannad Al-Mashhadani, stated that Sustainability Week embodies the university’s vision as a leading educational institution aiming to build an integrated academic community that is part of the solutions to today’s environmental, economic, and social challenges. This week is a step towards reinforcing the university’s role in leading sustainability efforts and channeling energies towards a more sustainable future for all.
Al-Mashhadani explained that in line with its commitment to embedding sustainability concepts among its students, Gulf University introduced a core course on sustainability in 2017, aimed at familiarizing students with essential sustainability concepts and equipping them with the knowledge and tools to address today’s environmental, economic, and social challenges. He also mentioned the establishment of the “Sustainability Center” in the same year, dedicated to research and studies in sustainability, supporting innovation in this field.
The university will dedicate the first 10 minutes of each lecture during Sustainability Week to discussions on sustainability-related topics, with the goal of raising students’ awareness of crucial environmental issues. Additionally, Al-Mashhadani announced the formation of the “Sustainability Club,” a student-led initiative aimed at empowering students to actively engage in achieving sustainability goals both on and off campus. The club will provide a platform for students from various disciplines to collaborate on projects focused on enhancing sustainability in all its environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
The Chair of the Sustainability Week organizing committee and Director of the Sustainability Center at the university, Dr. Omar Blibesh, emphasized that this event represents an important platform for exchanging ideas and experiences on environmental and sustainable economic issues. Dr. Blibesh highlighted the achievement of establishing the Sustainability Club, with 18 students from different faculties nominated to join. These students will work on projects and initiatives that focus on promoting sustainability on campus and within the local community, raising awareness and encouraging concrete steps to protect the environment.
UN Information Centre Director for the Gulf States, Ahmad Bin Al-Aswad, underscored the global struggle to achieve sustainable development goals, particularly in combating poverty, hunger, climate change, and inequality. He outlined the outcomes of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit held in New York in September 2023, and reaffirmed the world’s commitment to reforming multilateralism to achieve sustainable development during the 2024 Summit.
The event included interactive workshops on recycling and conserving natural resources, panel discussions with local and international experts, and sessions on mental health, healthy nutrition, and community environment workshops.
“Sustainability Week,” running for five days, aims to highlight all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and work towards achieving them, including improving the quality of education as a key component of these goals.
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