The University of Sharjah Holds the 1st International Forum on Sustainable Development and Sustainable Innovations

Under the patronage of His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, and with the participation of His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Head of the Government Relations Department in the Emirate of Sharjah, the University's College of Business Administration organized the 1st International Forum on Sustainable Development and Sustainable Innovations. This under the theme: "Business for Sustainable Development: Moving Towards Business Models of a Circular Economy."

During the activities of the Forum, the College announced the winners of the Youth Sustainability Competition, and Bee'ah, the Competition sponsor, presented the winners for prizes amounting to 25 thousand dirhams.

Farida Abdul Al-Tawab, Jana Muhammad, Tima Louai, Mannat Allah Adel, and Abeer Zafer from the College of Fine Arts and Design won first place for the project: "The Art of Recycling".

Khadija Al Ali, Reem Al Suwaidi, and Amna Butti from the College of Engineering won second place for the project: "Oil Bio-Production using plastic remnants and date kernels."

Salma Ihab, Ryan Kasih, Anna Willian, Julian Gillen, and Maitha Al Rumaithi from the Colleges of Sciences, Health Sciences and Engineering won third place for the project: "Anaerobic Digestion."

Finally, students Rabia Sultan, Sherifa Al Shehhi, and Sabira Bukhari from the Colleges of Business Administration, Humanities and Sciences won fourth place for the "Facilitated Summit" project. The fifth place went to the project submitted by students Arwa Bashir, Maryam Murad, and Abdul Rahman Allan from the Colleges of Science, Engineering, Fine Arts and Design.

During his opening speech, His Excellency the University Chancellor expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah for the support and guidance of His Highness for the University of Sharjah.

He welcomed the attendees and His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi and stressed in his speech the important achievements made by the University of Sharjah in the field of sustainability. He noted that the University of Sharjah was ranked first in the UAE according to the UI GreenMetric classifications for the fourth year in a row in the fields of sustainable development and commitment to clean environment standards. The University also received five local awards in the field of sustainability during the year 2020.

The Chancellor emphasized that these achievements had a great societal impact, as many training workshops, scientific seminars and research teams were organized at the University. He stressed that because the University of Sharjah is one of the largest universities in the country, it plays a vital role in community service through educating and preparing future leaders. He pointed out that the University of Sharjah stresses the importance of its vital role in employing innovative scientific research in providing solutions to all issues and topics of interest to the community locally and regionally.

The main objective of this Forum is to spread awareness and instill a culture of responsible business among university students. There is also an urgent need for this Forum to keep pace with the tremendous development in the field of business and meet the demands of labor markets locally, regionally, and globally. Therefore, graduates must align their knowledge and experiences with the stated main sustainability goals and principles on the United Nations agenda for 2030.

This Forum focuses on the main aspects of conducting responsible business, which include tools, knowledge, practical advice, and best practices. This falls within a wide range of activities adopted by the College of Business Administration to prepare a new generation of graduates who are ready to be entrepreneurs with advanced methods that are consistent with the radical changes that have occurred in this field. This endeavor is among the strategic objectives of the University of Sharjah.