International experts weigh in on sustainability practices in the region

With sustainability set as a priority within the policy agenda of Abu Dhabi’s Government and its Economic Vision 2030 as well as the UAE’s Vision 2021, Abu Dhabi University is following suit and integrating the key elements of sustainability within its plans for future academic programs. Sponsored by “Tawazun Industrial Park”, the University launched an awareness program and workshop on the concepts and principles of sustainability targeting faculty and staff with the aim of establishing an integrated matrix to achieve the goals of sustainability in energy, water and natural resources consumption. Titled “Sustainable Production and Consumption”, the workshop attracted international experts and academics who discussed the best international practices in the field, and the initiatives and policies of sustainability implemented in the UAE, in the presence of Dr. Nabil Ibrahim Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, Rashed Helal Al Darmaki CEO of “Tawazun Industrial Park”, Dr. Jacob Chacko Dean of the College of Business Administration, and Dr. Sherine Farouk Assistant Provost for Academic Projects.

Addressing participants of the workshop Dr. Nabil Ibrahim, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University stressed the University’s keenness in organizing these events that support its strategy in meeting the needs of the national development agenda and its sustainability related criteria. “As a higher educational institution part of our role in educating future generations is ensuring the dissemination of knowledge that aids in the advancement of the nation. This workshop along with future activities that ADU plans on organizing to spread awareness on the importance of sustainability will help refine the community’s understanding of the vital issues of sustainability leading to a brighter future for the coming generations”, said Dr. Ibrahim.

On his part, Dr. Jacob Chacko, Dean of ADU’s College of Business Administration explained that the workshop hosted several international sustainability experts who participated in various sessions discussing international practices of sustainability in North America and Europe, as well as the implementation of sustainability policies in the UAE, sustainability practices of organizations and the best methods of enlisting academic expertise to advance sustainability activities. 

Commenting on their support of this initiative, Rashed Helal Al Darmaki, CEO of Tawazun Industrial Park said: “Societies will need to ever faster focus on sustainability as a core issue.  Our Government has put in place several policies and procedures towards conservation of resources but we all have to be active. At Tawazun Industrial Park, we are committed to our social and environmental responsibilities.  In fact, we have an on-site sewage treatment plant, which provides us with irrigation water.  Our landscaping is balanced between hard and soft landscaping based on the quantity of the irrigation water.  We do not use potable water for landscaping.  We also use solar power in many of our activities. Businesses have as much role to play as do each one of us as individuals.  We are pleased to be associated with this workshop which intends to educate on various practices in Sustainable Production and Consumption”. 

The two-day workshop also hosted talks by Dr. Maurie Cohen Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Associate Fellow of the Tellus Institute, Dr. Philip Vergragt Fellow at Tellus Institute and Research Professor at March Institute- Clark University.