Introduction

Hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi and the American University of Sharjah, HECD is the first student-led conference to set an example of student leadership in the UAE. It aims to connect students, faculty, researchers, administration, and other stakeholders across universities to promote sustainability in higher education.

Project Overview

The initiative focused on sustainability in higher education across four key areas: campus operations, campus culture, research, and teaching. A team of 20 students from NYU Abu Dhabi, the American University of Sharjah, and Zayed University coordinated the event to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

Method

Bringing together a team of 20 students from NYU Abu Dhabi, American University of Sharjah and Zayed University to coordinate events focused on promoting sustainability in higher education across campus operations, campus culture, research and teaching by:

Engaging over 100 participants from 8 universities in the UAE, including students, faculty, and staff.

Hosting 15 virtual sessions highlighting sustainability initiatives in the UAE and providing opportunities for discussions on climate action within a university environment.
Establishing collaborations with leading UAE sustainability institutions, including IRENA and Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.

Key Outcomes and Learnings

Initial plans for an in-person event were adapted due to the pandemic, allowing the conference to be held online and inviting overseas speakers and participants who would otherwise have been unable to attend.
As a new initiative, the conference utilized contacts from previous inter-university collaborations while building new partnerships across academia, government, and business sectors.
Future conferences aim to continue strengthening national participation while welcoming global guests online.
The team learned to work in a hybrid environment, managing members in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and NYU campuses abroad. They also developed professional communication skills and learned the importance of building partnerships by identifying mutual benefits.