Within
the framework of the vision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific
Research aimed at promoting the concepts of sustainability and green
transformation within higher education institutions, the Supreme Council of
Universities agreed during its last session to launch a competition entitled
“Waste Management in Universities,” as part of the “Save it... Enlighten it”
energy rationalization campaign, which aims to spread the culture of
environmental awareness and sustainable energy among Egyptian university and
institute students, and transform universities into supportive platforms for
innovative ideas and smart solutions with a societal and environmental impact.
The
competition is held under the patronage of Dr. Abdulaziz Qanswa, Minister of
Higher Education and Scientific Research, and under the supervision of Dr.
Karim Hammam, Advisor to the Minister for Student Activities and Director of
the Leadership Preparation Institute, and in cooperation with the Innovators
and Geniuses Fund under the supervision of Dr. Tamer Hamouda, Executive
Director of the Fund, within the framework of the Ministry’s support for
innovative initiatives that aim to link students’ creative ideas to the
realistic challenges facing Egyptian society and universities.
The
competition aims to motivate university and institute students to provide
innovative and sustainable solutions for waste management in universities, by
encouraging projects that rely on modern technology, recycling, engineering
innovation, creative design, and green economic models, which contribute to
creating a more sustainable and efficient university environment, and enhancing
the role of youth in supporting sustainable development goals and Egypt’s
Vision 2030.
The
competition includes four main tracks, including:
Smart
technology and the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in
waste management and raising its efficiency, and engineering innovation to develop
advanced solutions and systems for collection, sorting and processing
operations, in addition to creative design that focuses on producing innovative
awareness campaigns and ideas to enhance positive behavior towards waste
management, in addition to the path of green economic models that aims to
provide viable projects that achieve economic returns and environmental
sustainability at the same time.
The
organizing committee also specified several stages for the competition,
starting with the announcement, opening registration, and receiving ideas, then
the initial evaluation stage of the submitted ideas, followed by presenting the
idea in an integrated manner, then developing initial models of ideas and
projects, leading to announcing the final results and honoring the winning
teams.
The
duration of the competition is scheduled to last for three months, while the
judging criteria depend on a number of basic axes, including the quality of the
presentation, the feasibility of the model presented, applicability,
innovation, and the environmental impact that the idea can achieve within the
university environment.
In this
context, Dr. Tamer Hamouda, Executive Director of the Fund for Innovators and
Geniuses, confirmed that the “Waste Management in Universities” competition
represents a model of integration between innovation and sustainability, and
contributes to directing students’ ideas towards providing practical,
applicable solutions to confront environmental challenges within Egyptian
universities.
He
pointed out that the Fund is keen to support innovative student projects that
rely on modern technology and creative ideas, which contributes to transforming
promising ideas into real applications with an economic and environmental
impact, stressing the continuation of cooperation with the Ministry of Higher
Education and Scientific Research in implementing initiatives aimed at building
a generation of innovative youth capable of supporting sustainable development
efforts and green transformation.
Dr. Karim
Hammam, Advisor to the Minister for Student Activities and Director of the
Leadership Preparation Institute, added that the competition comes within the
framework of the Ministry’s direction towards enabling students to participate
actively in facing environmental challenges through innovation and creativity,
noting that Egyptian universities possess youthful energies capable of
providing real and sustainable solutions that contribute to supporting the
state’s plans for green transformation and achieving sustainable development.
He
stressed that the Ministry is keen to transform student activities into
platforms for producing influential ideas and initiatives, in a way that
enhances the spirit of innovation, teamwork and entrepreneurship among
students. He explained that cooperation with the Fund for Welfare of Innovators
and Brilliant Persons reflects the integration between state institutions to
support gifted and innovative people, and provide the opportunity for young
people to transform their ideas into projects that can be implemented and
developed.
For his
part, Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, media advisor and official spokesman for the
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, confirmed that launching
the competition reflects the Ministry’s interest in establishing a culture of
environmental awareness and sustainability within the university community, and
enhancing the role of universities in supporting the state’s plans to preserve
natural resources and achieve sustainable development. He explained that the
Ministry is working to support initiatives that contribute to developing
students’ awareness of environmental and societal issues, and encouraging them
to participate in providing innovative solutions that serve society, thus
enhancing the role of universities as centers of creativity, knowledge
industry, and development.
This
competition confirms the keenness of the Ministry of Higher Education and
Scientific Research and the Supreme Council of Universities to establish a
culture of environmental sustainability within the university community, and to
enhance the role of universities in supporting innovation and sustainable
development, by involving students in providing practical solutions that
contribute to preserving natural resources and supporting the green economy.