Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi actively engages in collaborations and partnerships aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By working with local and international organizations, governmental bodies, and academic institutions, the university fosters innovative research and initiatives that address pressing global challenges. These partnerships focus on a variety of SDGs, such as quality education, climate action, and sustainable cities, promoting interdisciplinary approaches that leverage diverse expertise.
In January 2023, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi opened the department of Innovation and Research Partnerships to support Research at the university and strengthen collaborations with externals partners, from industry players to business communities and private and public sector in the country.
The department strives to anchor Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in the regional innovation ecosystems by developing partnerships with UAE based or UAE owned companies.
By identifying the sectors of excellence at the University on the one hand and the strategic sectors being developed by the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE on the other hand; the department’s goal is to become the preferred partner of government entities, businesses, and industry in the UAE.
In 2022/23, the department started to build a network of professionals from the public and private sectors and academics of the university to develop research and innovative projects in common fields of interest.
Furthermore, and with the Legal Adviser, it started putting in place a legal framework to structure and consolidate the development of existing and future research partnerships. In addition, the department also monitors agreements and promotes their outcomes.
Additionally, Sorbonne Abu Dhabi encourages student involvement in community projects and initiatives that align with the SDGs, cultivating a sense of responsibility and empowerment among future leaders. Through these collaborative efforts, the university not only enhances its educational offerings but also contributes meaningfully to sustainable development in the region and beyond.
This partnership aims to enhance public health education and research, directly supporting SDG 3, which focuses on good health and well-being. Through collaborative initiatives, the university will facilitate knowledge exchange and develop programs that address key health challenges in the region. This includes promoting health literacy, conducting research on health policies, and engaging students in community health projects. By aligning its academic and research efforts with the objectives of the Department of Health, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi demonstrates its commitment to improving health outcomes and fostering a healthier society, thus playing a pivotal role in advancing the SDGs.
The privilege of being in the UAE gives students the opportunity to discover different cultures to participate in many events & activities. Students from different disciplines can attend and experience conferences, forums and talks in and out of campus. The University collaborates with different cultural entities such as Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, Cultural Foundation, Qasr Al Hosn, Youth Hub and many more.
One of the key tenets of the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Go Green 2023 initiative was to encourage students, faculty, and staff to participate in creating a more sustainable future, and focus its efforts on raising awareness of climate change issues, developing initiatives to address environmental challenges, and promoting sustainable practices, the university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). The agreement will cover collaboration in the fields of environmental research needs, research studies, knowledge exchange and development across a wide range of environment-relevant disciplines.
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi was one of the founding members of the Universities Climate Network (UCN) in the UAE in the Fall of 2022. By the Spring of 2023, the UCN comprised 35 UAE-based universities and higher education institutions whose mission was to work together to create synergies and partnerships that would enable the UAE to become a driving force and beacon for sustainable solutions to climate change and to support the national efforts in leading the agenda at COP28.
SUAD’s membership in the UAE Universities Climate Network (UCN) focused on its commitment to support Youth-Focused Objectives of COP28, and promote its research on the core themes of Climate Change and Water Resources, Loss and Damages and Future Generations, Green Transition and Sustainability and Green Information Management and Digital Transformation.
As part of its collaboration with other HEI, the UN Special Envoy to COP28 and the COP28 team, SUAD committed to ensuring that its initiatives and events throughout 2023 would support the COP28 to achieve the following key priorities:
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This affiliation enables collaboration with other institutions focused on integrating sustainability into higher education. By leveraging AASHE’s resources and best practices, the university enhances its sustainability initiatives in academics, research, and campus operations. This commitment fosters a richer educational experience for students and establishes the university as a regional leader in promoting sustainability.
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) has signed an agreement with the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to foster groundbreaking research and development in the field of Quantum Science and Technology. This partnership aims to establish a framework for cooperation between SUAD and TII, allowing them to work together on research and development projects in Quantum Science and Technology.
The collaboration agreement outlines several areas of mutual interest, including joint research projects, exchange programs, and organizing scientific events such as conferences. In addition, SUAD and TII will jointly attract high school students to the world of Quantum Technologies and cooperate in the education and training of PhD, graduate, undergraduate, and intern students
Taylor & Francis Sustainable Development Goals Online collection is a carefully curated interdisciplinary collection of digital content mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG Online collection includes more than 12,000 of the most important and relevant book chapters and journal articles, published under the Routledge and CRC Press imprints, in an online library covering all 17 SDGs. The collection also features new multi-format teaching and learning resources, including core essays, presentations, videos, case studies, teaching guides, and lesson plans.
The content is available for all students and employees. Also, for external visitors on the computers in the library.
Students have been massively engaged in sustainable activities and initiatives. Our Law Student, Malick Kouassi Traoré was nominated as the University’s Green Ambassador and therefore becoming the spokesperson of the students’ community.
Students of the Environmental Health Club play an active role by organizing awareness sessions and events for students; some of which were:
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi has appointed a dedicated Student SDG Officer to enhance its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This role focuses on coordinating sustainability initiatives and engaging the university community in related efforts. By raising awareness of the SDGs and promoting collaborative projects, the Student SDG Officer empowers peers to advocate for sustainable development in their future careers.
Within those academic programs and other several of our courses offered to students are dedicated to sustainability and the SDGs
General Education course and seminar on SDGs: Are the UN SDGs Achievable? Applying the Concepts of Innovation and Sustainability
In 2023, thanks to the launching of SUAD’s Go Green Year, the University announced its commitment to developing innovative solutions through education and research at the boundaries of disciplines that would enable and accompany society during the transformation it is undergoing, including globalisation, mobility, the digital revolution, demographic and health changes and environmental transition.
In tandem with the COP 28 and the Year of Sustainability, SUAD was committed to taking a proactive approach by positioning itself as a key player in the COP28 launch and placing sustainability as a core priority and driver through the Go Green Year 2023 Initiative.
SUAD’s participation at COP28 was the culmination of a year of activities and events to mark its commitment to achieving a sustainable environment for the future. The University organized 14 research conferences at CoP28 in Dubai on critical themes encompassing climate change, sustainability, environmental stewardship, and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Leading specialists and researchers from around the world gathered under SUAD’s Environment Centre programme for COP28 to advance research on sustainability and climate change.
Supported by a 360 marketing and advertising campaign, SUAD’s participation at COP28 has been highlighted on national radio, newspapers and live TV interviews that allowed SUAD to announce its strategy in terms of environment.
The Youth COP is a mock negotiation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (hereinafter COP) organized by Université Paris Cité (France), Universidade Federal do Ceará (Brazil) and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), in partnership with YOUNGO/UNFCCC.
The competition aims to provide an opportunity for worldwide students to experience climate negotiations through a simulation of the UNFCCC COP whilst fostering their critical thinking and interpersonal skills, such as teamwork, compromise, and conflict resolution applied to climate change agreements.
The outcome document developed by the competitors will be presented at COP29 in Baku (Azerbaijan).
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