The College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) has accepted the fourth cohort of its Professional Diploma in Waste Management programme, developed in collaboration with the university’s Community Service, Consultation, Training and Continuing Education Centre. The programme has achieved substantial local and regional success since its inception in 2021, attracting significant interest from various governmental and private sectors in the GCC countries, including municipal, industrial, healthcare, educational and business sectors.

Dr Sumaya Youssef, programme coordinator and Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at the Centre for Biological and Environmental Studies within the College, announced that the launch ceremony for the new cohort will take place on November 3, 2024. She highlighted that since its launch, the programme has produced 56 graduates who are seasoned professionals in sustainable waste management, contributing positively to the development and transition of GCC societies towards sustainability in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Expressing her pride in the enrolment of 32 participants in the fourth cohort from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Dr Youssef noted that most of them are distinguished leaders in the waste management sector, representing various fields concerned with resource sustainability, environmental preservation and the circular economy.

The diploma programme is characterised by its flexibility, offering evening classes through a dual mode of both virtual and in-person learning. It receives direct support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for West Asia and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) in the United Kingdom.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr Youssef said: “The challenges faced by countries worldwide, particularly those related to climate change and the increasing rates of waste generation and its repercussions on community sustainability, necessitate urgent action and effective collaboration among all stakeholders. At a time when waste management and pollution have become global environmental priorities, waste is increasingly seen as a vital resource for numerous industries and a key tool for investment in the circular economy, which can diversify economies, enhance employment opportunities, improve quality of life and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

In this context, AGU has committed to addressing current and future challenges through the introduction of several distinguished and unique academic and professional programmes aimed at enhancing the capabilities and skills of its students, promoting innovation, green technology and the circular economy. This commitment focuses on environmental protection and community sustainability while transforming unsustainable consumption patterns that exacerbate the waste problem, thereby positively impacting health, the environment, the economy and society.

It is noteworthy that the Professional Diploma in Waste Management programme has received accreditation from the CIWM in the United Kingdom, making it the first of its kind in the Gulf and Arab region to achieve this international recognition.