The Professional Diploma in Waste Management Programme at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) organised a series of field visits to several waste recycling sites in the Kingdom of Bahrain with the aim of enhancing the students’ theoretical knowledge with a series of practical field applications.

The students visited the Samsung Sewage Treatment Plant in Hidd and learned about the stages of wastewater treatment where sludge is converted to thermal energy through incineration technology which reduces the emissions from the use of non-renewable fuel such as diesel, in addition to adopting a circular approach that conserves resources, reduces costs and preserves the environment.

The Programme Coordinator, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering and Coordinator at the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences, Dr Sumaya Yusuf, stated, “Waste management has become one of the most pressing global environmental issues and a challenge facing urban cities worldwide. Understanding environmental pollution and managing waste in a sustainable manner has become essential; it is crucial for diploma students to grasp the importance of sustainable waste management that preserves resources through a circular methodology rather than a linear one that depletes them.”  She stressed the importance of raising awareness of sustainable production and consumption in our region by learning about various successful experiences and projects.

Meanwhile, students learned during the visit about ways to treat sludge as a resource rather than waste to maximise its benefit, as well as opportunities to use triple-treated water in light of the region’s water scarcity. Sustainable production and consumption conserve resources and reduce waste, the sustainable management of which, adopting a circular economy, preserves the environment, health, and society.

It is noteworthy that the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at AGU has inaugurated the fourth batch of the Professional Diploma in Waste Management Programme in cooperation with the Centre for Community Service, Consultation, Training and Continuing Education. Students from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Bahrain were admitted, representing industrial, commercial, municipal, educational research, business administration and investment sectors.

The programme is the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf, accredited by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM). It has graduated 56 specialists to date who have contributed to promoting sustainable practices in the Gulf and is offered through a flexible educational system that combines online and in-person attendance. There are 36 participants enrolled in the current batch. The programme is supported by the UN Environment Programme, West Asia Office.