CMU-Q Earns First FEE EcoCampus Green Flag Designation in MENA Region.

Doha: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) has been awarded the prestigious FEE EcoCampus Green Flag designation, becoming the first university in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to achieve this recognition. CMU-Q is a Qatar Foundation partner university. According to Qatar News Agency, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark, is one of the world's largest environmental education organizations, with over 100 member organizations in 81 countries. The EcoCampus program empowers students to lead sustainable change, bring awareness to their peers, and encourage operational efficiency at their campuses. CMU-Q embarked on its ambitious EcoCampus journey in September 2020, as part of an integrated initiative to promote community sustainability led by specialists. A committee of students, faculty, and staff created a comprehensive plan to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into all aspects of campus life. "We are thrilled to be the fi rst university in the MENA region to receive the FEE EcoCampus Green Flag," said Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q. "For the last four years, our entire campus community faculty, staff, and students have embraced positive change and worked together to make CMU-Q a model for environmental stewardship," he added. Ruba Hinnawi, technical lead at Qatar Foundation's Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, the national operator for EcoCampus, said, "this has been a long, collaborative effort between CMU-Q and Earthna to transform a campus and create a blueprint for other universities to get their own Green Flag designation." Hinnawi stressed the importance of achieving this within Qatar Foundation, aiming to lead a coordinated approach to sustainability. Jennifer Bruder, associate dean of research, expressed enthusiasm about the campus's dedication to advancing the UN SDGs, looking forward to inspiring change. Pramod Kumar Sharma, senior director of education for FEE, emphasized the role of higher education in sustai nability, viewing students as current leaders who see sustainability as a value, not just an action. CMU-Q offers undergraduate programs in biological sciences, business administration, computer science, and information systems. Students have numerous opportunities to learn about sustainability and effect change throughout their undergraduate years.