SEE Institute, the reputed hub for sustainability education and research in the region located in The Sustainable City Dubai, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Birmingham Dubai to advance sustainable practices by connecting with academics, industry experts, students, start-ups, and sustainability enthusiasts.

The agreement will lay the foundation for a strong cooperative relationship between SEE Institute and the University of Birmingham Dubai, facilitating and catalyzing activities centered on the social, economic, and environmental factors that support resilient communities, their ecosystems, and governance.

The MoU will play a key role in working together toward achieving the global goals put forward by the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28). The partnership will host multiple events and conferences during and after the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, set to be held in Dubai in November 2023.

Dr. Jasmina Locke, Chief Executive Officer of SEE Institute said, As the first net zero hub for sustainability education, research, and sustainable business incubation we are eager to collaborate with the University of Birmingham, as this partnership marks a key milestone in our mission to advance sustainability education and innovation in line with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement. The agreement further promotes the engagement of academia, industry, government, and the community through educational directives and initiatives to accelerate climate action. The MoU will play a key role in identifying and establishing collaborative research, joint publications, and educational goals that will mutually contribute to global sustainability objectives. While aligning with the vision of the United Arab Emirates and the objectives of COP 28 UAE, we will work together in the pursuit of more practical solutions and impactful actions to the threats posed by climate change.

Prof. David Sadler, Provost at the University of Birmingham Dubai, said: We look forward to collaborating with SEE Institute to research concepts and solutions that will make a significant contribution to global climate action. With more than 100 years of heritage, we have access to a pool of world-leading academics which we will leverage to stimulate and drive positive change as part of this agreement. This is in addition to our state-of-the-art Dubai campus, which is a living lab designed to explore ways of enhancing sustainability, while providing an unparalleled student experience.

The agreement will include the exchange of academic staff and students working on research and development projects, collaborative research, the publication of research outcomes by faculty and researchers in broader areas of sustainability, co-created and jointly delivered education programs, ideation workshops, hackathons, business incubation, internships, etc.

SEE Institute, the reputed and dedicated hub for sustainability education, research, and business incubation is known for empowering the growth of sustainable practices. The headquarters of the institute will be the first net-zero carbon building in the region.