Education for SDGs: commitment to meaningful education

King Salman International University (KSIU) is deeply committed to providing meaningful education that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university integrates sustainability principles across its curriculum, ensuring that students understand the importance of sustainable development in their respective fields. By fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills, KSIU prepares students to address global challenges and contribute to a sustainable future.

Knowledge acquisition, especially in the functional applied fields, is the foundation for meaningful existence and individual empowerment. The latter takes shape through an empowering learning process that ties knowledge acquisition to learners’ needs and students’ learning styles, the end of which is to create the Millennials citizens—individuals capable of using theoretical knowledge to applied ends with critical potential to utilize their skill-set for solving worldly problems and hence implementing change in a changing world. With that orientation, KSIU embracess Sustainability through a student-centered learning education, where the students are active participants in the learning process. As a part of sustainable development goals, student-centered education is being implemented at King Salman International University (KSIU). The methods and abilities that support independent problem-solving and lifetime learning are the main emphasis of student-centered instruction. Students are main players in solving social and economic problems by searching, analyzing, and solving national issues. To execute this process, specialized courses are provided for students. In addition, graduation projects are performed to handle and analyze social and economic national issues.

Knowledge-based evidence

1.1 Courses related to sustainable development goals: All of KSIU curricula are reinforced by sustainable development goals, especially, quality education SDG4. Additionally, KSIU provides environmental-related courses which are related to SDGs 12, 13, 14, and 15 as shown in the following table. Table1. Environmental-related courses in different faculties.

	Course name		Course code
	Faculty of Dessert agriculture
1	Principles of the Desert Environment		PPD212
2	Environmental Properties of Soil		PPD446
3	Environmental Impact Assessment		ABE436
4	Environmental Aspects of Technology		ABE438
5	Environmental Control Engineering in Agricultural Building		ABE439
6	Environment & bio security in animal production		APD414
7	Environment & Poultry Farms		APD429
	Faculty of Basic Science
1	Principles of Ecology		ENV211
2	Environmental biotechnology		ENV316
3	Climate Change and Sustainability		ESD217
4	Oceanography BIO333		BIO333
5	Fisheries BIO335		BIO335
6	Biology of coral reefs		BIO336
7	Marine botany		BIO341
8	Marine phycology		BIO342
9	Marine parasitology		BIO442
10	Environmental Biology		ENV111
11	Introduction to ecology		ENV311
12	Marine molecular ecology		ENV312
13	Field methods in ecology		ENV314
14	Coral reef restoration		ENV315
15	Marine field study		ENV411
16	Environmental hazard models		ENV412
17	Conservation biology		ENV413
18	Marine geographic information systems		ENV414
19	Renewable energy & sustainability		CHE241
20	Environmental sustainability		CHE436
21	Environmental Analytical Chemistry		CHE336
22	Environmental Analysis		CHE433
23	Hazardous waste management		CHE435
24	Well Logging & Formation Evaluation		ERS327
	Faculty of Pharmacy
1	Basic and Clinical Toxicology		PPT404
2	Industrial Pharmacy		PPH306
3	Applications of nanotechnology in pharmacy		PPH512
4	Current GMP		PPH509
5	Biotechnology		PMB405
	Faculty of Veterinary medicine
1	Conservation of biodiversity and natural reserves.	VET200
2	Management of animal waste.	VET206
3	Conservation Strategies for Preventing Animal Extinction.	VET400
4	Climatic Changes and Sustainability	ESD217
	Faculty of Engineering
1	Theory of photovoltaic and solar cell		ELE273
2	Economics of Energy Generation, Transmission & Operation		ELE371
3	Energy Resources		MEC255
4	Renewable Energy Resources interfacing		MEC452
5	Wind Storage		MEC453
6	Energy & Environment		MEC463
7	Design of Electric System in Buildings and smart homes		ELE385
8	Sustainability of Construction and Building Physics		CIV218
9	Nanotechnologies for Energy & Environment		MEC475
10	Energy and Environment		MEC463
	Faculty of Computer Science
1	Societal and Ethical Issues in Information Technology		CSE321
	Faculty of Social Science
1	Climate Change and Sustainability		ESD217
2	Strategic Environmental Management		ESD116
3	Challenges of Sustainable Development		ESD117
4	Global Environmental Policy		ESD316
6	Environment & Sustainable Lifestyles		ESD412
7	Intro Environmental Studies: Humanities		ESD112
8	Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory		ESD113
9	Energy & Environmental Technology		ESD115
10	Environmental Ethics		ESD114
11	Environmental Disasters & Urban Issues		ESD123
12	Gender Mainstreaming in environmental Disaster		ESD126
13	Environmental Science Fieldwork Experience		ESD211
14	Environmental & Ecological Monitoring		ESD214
15	Independent Study in Sustainable Development		ESD215
16	Environmental Statistics & Computation		ESD219
17	Meteorological & Environmental Measurement		ESD312
18	Environmental Administration		ESD314
19	Environmental Internships		ESD317
20	Advanced Topics in Environmental Sciences		ESD320
21	Quantitative Techniques for Envi omental Disaster		ESD327
22	Marine Environmental Policy		ESD413
23	Writing in Environmental Report		ESD415
24	Special Topics in Environmental Science		ESD416
25	Urban Environmental Pollution & Human Health		ESD424
26	Advance Environmental Impact Analysis		ESD428
27	Sustainable Development & Environmental Issues		APS117
28	Environmental Problems Management		GCS217
	Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality
1	Sustainable Tourism		TOS242
2	Hotel & Resort Environmental Management		HOM215
3	Current & Future Trends in Tourism & Recreation		TOS441
4	CSR & Ethics in Events		HOM479
	Faculty of Architecture
1	Design of Water Sports Facilities		ARC326
2	Environment & Sustainability		ARC361
3	Green Architecture		ARC363
4	Green Architecture Design Studio		ARC264
5	Introduction to Environmental Behavior Studies		ARC151
6	Sustainable Urban Development		URB372
7	Green & Water Elements Design		URB332
8	Environmental Impact Assessment		URB371
	Faulty of Art and Design
1	Design Culture		VCD012
2	Interior Architecture 4/ Education & Healthcare		IDA314
3	Interior Architecture 5/ Hospitality		IDA415
4	Principals of Art and Environmental Design		IDA 019
5	Systems & Environmental Control		IDA413
6	Botanica: Imaging the Green Planet		TAD335
	Faculty of Technological Industries
1	Environmental Sciences		CTP313
98	Total

Students’ activities and exposure Several events were carried out by the university to afford students exposure to real life experience. Some examples of KSIU Students’ activities are presented as the following: EGYPES conference 2023 EGYPES is a platform for critical discussions on the future of all forms of sustainably produced energy for Africa and the Mediterranean. Within the framework of King Salman International University’s interest in providing its students with different practical experiences, students of the Faculty of Basic Sciences (Petroleum Chemistry program) participated in the EGYPES 2023 Petroleum Exhibition and Conference in the presence of nearly 80 local and international oil companies.

“Bio-Gate 2023/24”

The students of the Faculty of Basic Sciences held an art exhibition for the students of the college under the title “Bio-Gate”.

With the aim of developing the creative and aesthetic sense, students did present their knowledge of several courses using stereoscopic models posters. This exhibition is held annually in the first semester, since the establishment of the university.

Science and Innovation Day 3rd Version – 2024

In May 2024, a scientific day was organized by students. Speakers from different research institutions had scientific presentations and discussions with students. The students from faculties of Science and Medicine also participated in presenting some problems, diseases, and aspects of scientific cooperation between different disciplines to understand and solve problems. Student projects were also presented in the form of posters and discussed with guests from outside the university and with faculty members.

Main Objectives:

Exposing students to many academic institutions.
Presenting students’ projects during the semester.

The Science Market in a Glimpse (28th April 2024)

Final-level students organized a scientific day aimed at linking industry to the curriculum and understanding the labor market. More than 10 companies have been hosted in the fields of petroleum chemistry and biotechnology. Representatives of the companies also met the University Vice President for International Relations and faculty members to discuss cooperation between industry and academic research. Some strategies were discussed to bridge the gap between industry and academia.

1.3.Visits and collaborations for meaningful education

In order to maximize the educational values of our students, different collaborations were established with several research institutions and companies. Also, field visits to environmental resources were executed to support different courses. The following evidence are some examples for visits and collaborations:

Collaboration with National Research center

Collaboration with Faculty of Science, Cairo University

Field trip SUCO SUEZ Oil to support learning activities of the following courses:

Petroleum Science CHE412

Natural Gas CHE314

Petrochemicals CHE313

Industrial chemical Technology CHE431

Industrial chemical processes CHE332

Electrochemistry & Corrosion Science CHE344

Field trip to Sinai Manganese Company to support the following courses:

Industrial chemical Technology CHE431

Industrial chemical processes CHE332

Hazardous waste management CHE435

Mineralogy ERS211

Collaboration with Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute

visits and training were organized by the university and the host institute to assess teaching of the following courses:

Petroleum Science CHE412

Natural Gas CHE314

Petrochemicals CHE313

Practical training and Internship CHE418

Visit to Egypt center of medical research and regenerative medicine

In December 2023, the Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine Center was visited to learn about the Egyptian Genome Project. During the visit, students of the molecular biotechnology program listened to lectures on ongoing research at the center. The students also presented some recent topics in the field of biotechnology. One of the graduation projects was also presented at the university.

Field trip to Sinai Mountains

Field visits to Ras Sidr farms in coordination with the Directorate of Agriculture

These trips are providing technical support to farmers in Ras Sidr in the fields of irrigation, fish farming, olive farms and jojoba.

Teaching trips to study the environment in the Dahab area for students of the Faculty of Advanced Basic Sciences

To support the ENV211 course, an annual trip is organized to apply the environmental foundations of the course in Sinai. Samples from the surrounding environment are collected to make environmental measurements at the university after the return of students.

Organizing a workshop between the faculties of veterinary medicine and the University of Tennessee

The main objective: To develop an action plan for sustainable development and present development opportunities through twin and joint research projects between the two faculties.

Scientific workshops for students of the Faculty of Architecture and the Faculty of Tourism took place on Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Within the framework of the scientific activities workshops for students of the Faculty of Architecture and the Faculty of Tourism, a lecture on the design and management of eco-tourism resorts was held on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, in the presence of lecturers’ guests, namely Engineer Emad Farid, Executive Engineer of Siwa EcoHotels Group, and Mr. Thomas William, Tourism Director of Siwa EcoHotels Management. They are representatives of the International Environmental Quality Company for Development Investments, and the environmental projects implemented in Siwa and several other geographical locations in Egypt were presented, as well as the environmental investment tourism project to be implemented in Sharm El-Sheikh in the Nabq Reserve, and it was agreed to hold a cooperation protocol with the company executing that project to train students of the faculties of architecture, tourism and arts in all stages of the implementation of the construction project, tourism management, operation and artistic advertising work to market the project.

Visiting Al-Arabi Company for Trade and Industry

The students of the third year of the architecture program at King Salman International University also visited the new administrative headquarters of Al-Arabi Company for Trade and Industry in the Fifth Settlement on Wednesday 6/03/2024 to learn about the compatibility of the building with Silver LEED Certification. The visit included a full explanation from the LEED consultant for the project about the LEED-certified projects in Egypt and the rationale and compatibility items in terms of checklist categories such as sustainable sites, site and transportation, energy, water efficiency, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation and design. The project consultants then accompanied the students through an inspection tour of the site inside and outside the building, where they inspected the air conditioning units on the roof of the building, solar cells, the types of lighting allowed, the materials used in the building in finishes, water treatment units, toilet installations, the chapel, the exhibition and the museum, in addition to the crops in the entrance area and the irrigation methods used.

Trip to isolate thermophilic bactria from sulphur springs (Ras-Sedr, South Sinai)

Understanding and implementation

Evidence:

Graduation projects (2023/2024)

The main focus of KSIU graduation projects was to solve and to analyze real national challenges. Examples of graduation projects:

Development and Evaluation of cost-effective homemade DNA Extraction Kit: A homemade DNA purification kit for molecular biology applications & molecular Diagnosis

This project got 9th place at The 7th Medical Integrated Students, Research (MISR) Conference Faculty of Medicine -Ain Shams University- February 2024.

Petroleum Chemistry Program projects

Synthesis and performance evaluation of some new polymer additives for engine oil industry.
Synthesis of some new azoles as corrosion inhibitors for steel in petroleum industry.

Integrated fish farming graduation project

The project of the integrated fish farming system submitted by the students of the animal production program in desert areas, which is a model for the optimal use of water for sustainable agriculture and is being applied in areas of horizontal expansion, especially in desert areas with high salinity water sources, which is the role of the Faculty of Desert Agriculture at the university.

National competitions

KSIU students did participate in several national competitions. This student contribution is a part of applying their knowledge and lifelong learning process. Some evidences are supported with pictures as the following:

Innovation competition –KSIU-South Sinai (2024)