Education for SDGs: specific courses on sustainability

Beware of the importance on offering dedicated courses and programs that focus on sustainability and SDGs, the American University of the Middle East offers introductory courses on SDGs, and graduation projects (business capstone projects and culminating design experience projects) directly tackling SDGs. AUM is also establishing Master programs focused on SDGs such as Master program in Electrical Engineering - Energy Sources and Systems. Moreover, AUM offers a Certificate program in Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with UC Berkeley AMENA Center for Entrepreneurship and Development. 

Example of Introductory Courses on SDGs

CVL355 - Engineering of Environmental Sustainability course: This course is an introduction to the examination of global-scale resource utilization, food, energy and commodity production, population dynamics, and their ecosystem impacts. The course aims to dispel popular misconceptions about sustainability. It covers frameworks for defining and measuring progress toward sustainability and explores the major impacts of human activities on the environment. Additionally, the course offers in-depth knowledge about global challenges related to climate change, energy production, and resource availability. Moreover, the course project is dedicated to developing students' ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs while considering public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. The project also aims to promote students' recognition of ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and their ability to make informed judgments that consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. Additionally, the project focuses on students' ability to function effectively in teams, acquire and apply new knowledge using appropriate learning strategies.

BUS 300 - Career planning: This course focuses on fostering sustainable workplaces and promoting green occupations, particularly during discussions on Career Exploration in chapters 3 and 4. Updated content spotlight Green Economy Occupations, which align with UN SDG 13. We seamlessly integrate these themes into our class discussions and activities, utilizing tools such as O*NET Online for career exploration. Additionally, we delve into strategies for companies to identify individuals with the essential competencies for sustainability. Through activities like interview role plays, students evaluate their understanding and apply Competency-based interviewing techniques. This ensures they grasp the significance of sustainability mindset and relationship-building skills in establishing economically viable and socially responsible workplaces. 

Graduation Courses

Business Capstone Projects: This course is aimed at engaging students with the practical orientation of their discipline-specific knowledge and theories by applying their knowledge to a project that requires outstanding critical and analytical skills. The students are assigned a company, real or fictional, in their academic discipline, to analyze business-specific situations and apply the knowledge assimilated throughout the program and integrate that in proposing solutions to those situations. The project and course activities are designed to assist students to gain an insight into and demonstrate their skills and knowledge to mitigate contemporary business issues and challenges corresponding to their discipline. 

As of 2023, all Business capstone projects are aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. In Fall 2023, the mental health campaign project won the Marketing Capstone Competition directly tackling SDG 3 and mental health.

Engineering Culminating Design Experience Projects: Graduation projects aim to integrate the knowledge and skills learners have acquired throughout their program of study, into a major piece of work that reflects the performance expected from an engineer. The project is intended to develop the learner’s ability to identify, plan, and execute a course of action to produce a viable solution and outcome conforming to agree upon specifications, engineering standards, timescale and constraints. Learners mentored by AUM faculty, must align their project with the needs and standards of organizations in the industry. Learners work closely with professionals on projects allowing for hands-on experience culminated with a project report presented to faculty and industry representatives.

As of 2023, all Engineering culminating design experience projects are aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. Example of graduation projects:

• Azure - Private Yacht Club and Complex (SDGs: 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17): This project outlines the architectural development prompted by the historical silk trade route of a public coastal complex and private yacht club in Mangaf, Kuwait. Tackled 

• Power to Gas (PtG) system for integrated renewable energy storage (SDGs: 7, 13): This project addressed a growing challenge in the process industry, where CO2 emissions are increasingly becoming a sustainability challenge. The project addressed this issue by capturing and converting CO2 emissions into a useful fuel.

Most of the projects are exhibited during the Innovation Fair.

Master programs focused on SDGs such as Master program in Electrical Engineering - Energy Sources and Systems

The American University of the Middle East announced the opening of the College of Graduate Studies and the offering of a master's degree in engineering disciplines, considering that the launch of the college is a strategic step, and it is the result of the university's continuous efforts to deepen scientific research in the fields of engineering, and achieve sustainable progress. The Master's Program in Electrical Engineering - Energy Sources and Systems is planned to be offered as part of this college.

Description and career opportunities

This program is designed to equip the next generation of engineers with the knowledge and skills required to serve our society in the ever-increasing technological advancements in today’s global economy. The program will serve as a strong platform for electrical engineers in Kuwait who desire advanced skills, training, and expertise as a prelude to a career in either research or industry. Enrolled students can build on their existing knowledge with up-to-date skills critical to advanced problem solving in a wide range of fields on operation, control, design, regulation and management of Power, Energy Sources and Systems.

Graduates from the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering- PES are sought by all major industries. Electrical engineers with advanced knowledge about smart grids, advanced control techniques, smart electrical driving systems and renewable energy sources hold many challenging positions in modern companies specializing in Electricity generation, optimization and control, Automotive industry, Oil industry, ect... Their career opportunities are mainly focused in:

• Traditional and Modern electrical grids

• Smart energy meters and digital control

• Renewable energy sources

• Electrical Vehicles

• Power Plants

Graduates may enter/continue their careers in the industry as practicing professionals, in any one of a variety of areas of the engineering industry listed above, or continue their education towards a doctoral degree in electrical engineering or a related field.

Certification program in Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship

In the scope of the collaboration between AUM and the University of California - Berkeley (UCB), AUM is offering a certification program in Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship. The program is delivered by expert professors from UCB. It aims at equipping students with advanced knowledge in the areas of AI and entrepreneurship through strong foundation theories and a hands-on experience. Upon completion of the program, students work in teams to develop a project based on application of AI to industrial and social problems and also develop a business model. Teams with viable product ideas, could be selected to pursue into an acceleration program, by UC Berkley, to develop their product and present their projects to potential investors.