King Abdulaziz University (KAU) is one of the leading universities in Saudi Arabia, making significant contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university's efforts in this field include various initiatives, research programs, and educational and community activities that support environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

1. Education and Scientific Research (Goal 4: Quality Education)

The university offers educational programs aimed at raising awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals and integrates sustainability concepts into its curriculum.

It encourages research on climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, supporting projects that seek sustainable solutions to current challenges.

2. Environmental Sustainability (Goal 13: Climate Action)

KAU has launched several green initiatives, such as tree planting, reducing plastic usage, and developing waste management systems.

The university emphasizes the use of renewable energy technologies on its campus, such as installing solar panels to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

3. Health and Well-being (Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being)

The university aims to improve the quality of life for students and the community by providing health programs and promoting awareness about healthy eating and physical activity.

It offers high-quality medical services through its university hospital and engages in awareness campaigns on chronic diseases and prevention measures.

4. Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals)

KAU collaborates with local and international organizations, both public and private, to promote innovation and support projects contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The university participates in United Nations initiatives and regularly reports on its efforts in the field of sustainable development.

5. Gender Equality (Goal 5: Gender Equality)

The university is committed to promoting gender equality by providing equal educational and professional opportunities for both men and women.

It offers training programs and supports women’s empowerment, as well as encouraging female leadership in academic and administrative positions.

6. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

KAU invests in developing a modern and sustainable infrastructure, including advanced laboratories and specialized research centers focusing on green technology and innovation.

The university supports student start-ups and innovation projects in technology and sustainable development through business incubators and innovation centers.

7. Climate Action and Clean Water (Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation)

The university implements programs aimed at conserving water resources and reducing water consumption, and it promotes the use of smart irrigation technologies in green spaces.

It engages in research related to water desalination technologies and sustainable water resource management.

In alignment with our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals, King Abdulaziz University is dedicated to establishing an extensive network of strategic partnerships at both local and international levels to advance research, education, and national development. By the end of 2025, the University will encompass more than 30 research centers, 205 international agreements, 122 service contracts, 42 memoranda of understanding, 25 joint supervision agreements, and 16 memberships in international organizations."

During  2023-2024,  King Abdulaziz University has  implemented a total of 951 initiatives within the scope of (community partnerships, volunteer work, community  services, and social responsibility) that contributed to achieving a number of sustainable development goals, most notably:

·           Goal 3 (Good health and well-being) with 106 initiatives

·           Goal 4 (Quality Education) with 725 initiatives

·           Goal 5 (Gender equality) 7 initiatives

·           Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) 5 initiatives

·           SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities) with 6 initiatives targeting people with disabilities, orphans and the most vulnerable.

·           SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) with 54 initiatives

·           Goal 12 (Responsible consumption and production) Two initiatives

·           Goal 13 (Climate Action) 15 initiatives

·           SDG 17 (Partnerships to achieve the Goals) with 31 agreements and partnerships

For more details, see the following link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Z5KBL5UyHYXrbApRcO2FynQLIzdBNA8C/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117947266129089188091&rtpof=true&sd=true

Prominent KAU Efforts in light of SDG 17 

The SDGs have a strong relevance to universities and the tertiary and academic sectors more broadly. So education, research, innovation and leadership will be essential in helping societies address these challenges. The contribution of universities to the SDGs is much broader, as they can support the implementation of every one of the SDGs as well as the implementation of the SDG framework itself. In this sense, and due to its broad remit around the creation and dissemination of knowledge, and its unique position within the Saudi society, KAU has a critical role to play in the achievement of the SDGs, and consequently aligned its strategy, internal policies and governance, to embrace and implement the SDGs with the collaboration of the Saudi government, public & private sectors, and NGOs. KAU has started this journey by aligning existing activities to SDGs, identifying pain areas & weaknesses, developing/updating policies and strategies to empower SDGs, and maintain a close follow up on this overall process for the sake of continuous improvement. 

King Abdulaziz University's efforts towards partnerships to achieve goals

Exchange Program with the University of Oxford

In a significant step toward advancing scientific research, King Abdulaziz University, represented by the Faculty of Science, has launched an exchange program with the University of Oxford aimed at training students in the latest artificial intelligence technologies for education and scientific research.

The program addresses key areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and software development, alongside hosting dialogue sessions, workshops, and lectures delivered by leading experts in technology and AI. It also involves signing new agreements and partnerships to enhance student training and development.

The activities featured presentations of outstanding work by undergraduate and postgraduate students, highlighting graduation projects and research studies to encourage entrepreneurs to implement these projects in real-world applications.

Sustainable Development Unit

Sustainable development has been of great importance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the beginning of its development journey, and its features became clear in its strategic directives, which placed it within its current and future plans. As a result, King Abdulaziz University established the Development Unit, with the greatest interest in promoting the concept and culture of sustainable development in the year 1440 AH, as most of its attention is directed towards sustainable development. And raising the level of students’ awareness and understanding of its content through the programs and activities held by the unit and linking them with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, thus opening students’ awareness and horizons in the field of developing programs and creating initiatives under the umbrella of sustainable development and disseminating them in all sectors of the Founder’s University.

The King Abdulaziz University delegation participated in the Green Saudi Initiative Forum under the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince, may God protect and preserve him. Accordingly, the Sustainable Development Unit launched a student skill license, “Leadership in Sustainable Environmental Development.” Sixty male and female students were accepted within precise and specific criteria and high-quality mechanisms, which included the work of partnerships. Effective and fruitful, and in cooperation with a group of specialists to provide the license, which in turn was the key for students to facilitate their access to presenting projects and distinguished outputs that qualify them to design programs and initiatives that promote sustainable environmental development on campus. The unit also contributed to the establishment of many activities and programs, such as: the My University is Green initiative, which seeks to increase vegetation cover at the university campus level, and the initiative to spread awareness of efficient spending.

Unit programmers

1. Forum of Man, Environment, Man, and Straight Thought. The program’s themes are spreading the concept of sustainable development among male and female students

2. Digital Transformation Program (Hasan): The program’s axes include the impact of digital transformation on sustainable development and the value of learning

3. Hemma program provides support to male and female students from idea to application

Sustainable Development Unit Report

Research Center Affairs Department

The idea of establishing the Department of Research Centers Affairs at King Abdulaziz University came as an important step to keep pace with the latest technological developments in the field of scientific research, and in pursuit of development and keep pace with all developments in scientific research. Through the establishment of this department, the university aspires to link and group research centers under one umbrella with the aim of expanding and maximizing the benefit in the field of scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment of knowledge. The establishment of this department also aims to market the products of research centers through partnerships and fruitful scientific cooperation And building between research centers, universities and local and international scientific institutions to serve the issues of economic and social development in the Kingdom, and in accordance with the guidelines of a pioneering research leadership based on the principles of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to sponsor applied scientific research. This department will be concerned with all matters of research centers from following up the progress of detailed plans and projects, in order to ensure the best outputs and achieve the highest levels of efficiency and productivity, while adhering to all laws, regulations and policies adopted at the university through the following objectives:

1.  Developing the distinguished scientific output of research centers.

2.  Activating the investment activity of knowledge products.

3.  Strengthening community partnerships and strengthening the link between research centers and industrial and commercial institutions.

4.  Maximizing the use of research centers, projects and laboratories at the university with its equipment and trained human cadres.

5.  Supporting the implementation of the university's plans and adopting the thought of interdisciplinary research projects locally, regionally and internationally.

6.  Facilitate the communication of research centers and stakeholders to support interdisciplinary research plans.

7.  Strengthening partnerships in the field of technology transfer, inside and outside the Kingdom.

8.      Developing the infrastructure that stimulates research partnerships and local, regional and international collaborations.

9.      Reducing the gap between financial appropriations and the needs and requirements of research centers.

10.    Developing human resources to reach optimal performance.

Community Partnerships Observatory:

Community partnerships are considered an important focus in the field of education, and they are one of the most prominent manifestations of community orientation, which King Abdulaziz University has adopted as a vision and mission. In order for community institutions and individuals to take the initiative towards contributing to meeting the needs of society as a whole and achieving sustainable development, from this standpoint, King Abdulaziz University launched the Community Partnerships Platform under the supervision and follow-up of the University’s General Administration of Social Responsibility.

 It is an electronic platform that collects, monitors and documents the community agreements and partnerships that the university and its sectors conclude with various internal or external parties. They are registered by the partnerships officer in the university sectors to serve as an electronic reference.
Objectives:

1. Striving to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 for integration and harmony between the various entities and sectors inside and outside the university.

2. We encourage relevant sectors and entities to play a more active role in activities, events and initiatives.

3. Strengthening the university’s direction in automating all transactions at the university, and achieving an electronic university without paper.

4. Enhancing cooperation between the university, government institutions and society.

5. Creating communication channels between university sectors and relevant parties to activate community partnerships.

6. Participation of relevant parties in addressing the challenges facing society through community partnerships.

7. Providing a database of community partnerships concluded by the university and its sectors and compiling them under one umbrella.

8. Providing and facilitating coordination mechanisms between the university, its sectors and other external parties.

9. Improving and developing the efficiency and speed of retrieving and   displaying information related to community partnerships the university.