15.3.3: Local Biodiversity included in Planning and Development

King Abdulaziz University incorporates local biodiversity considerations into its planning and development processes related to the construction of new buildings. All new building projects adhere to energy efficiency and sustainability standards. To achieve this goal, the university has established a specialized center, the Center of Excellence for Research in Renewable Energy and Power Systems, which handles all renewable energy-related matters and reviews its policies annually in coordination with relevant stakeholders, such as the General Administration for Studies and Designs and the Ecological Construction Unit.

The university established the General Administration for Studies and Designs to serve as a hub of expertise in managing studies, designs, and the development of university buildings and branches. The administration applies modern technical standards and supports quality management systems to make quality an integral part of daily practices, support decision-making, and contribute to achieving the university’s strategic objectives.

The mission of the General Administration for Studies and Designs is: “Creating a healthy, attractive, and sustainable university environment through the rational use of resources.”

The administration is committed to providing an appropriate working environment, promoting participation and active contribution, and developing the quality management system according to international standards (ISO 9001:2008) through self-monitoring, administrative follow-up, and periodic review of quality objectives. Its mission emphasizes the impact of the environment on improving performance and stimulating creative thinking, aiming to provide an ideal educational, research, and practical sustainable environment, whether through establishing future facilities or rehabilitating and upgrading existing facilities and infrastructure to preserve environmental sustainability.

For more information on the university’s official sustainability page:

https://kau.edu.sa/page/corporate-sustainability

For more information on the General Administration for Studies and Designs:

https://kau.edu.sa/en/page/general-administration-of-studies-and-designs