His Excellency Dr. Saad bin Saud Al-Fahaid, President of the Arabian Gulf University, will patronize the graduation ceremony for the fifth cohort of the Professional Diploma Program in Waste Management on May 20. The ceremony will see the graduation of 15 students from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, representing various sectors, including industry, commerce, education, business, and investment, from both the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This brings the total number of program graduates since its establishment in October 2021 to 106.

The Dean of the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences, Prof. Dr. Walid Zibari, stated that the university is constantly working to keep pace with developments and integrate its programs with the GCC countries’ visions for economic and social transformation. He explained that the waste management and recycling sectors have become vital due to the investment opportunities they offer. They also contribute to job creation for young people, environmental protection, diversification of production sources, reducing dependence on an oil-based economy, and fostering a new, more sustainable economy.

He emphasized that the Arabian Gulf University has consistently championed global environmental issues by offering innovative, internationally accredited programs that build exceptional, highly competent capabilities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This aligns with the strategic objectives for which the university was established with the blessing of the leaders of the GCC countries, to serve the Gulf community and its critical issues, thereby advancing efforts to achieve sustainable development goals and innovate effective solutions to various environmental challenges.

For her part, the program’s founder and academic coordinator, Dr. Sumaya Yousif, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at the Center for Environmental and Biological Studies, noted that waste and pollution management have become top global environmental priorities, as waste is an important resource and foundation for many industries through investment in the circular economy and contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She explained that the global waste management market reached $384 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow by 5% during the forecast period between 2021 and 2026, while the global industrial waste management market reached $125 billion in 2018, which offers significant opportunities for expansion in this market across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in addition to the positive environmental impact of waste recycling, namely the conservation of non-renewable resources and pollution control.

She added, “Waste management is a key tool for investing in the circular economy, which represents a sustainable approach that helps conserve resources, protect the environment, create jobs, and diversify sources of income compared to the linear economy,” thereby helping communities transition to sustainable societies. She added that the program is one of the specialized programs in the region, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management in the United Kingdom and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme – West Asia Office, and has attracted participants from various sectors in GCC and Arab countries since its inception, including decision-makers, technicians, administrators, technical staff, academics, and investors from both the public and private sectors, all of whom have played a role in implementing sustainable practices in their respective countries.

In a related context, Dr. Afaf Bougui, Director of the Center for Community Service, Consultancy, Training, and Continuing Education, expressed her pride in the graduation of the fifth cohort of students from the professional program, noting that the center works in collaboration with all university colleges to offer innovative professional diploma programs, such as the Professional Diploma in Waste Management, which was launched by the Center for Environmental and Biological Studies and accredited by the university’s College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences. She added that the center is working to provide the latest professional programs that will open new markets and address the challenges faced by industrial companies, as well as the government and private sectors.