The Professional Diploma Program in Waste Management at the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at Arabian Gulf University organized a field trip to several recycling companies and sites, including Crown Industries, the Mardami Askar site, the municipal and hazardous waste landfill, and the composting site in Hoorat Aali, which is managed by the Spanish company “Orbiser” in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities. The aim was to reinforce the practical application of the theoretical concepts students learn and to familiarize them with leading sustainable environmental practices and strategies for managing municipal, industrial, and hazardous waste.
During the visit, students from the program’s fifth cohort, accompanied by the program’s founder and coordinator—Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at the Center for Biological and Environmental Studies in the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences, and Director of the Corporate Communications Center at Arabian Gulf University, Dr. Sumaya Yousif, learned about the sustainable policies and practices adopted by recycling companies, as well as their role in improving public health, supporting the economy, and promoting community sustainability.

The students learned about safety procedures, the stages of manufacturing and waste treatment, and methods for converting waste into reusable raw materials. They also explored practices for recycling electronic, metallic, and plastic waste, as well as organic and agricultural waste, and examined safe disposal mechanisms, environmental monitoring, and landfill engineering. They also discussed how these technologies contribute to conserving natural resources, reducing manufacturing costs, diversifying the economy through new investment opportunities, and promoting the circular economy approach, thereby supporting the sustainability of communities.
Dr. Sumaya Yousif highlighted the importance of this visit in enriching students’ knowledge and deepening their understanding of sustainable waste management concepts, emphasizing that it opens up investment and collaboration opportunities across different sectors, thereby contributing to enhanced sustainability in Gulf countries. She added that waste management is one of the most significant environmental challenges in urban cities, necessitating the adoption of sustainable approaches focused on reducing waste at the source, reuse, recycling, and limiting landfilling as the last and least sustainable option within the integrated waste management hierarchy. 

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  The Professional Diploma in Waste Management program, which launched its fifth cohort this year, is the first of its kind in the Arab Gulf states and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM). The program is delivered through a flexible learning model that combines virtual and in-person sessions, attracting participants from various GCC countries and multiple sectors, including municipalities, industry, commerce, and healthcare.
  Since the program’s launch, 105 specialists from the public and private sectors in GCC countries have graduated, many of whom have contributed to promoting sustainable environmental practices in decision-making roles. The program is supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – West Asia Office and aims to build capacity, raise awareness of the importance of sustainable waste management, and foster an innovative investment environment that contributes to sustainable development. The Arabian Gulf University plays a pivotal role in providing Gulf communities with regionally and internationally influential talent in fields that support health, the environment, and sustainability, in line with its vision and strategic plan.