partnerships for the goals

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi actively engages in collaborations and partnerships aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By working with local and international organisations, governmental bodies, and academic institutions, the university fosters innovative research and initiatives that address pressing global challenges. These partnerships focus on a variety of SDGs, such as quality education, climate action, and sustainable cities, promoting interdisciplinary approaches that leverage diverse expertise. 

In January 2023, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi opened the Department of Innovation and Research Partnerships to support research at the university and strengthen collaborations with external partners, including industry stakeholders, business communities, and both the private and public sectors in the UAE. 

The department strives to anchor Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in the regional innovation ecosystems by developing partnerships with UAE based or UAE owned companies. 

By identifying the sectors of excellence at the university on the one hand and the strategic sectors being developed by the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE on the other hand; the department’s goal is to become the preferred partner of government entities, businesses, and industry in the UAE. 

In 2022/23, the department began building a network of professionals from both the public and private sectors, alongside academics from the University, to develop research and innovative projects in areas of shared interest. 

Furthermore, and with the Legal Adviser, it started putting in place a legal framework to structure and consolidate the development of existing and future research partnerships. In addition, the department also monitors agreements and promotes their outcomes. 

Additionally, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi encourages student involvement in community projects and initiatives that align with the SDGs, cultivating a sense of responsibility and empowerment among future leaders. Through these collaborative efforts, the university not only enhances its educational offerings but also contributes meaningfully to sustainable development in the region and beyond. 

This partnership aims to enhance public health education and research, directly supporting SDG 3, which focuses on good health and well-being. Through collaborative initiatives, the university facilitates knowledge exchange and develop programmes that address key health challenges in the region. This includes promoting health literacy, conducting research on health policies, and engaging students in community health projects. By aligning its academic and research efforts with the objectives of the Department of Health, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi demonstrates its commitment to improving health outcomes and fostering a healthier society, thereby playing a pivotal role in advancing the SDGs. 

The privilege of being in the UAE gives students the opportunity to discover different cultures to participate in many events & activities. Students from different disciplines can attend and experience conferences, forums and talks in and out of campus. The university collaborates with different cultural entities such as Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, Cultural Foundation, Qasr Al Hosn, Youth Hub and many more. 

One of the key tenets of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Go Green 2023 initiative was to encourage students, faculty, and staff to participate in creating a more sustainable future. To focus its efforts on raising awareness of climate change, developing initiatives to address environmental challenges, and promoting sustainable practices, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). The agreement will cover collaboration in the fields of environmental research needs, research studies, knowledge exchange and development across a wide range of environment-relevant disciplines. 

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi was one of the founding members of the Universities Climate Network (UCN) in the UAE in fall 2022. By spring 2023, the UCN comprised 35 UAE-based universities and higher education institutions, whose mission was to collaborate in creating synergies and partnerships to position the UAE as a driving force and beacon for sustainable solutions to climate change, while supporting national efforts to lead the agenda at COP28. 

SUAD’s membership in the UAE Universities Climate Network (UCN) reflects its commitment to supporting the youth-focused objectives of COP28 and to promoting its research across key themes, including Climate Change and Water Resources, Loss and Damage and Future Generations, the Green Transition and Sustainability, and Green Information Management and Digital Transformation. 

As part of this collaboration with other HEI, the UN Special Envoy to COP28 and the COP28 team, SUAD committed to ensuring that its initiatives and events throughout 2023 support the COP28 to achieve its key priorities:  

1. Global Stock Taking  
   
   
2. Climate Impact Responses  
   
   
3. Operationalising the New Loss and Damage Fund (agreed at COP27)  
   
   
4. Just Energy Transition  
   
   
5. Inclusion 

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This affiliation enables collaboration with other institutions focused on integrating sustainability into higher education. By leveraging AASHE’s resources and best practices, the university enhances its sustainability initiatives in academics, research, and campus operations. This commitment fosters a richer educational experience for students and establishes the university as a regional leader in promoting sustainability. 

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) has signed an agreement with the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to foster ground-breaking research and development in the field of Quantum Science and Technology. This partnership aims to establish a framework for cooperation between SUAD and TII, allowing them to work together on research and development projects in Quantum Science and Technology. 

The collaboration agreement outlines several areas of mutual interest, including joint research projects, exchange programmes, and organising scientific events such as conferences. In addition, SUAD and TII will jointly work to attract high school students to the world of Quantum Technologies and cooperate in the education and training of PhD, postgraduate, undergraduate, and intern students. 

Taylor & Francis Sustainable Development Goals Online collection is a carefully curated interdisciplinary collection of digital content mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG Online (SDGO) collection includes more than 12,000 of the most significant and relevant book chapters and journal articles, published under the Routledge and CRC Press imprints, in an online library that covers all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The collection also features new multi-format teaching and learning resources, including core essays, presentations, videos, case studies, teaching guides, and lesson plans. 

The content is available to all students and staff, as well as to external visitors via the computers in the library. 

Students have been actively engaged in sustainable activities and initiatives. Law student Malick Kouassi Traoré was nominated as Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Green Ambassador, thereby becoming the spokesperson for the student community. 

Members of the Environmental Health Club play an active role by organising awareness sessions and events for students, including the following: 

• Sustainability Day Workshops 
  
  
• Sustainable Monthly Movie Nights 
  
  
• Green Talk: “Sustainable Future: Ideas Worth Spreading” 
  
  
• Sustainability Escape Game for FLE students 
  
  
• Students Green Festival 
  
  
• Go Green Recycling Challenge at The Student Housing 

The Youth COP is a mock negotiation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP), organised by Université Paris Cité (France), Universidade Federal do Ceará (Brazil), and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), in partnership with YOUNGO and the UNFCCC.  

The competition aims to provide students from around the world with the opportunity to experience climate negotiations through a simulation of the UNFCCC COP, while fostering their critical thinking and interpersonal skills, such as teamwork, compromise, and conflict resolution, as applied to climate change agreements. 

The outcome document developed by the participants will be presented at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.