Collaborate
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1. Collaboration with Federal SDG Unit
NUST sustainability office has strong ties with the Federal Planning Commission, Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform, Pakistan to work for the implementation of SDGs at the national level. This engagement has done so much jointly, that includes the responsibility business framework, dialogues, feedback, and much more to streamline the inclusive change for this collaboration.
The sustainability office has put forward how crucial it needs to classify the industries according to their revenue size, the sole platform to engage with stakeholders, the significance of defining the KPIs relevant to SDGs, sector-wise green practices, and cost-benefit analysis in the responsibility business framework.
Since 2018 the office assisting govt. in terms of the preparation of baseline and targets of 17 SDGs, crafting the milestones for the future, and how relevant ministries and provincial departments can play an essential role in bringing up the acceleration in enactment. This bond between both NUST and Planning Commission has a lot more in the pipeline and is focused to take it forward in the future.
For more information find out about the baseline and targets of SDGs
2.Join Hands with SDG Secretariat
NUST’s sustainability office is closely working with the SDG Secretariat, Pakistan established at the Parliament House to make the country more resilient in its task force’s effective policies, research-driven solutions, and youth engagement.
Miss Romina, Convener SDGs Secretariat joined the 1st ever National Dialogues on SDGs organized by the sustainability office of NUST in March 2022, where she shared the progress and way forward and spoke with the Engr. Barira Deputy Director, Sustainability office NUST about the strengthening of collaboration.
Soon, an MoU will be signed between NUST and SDGs Secretariat to enhance data collection, and wider implementation of SDGs, research, and policies for Pakistan.
2. Collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority, (NDMA)
The sustainability office of NUST inked an MoU with National Disaster Management Authority, (NDMA), Islamabad on 28 January 2022 with an aim to enhance partnerships, strengthen academic relationships with public sector institutions and benefit from research. This collaboration will leverage knowledge exchange through joint workshops, training, project evaluation, and Disaster Risk Management DRM.
This envisaged bringing competent students of NUST with the opportunities to work as interns in NDMA projects and promote the Disaster Risk Management DRM, practices within both institutions.
This MoU will specifically cover the technical aspects such as climate change impacts, socioeconomic trends and their future forecasting, hazard simulation modeling, viable mitigation measures, and innovative adaptation techniques and tools.
2. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) Session
NUST jointly with NDMA organized an enlightening consultation session on Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) on 21 February 2022 to culminate the SFDRR reporting and monitoring process. They have engaged in this extremely significant discussion on four key areas of SFDRR and initiatives taken by NDMA were highlighted and a demonstration of data for monitoring and reporting was given. In the end, a short brief was given on the SFDRR monitor, a tool developed by the UNDRR to report progress about SFDRR targets.
3.Media Workshop with the collaboration of NDMA
In March 2022 again NUST facilitated NDMA in organizing a coveted “Media workshop and seminar” on the subject affiliated with disaster management in the country. This workshop braced the audience with knowledge about climate change adaptation, enhanced resilience in capacity building, and synergize the bond between both institutions.
4. NUST and Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW Collaboration
NUST has engaged with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) from Switzerland to organize an online web exchange for researchers in Pakistan and Switzerland. It was an imperative session to establish the connections between two friendly countries’ researchers, to further enhance and expedite the partnerships among institutions, and to exchange insights on the SDG-8 decent work and economic growth.
Where Dr. Rizwan Riaz, pro-rector (RIC), from NUST, and Waseem Hussain from Head of International Affairs Office, President’s Office, ZHAW started the session with a welcome note. Followed by a series of succinct and constructive scientific presentations and areas to work with collaborations with ZHAW were discussed. At the end of the web exchange Barira Hanif, Deputy Director (Sustainability), NUST emphasized the coveted partnership between the two countries and the potential for researchers to work on sustainable development goals.
5. ASAB Hunted the Projects-K2A
Through the partnership of NUST with Knowledge to Action K2A program of the Swiss Universities Development and Cooperation Network (SUDAC), ASAB has been awarded with 2 projects. One is earned by Dr. Fazal Adnan, his research group will work on monitoring and surveillance of various existing and emerging zoonotic infections at various hotspot areas in Pakistan.
Another project awarded to Dr. Ghulam Haider, his research group in soil biology lab will work on the crop residue to revenue at farm (R2R). It is of vital significance in terms of sustainable management of crop residues to stop on-farm burning which leads to atmospheric pollution like smog and greenhouse gases emission.
Industry
1. Collaboration with Coca-Cola Pakistan
The collaboration between the NUST and Coca-Cola Pakistan has jointly launched a report, “Making A Difference” authored by Miss Barira Hanif, head of the sustainability office. The report spotlights the key indicators and sustainable initiatives of the company to recycle plastics, enhance resilience, and pave the way toward a greener Pakistan.
The report highlights important projects such as the first 1-kilometer-long PET collection road and the Lyari River Cleaning Project, which receives 40% of its plastics from 9,000 metric tonnes per month. In the Paani project, 30 filtration plants were installed that are benefiting more than 1 million people. It also reveals robust efforts regarding women’s empowerment through finances by supporting their small business ideas. It also explains the company’s role in making society more resilient through food, humanitarian, and flood relief interventions. To read more about the report access the link here: https://sdgs.nust.edu.pk/downloads/making-a-difference-report-2022/
Taking this forward, on November 23, 2022, at NUST, a seminar on community investments related to the environment, governance, and sustainability was held to strengthen the industry-academia partnership where Fahad Ashraf, Vice President of Coca-Cola, Pakistan enlightened the session and shared his vision about the shifting towards the recycled bottles by 2030.
2.NUST Join Hands with PepsiCo to Contribute to Circular Economy
NUST Sustainability office, the first of its kind in Pakistan working to strengthen industry relations, promote SDGs, and align direction towards the true sustainability of the university. On July 20th, 2022 NUST signed an MoU with PepsiCo to enhance the R&D projects, specialized training programs, research events ,and student competitions on finding practical solutions to the challenges of plastic waste.
To enable the circular economy in our practices, Dr. Rizwan pro-rector (RIC) NUST shared his vision and Mr. Mohammad Khosa, Senior Director of Commercial and Corporate Affairs PepsiCo Pakistan enlightened him about the company’s initiatives in the field of sustainable development.
By gathering 16000 tonnes of plastic, the firm started one of Pakistan’s biggest waste collection and recycling programmes in 2021. For 2022, PepsiCo has increased the scope of its plastic waste collection and recycling programme. On this event Dr. Rizwan stated, “NUST puts a strong emphasis on fostering a sustainable environment, and we are proud of our students and research efforts, which are among the best resources in the nation”.
3.ASAB Project with PepsiCo
Dr. Ghulam Haider from Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), NUST will start his project with PepsiCo in the domain of regenerative agriculture to amplify the conservation practices.
His team paid a visit to the PepsiCo center for the training session to convert the agriculture waste into biochar that nourish the soil with organic matter, reverse climate change and improves the water cycle. This partnership in research will pave the way forward for the industry toward the transition revolution in the agriculture sector.
4. NUST signed an MoA with PTC (Pakistan Tobacco Company)
NUST strengthens its ties with Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for a project to nurture sustainability on November 1, 2022.
NUST’s team of experts aims to reduce GHG emissions and will also provide robust tools to the company for energy efficiency. Through this project, they will be working on carbon sequestration by capturing CO2 through organic media to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) induced by anthropogenic sources. Following the initial phase, the project will delve deeper into the PTC company’s energy wheeling and assist in relevant areas.
Dr. Rizwan Pro-Rector (RIC), NUST, informed PTC’s counterpart leadership, Mr. Ali Syed Akhtar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, about NUST’s role in sustainability.
NUST’s affinity with sustainability will spur partnerships with the PTC and other influential industries across the country
5. Partnership with Coca-cola
The sustainability office is dispensing consulting services to Coca-Cola in its ESG (Environment, Sustainability, and Governance) reporting. These ties with Coca-Cola brought up a vital event in collaboration with the sustainability office on the topic of “Plastic Waste and its Recycling”.
Insights were shared on the endeavors of NUST in waste management, its recycling, and a novel prototype made at SCME, NUST that converts plastic bottles into bricks and initiatives of Coca-Cola in recycling plastic through building plastic roads across Islamabad was also discussed. In the future, NUST aims to strengthen its bond with Coca-cola, Pakistan for more development and sustainable future of the country.
6. ECOLAD Technologies-A startup at NUST
To provide people with a sustainable solution for transportation, NUST graduate Mr. Muneeb founded the ECOLAD Technologies company with an aim to “provide the most sustainable, affordable and gender-inclusive eco-friendly solutions to fight climate crisis”. It is one of the foremost bicycles and e-scooties sharing systems in the country and currently establishing a role model at the NUST H-12 campus.
NGOs
1.Collaboration with Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH)
In the realm of climate action Sustainability office of NUST, fostered progress in SDG-13 and signed a memorandum of understanding MoU with Aga Khan Agency for Habitat on 03 September 2021.
The collaboration’s core area of interest is to establish habitat plans for disaster-prone valleys of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral through environmental assessments, socioeconomic surveys, and coveted innovative research.
In signees are Dr. Rizwan Riaz pro-rector of Research Innovation and Commercialization (RIC) from NUST and Mr. Nawab Ali Khan, Chief Executive Officer CEO of Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) with other senior official teams from both sides were attending the ceremony.
This mutual agreement will help reduce the exacerbated climate change impacts in the five valleys of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral and is envisioned to provide the residents with safe and thriving habitats for their development.
2. ASAB Hunted the Projects-K2A
Through the partnership of NUST with Knowledge to Action K2A program of the Swiss Universities Development and Cooperation Network (SUDAC), ASAB has been awarded with 2 projects. One is earned by Dr. Fazal Adnan, his research group will work on monitoring and surveillance of various existing and emerging zoonotic infections at various hotspot areas in Pakistan.
Another project awarded to Dr. Ghulam Haider, his research group in soil biology lab will work on the crop residue to revenue at farm (R2R). It is of vital significance in terms of sustainable management of crop residues to stop on-farm burning which leads to atmospheric pollution like smog and greenhouse gases emission.