College of Engineering Renews GBS MoU, Advances Learning at Vienna Summer School
For the second year running, Dhofar University’s College of Engineering has activated its memorandum of understanding with the Green Building Solutions (GBS) Summer University in Vienna—an intensive program hosted by leading European institutions. This year, two architecture students, Osama Salem Farah Saeed Hubais and Hamza Mahfoodh Saad Bayt Rabie, completed a month-long track that blended advanced theory with hands-on fieldwork in sustainable building design.Under the supervision of Dr. Lamiaa Mostafa (Department of Architecture), the students studied strategies to curb energy use and carbon emissions, with modules on passive design, life-cycle assessment (LCA), recyclable and low-impact materials, and circularity in construction. The curriculum paired classroom sessions with site visits across Vienna—green roofs, naturally ventilated districts, and integrated urban infrastructure—linking engineering choices to measurable reductions in a project’s carbon footprint.
Working in multidisciplinary, international teams, the students developed a group proposal for low-emission buildings from concept through early schematic design, testing ideas against performance metrics and feasibility constraints. The experience, they said, bridged academic learning with cultural exchange and opened pathways to research and professional opportunities in green architecture.
Dr. Issam Al Bahadoor, Dean of the College of Engineering, called the renewed GBS activation “a commitment to international, practice-focused learning that brings global best practices into our classrooms and studios.” Such partnerships, he noted, sharpen students’ applied skills, strengthen learning outcomes and research, and align with Oman Vision 2040.
The College of Engineering framed the Vienna participation as part of a broader strategy to empower high-achieving students to lead the transition toward sustainability and innovation in the built environment—and signaled plans to expand participation in future GBS cohorts.
