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PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY

College of Engineering and GORD Sign Regional
Strategic MoU to Promote Sustainability in Oman

In a landmark initiative to of a strategic Memorandum of in the College of Engineering,
advance sustainability in Oman’s Understanding (MoU) between particularly within the Architecture
built environment, Dhofar the two institutions, aimed at Engineering Department, will
University—through its College enhancing education, training, receive formal education and
of Engineering—organised the and professional capacity in the training aligned with GSAS
event “REWAA Dhofar: Sustainable field of green buildings. criteria. This initiative positions
Development in Oman,” under Dhofar University as a national
the patronage of the university’s The MoU was signed by Professor leader in equipping future
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Al-Rawas and Dr. Alhorr, and engineers with the knowledge
Amer bin Ali Al-Rawas. Held the initiative was led by Dr. and tools required to design
on February 23, 2025, the event Issam Al-Bahdhoor, Dean of environmentally responsible
attracted prominent figures in the College of Engineering, and buildings and infrastructure.
regional sustainability, including Dr. Lamiaa Mostafa Abd-Rabo, Speaking at the event, Professor
Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding and it formalizes a collaboration Al-Rawas emphasized the role
Chairman of the Gulf Organisation that will integrate the Global of academic institutions in
for Research & Development Sustainability Assessment preparing the next generation
(GORD) – Qatar, and Engineer System (GSAS)—developed by of sustainable development
Majid Al-Kharoosi, Managing GORD—into Dhofar University’s leaders:
Director of Oman Tower Company, engineering curriculum. The GSAS
along with representatives framework, the first performance- “Academia has a profound
from various public and private based green building rating responsibility to prepare the
sector organizations, faculty, system in the MENA region, next generation of talent for the
and students. has been implemented in over challenges and opportunities
2,500 projects across the GCC, that lie ahead. To achieve this,
The event commenced with a making it one of the fastest- it’s critical that we, as educators,
presentation highlighting the growing sustainability standards stay at the forefront of the latest
shared vision of Dhofar University in the region. and best standards, particularly in
and GORD to promote sustainable areas critical to our future, such
development practices in Oman. Through this partnership, as sustainable development and
It culminated in the signing staff members and students climate resilience. Partnering

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