Ajman University Contributes to Institutional Climate Action Planning Workshop at THE Arab World Summit 2025

Ajman University participated in a focused dialogue on institutional climate leadership through its contribution to the Institutional Climate Action Planning workshop held on 26 November 2025 at the Ahmad Hourani Auditorium during the Times Higher Education Arab World Summit 2025 in Amman, Jordan. The session formed part of the summit’s broader effort to support universities in translating sustainability commitments into structured, campus-wide action.

Designed as a strategic session for senior university leaders, the workshop explored how higher education institutions can develop and scale comprehensive climate action plans that are both practical and accountable. Discussions focused on key areas including energy use, biodiversity, waste management, and stakeholder engagement, while examining how sustainability can be embedded across governance structures, academic activities, and institutional culture.

Ajman University contributed to the session through Maya Haddad, Senior Sustainability Manager, who shared insights drawn from the University’s experience in institutionalizing climate action. Her contribution addressed the key elements of a robust university climate action plan, emphasizing science-aligned targets, inclusive governance, and clear performance indicators. The discussion also examined how universities can mobilize their entire communities to support sustainability goals and how partnerships and funding mechanisms can accelerate progress on decarbonisation and biodiversity initiatives.

The workshop was moderated by Martina Zipoli, Senior Project Manager at the Union of Mediterranean Universities, and featured speakers Dr Murad Al-Maaitah, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology at Al Ahliyya Amman University, Aya Soki, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Jordan, and Cengiz Yilmaz, Rector of Abdullah Gül University. Together, the speakers brought diverse institutional and regional perspectives to the discussion, highlighting shared challenges and practical approaches to advancing climate action in higher education.

Through its participation in this strategic session, Ajman University reinforced its commitment to advancing sustainability through structured planning, collaboration, and leadership. The University’s engagement reflects the continued role of its Office of Sustainability in contributing to regional conversations on climate action and supporting higher education institutions in developing effective, scalable responses to environmental challenges aligned with the UAE’s sustainability vision.