Dedicated Courses on Sustainability and the SDGs
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) offers a range of credit-bearing undergraduate and graduate courses specifically addressing sustainability and Sustainable Development Goal-related themes. These courses cover environmental sustainability, climate change, renewable energy, responsible business, sustainability reporting, social responsibility and related global challenges across GUST's three colleges.
The courses listed below form part of GUST's official academic curriculum and provide students with focused opportunities to develop knowledge and skills related to sustainable development.
Sustainability Education at a Glance
| Colleges Represented | College of Business Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Architecture |
| Course Types | Core courses, electives, capstone courses and applied project-based courses |
| Themes Covered | Sustainability, CSR, climate action, ethics, responsible management, inclusion, human rights, health, environmental responsibility and innovation |
| Colleges Represented | |
| College of Business Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Architecture | |
| Course Types | |
| Core courses, electives, capstone courses and applied project-based courses | |
| Themes Covered | |
| Sustainability, CSR, climate action, ethics, responsible management, inclusion, human rights, health, environmental responsibility and innovation |
Featured Sustainability-Focused Courses
GUST offers credit-bearing undergraduate and graduate courses in which sustainability, environmental responsibility, climate change, renewable energy, responsible business and related SDG themes form a substantive part of the academic content.
| Course | Relationship | Relevant SDGs |
|---|---|---|
| ENVR 103 - Weather and Climate | The course examines weather, atmospheric processes, air pollution, greenhouse gases, and climate change, providing students with scientific knowledge to understand environmental challenges and their implications for sustainable development and climate action. | SDG 13, 3, 7 |
| MGMT 488 – Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability | This course examines the relationship between business, corporate responsibility and sustainability, helping students understand how organizations can create value while addressing social and environmental challenges. Topics include ethical leadership, responsible management, environmental stewardship and social equity. | SDG 8, 12, 13 |
| BIOL 103– Environmental Biology | A dedicated environmental course examining ecosystems and their relationship with human communities. Topics include natural-resource use, environmental ethics, public policy, pollution, waste disposal, habitat loss, species extinction and strategies for achieving a sustainable Earth. | SDG 6, 7, 12, 13 |
| ELEN 404 - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems | This course introduces the principles and technologies associated with renewable energy and examines the technical, economic and sustainability challenges involved in integrating renewable energy systems for heat, power and transportation. | SDG 7, 9 |
| ACCT 495 – Special Topics in Accounting: Sustainability and Environmental Accounting | This course addresses sustainability reporting, environmental performance, stakeholder engagement, environmental management systems and the implications of climate change for accounting practice, education and research. | SDG 12, 13 |
| CHEM 103 – Environmental Chemistry | This course introduces chemistry through an environmental lens, covering areas such as energy, air, water and chemical processes relevant to environmental sustainability. | SDG 6, 7 |
| Course: | ENVR 103 - Weather and Climate | |
| Relationship: | The course examines weather, atmospheric processes, air pollution, greenhouse gases, and climate change, providing students with scientific knowledge to understand environmental challenges and their implications for sustainable development and climate action. | |
| Relevant SDGs: | SDG 13, 3, 7 | |
| Course: | MGMT 488 – Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability | |
| Relationship: | This course examines the relationship between business, corporate responsibility and sustainability, helping students understand how organizations can create value while addressing social and environmental challenges. Topics include ethical leadership, responsible management, environmental stewardship and social equity. | |
| Relevant SDGs: | SDG 8, 12, 13 | |
| Course: | BIOL 103– Environmental Biology | |
| Relationship: | A dedicated environmental course examining ecosystems and their relationship with human communities. Topics include natural-resource use, environmental ethics, public policy, pollution, waste disposal, habitat loss, species extinction and strategies for achieving a sustainable Earth. | |
| Relevant SDGs: | SDG 6, 7, 12, 13 | |
| Course: | ELEN 404 - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems | |
| Relationship: | This course introduces the principles and technologies associated with renewable energy and examines the technical, economic and sustainability challenges involved in integrating renewable energy systems for heat, power and transportation. | |
| Relevant SDGs: | SDG 7, 9 | |
| Course: | ACCT 495 – Special Topics in Accounting: Sustainability and Environmental Accounting | |
| Relationship: | This course addresses sustainability reporting, environmental performance, stakeholder engagement, environmental management systems and the implications of climate change for accounting practice, education and research. | |
| Relevant SDGs: | SDG 12, 13 | |
| Course: | CHEM 103 – Environmental Chemistry | |
| Relationship: | This course introduces chemistry through an environmental lens, covering areas such as energy, air, water and chemical processes relevant to environmental sustainability. | |
| Relevant SDGs: | SDG 6, 7 |
Sustainability Education Across GUST Colleges
In addition to dedicated sustainability-focused courses, students apply SDG principles through project-based learning and capstone activities.
The College of Business Administration (CBA)
The College of Business Administration integrates sustainability, ethical leadership and responsible management into several credit-bearing courses. Students examine how business decisions affect economic, social and environmental outcomes and how organizations can contribute to sustainable development.
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
The College of Arts and Sciences offers dedicated courses addressing environmental sustainability, climate change and related SDGs.
One notable initiative is the Computer Science Department’s Industrial Advisory Board Meeting, which serves as a collaborative platform linking academia and industry. This partnership ensures that students’ learning outcomes remain aligned with ethical, innovative, and sustainability-driven professional practices. By incorporating feedback from industry experts, GUST continually refines its academic programs to meet evolving societal and environmental needs.
For example, Senior Computer Science students complete the mandatory CSC 350 and 451 Capstone Course, where the courses formally include sustainability-related learning outcomes and require students to apply technical knowledge to real-world challenges; as they apply technical skills to real-world challenges. Projects are mapped to relevant SDGs and may address accessibility, health, responsible consumption and inclusive technologies.
College of Engineering and Architecture
The College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) offers courses designed to prepare students to become innovators and problem-solvers who contribute to building sustainable and technologically advanced societies. The college integrates sustainability principles, ethical engineering practices, and environmental awareness into its curriculum, encouraging students to design solutions that balance technological advancement with social and environmental responsibility.
ENGG 101 and ENGG 102 introduce students to engineering design, innovation and problem-solving in contexts that include sustainability, resource efficiency, environmental responsibility and climate-conscious solutions. At the end of each academic year, CEA hosts the Annual Engineering Design Exhibition, where students apply these concepts in project-based work, with selected projects presented.
Applied SDG Learning Through Capstone Projects
Some notable projects from the academic year 2024-25 include:
- Smart Cane ( SDG 3, 9, 10, 11) - The Smart Cane supports visually impaired users by improving mobility, safety, and independence. It uses ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection, includes an emergency alert button, and provides text-to-speech functionality to read scanned text aloud. A companion mobile app allows users to save favorite locations and emergency contacts, creating an accessible and user-friendly assistive solution.
- Smart Pot (SPOT) ( SDG 6, 9, 11, 12, 13) - SPOT (Smart Pot) is an intelligent plant-care system that uses sensors to monitor soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and light levels in real time. When conditions fall outside optimal ranges, the system can respond automatically, such as activating a built-in pump to water the plant. SPOT supports healthier plants while reducing the need for constant manual care.
- Navi: The AI-Powered University Campus Assistant Robot (SDG 9, 10, 4, 11)- Navi is an AI-powered robotic assistant that helps students, staff, and visitors navigate the university campus and access information more efficiently. It provides intelligent navigation, scheduling support, and real-time assistance, helping users locate facilities and services, reduce time spent on administrative tasks, and support individuals with disabilities or mobility challenges.
Some notable projects from the academic year 2023-24 include:
- Sign It (SDG 10, SDG 4) – An Arabic sign-language recognition application that uses computer vision to interpret hand gestures in real time and translate them into text, promoting accessibility, inclusive communication, and equal access to information for individuals with hearing impairments.
- Food Wiz (SDG 3, SDG 12) – A health-focused food-tracking app that allows users to scan barcodes, check ingredients, and discover nutritious recipes. The app encourages healthier lifestyles and responsible consumption, directly supporting well-being and sustainable food choices.
- ColorBlind Assist (SDG 10) – A digital tool designed to help individuals with color blindness make confident daily decisions, such as selecting clothing and distinguishing colors more accurately. The project enhances independence and inclusivity by addressing a common visual impairment with user-friendly technology.
