Collaboration with NGOs to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals
During the 2024/2025 academic year, Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) collaborated with non-governmental organizations and civil-society partners to address the Sustainable Development Goals through student volunteering, research collaboration, and the development and delivery of educational resources.These partnerships enable GUST students, faculty, and staff to contribute academic knowledge, research expertise, volunteer effort, and educational support to initiatives addressing social, environmental, and community challenges.GUST’s NGO collaborations support areas including environmental protection, social inclusion, community well-being, education, sustainability, and responsible civic engagement, demonstrating the University’s commitment to translating academic knowledge into practical action in partnership with civil society.
| Action | Summary |
|---|---|
| Student Volunteering | Trash Hero Organization, KISWA, Al-Aoun Charitable Social Association |
| Research Programs | KPES, Journal collaborations, research grants, regional agreements |
| Development of Educational resources | SDSN, WASD, KFAS, KISR |
| Action: | Student Volunteering |
| Summary: | Trash Hero Organization, KISWA, Al-Aoun Charitable Social Association |
| Action: | Research Programs |
| Summary: | KPES, Journal collaborations, research grants, regional agreements |
| Action: | Development of Educational resources |
| Summary: | SDSN, WASD, KFAS, KISR |
Student Volunteering Programs
Sustainability Club Beach Clean Up
In November 2024 and again in 2025, GUST students and faculty from Accounting and MIS department the participated in environmental volunteering activities, including desert and beach cleanups such as Abu Al-Hassani Beach Cleanup Imitative, in collaboration with local NGOs and community organizations such as Trash Hero Kuwait, a civil society organization. These activities enabled students to work alongside civil-society partners on environmental protection, waste reduction, and community awareness while developing a stronger understanding of local sustainability challenges.
Student-Led Clean Water Initiative in Yemen
In collaboration with the GUST Engineering Club and Al-Aoun Charitable Social Association (جمعية العون الخيرية الاجتماعية), GUST students supported a humanitarian initiative to establish a water well in the Republic of Yemen, helping provide underserved communities with access to clean and sustainable water. The initiative brought together student volunteering and NGO partnership to address a basic community need while promoting social responsibility, humanitarian service, and sustainable development. Through their participation, GUST students contributed to a project with long-term community impact by supporting improved access to safe water. This collaboration demonstrates how GUST works with civil-society and charitable organizations to engage students in practical initiatives that contribute directly to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Kiswa Donation Drive – Ramadan 2025
During Ramadan 2025, GUST collaborated with Kiswa Organization on a university-wide donation initiative supporting families and individuals in need across Kuwait. Students, faculty, and staff contributed clothing, food, and essential supplies through the campaign.The initiative provided GUST students with an opportunity to participate directly in community service in partnership with a local NGO, supporting social responsibility, community well-being, and reduced inequalities.
Iftar Saeem Initiative – Supporting the Community during Ramadan
Every academic year since 2022 till 2026, during the holy month of Ramadan, GUST students and staff participate in the “Iftar Saeem” initiative, supporting individuals in need through community volunteering and humanitarian outreach. As part of the initiative, approximately 700 Iftar meals were distributed to fasting individuals in Kuwait City in 2025. The activity provided GUST students with a direct opportunity to engage in community service while promoting compassion, social responsibility, and support for vulnerable members of society. Through participation in initiatives such as Iftar Saeem, GUST encourages students to contribute meaningfully to the wider community and strengthens its commitment to volunteering and partnerships that support the Sustainable Development Goals.
Relevant SDGs: SDG 1 – No Poverty; SDG 2 – Zero Hunger; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities; SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.
Research Programs
Research Policies and Centers at GUST
GUST conducts a wide range of research activities with an international faculty, addressing real-world challenges and data collaborations. GUST has 4 research centers in the Research and Development Office targeting different research fields, scopes and data gathering in alignment of different SDGs.
DIAR
The Center for Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Computational Research
- Chair: Dr. Sultan Shoaib
- Research Areas: Data Science, AI, Data Optimization, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Simulation and Computational Modeling, Bioinformatics, Digital Health, Smart systems
EDGE
The Center for Entrepreneurship, Digital Growth and Future Economics
- Chair: Dr. Omer Gibreel
- Research Areas: Data Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Startups, FinTech, Digital Economy, Industry collaboration, Technology Transfer
RISE
The Center for Regional, Innovative Society, and Education
- Chair: Dr. Marina Jovic
- Research Areas: Education, Social Studies, Human Development, Society Collaboration, Media and Technology, Gulf Studies
SEED
The Center for Sustainability, Environment and Economic Development
- Chair: Dr. Muhammed Sutcu
- Research Areas: SDG Coordination, Sustainability, Urban Development, Climate, Energy Transition, Water resources, Smart cities, Circular economy, Environmental systems
Partnership with the World Association for Sustainable Development
In 2025, GUST further expanded its international sustainability partnerships by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD), an international non-governmental organization focused on advancing sustainable development through research, knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, capacity-building, and international collaboration.The partnership provides a framework for GUST and WASD to cooperate on sustainability-related initiatives, strengthen academic and professional exchange, support research and knowledge dissemination, and contribute to broader dialogue on sustainable-development challenges and solutions.Together, GUST’s leadership of SDSN Kuwait and its partnership with WASD demonstrate a growing institutional role in connecting higher education with national, regional, and international sustainability networks. These relationships strengthen GUST’s capacity to contribute to SDG-related policy discussions, knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based sustainable-development initiatives.
Expanding Access to SDG-Focused Educational Resources
SDSN Kuwait Leadership Council: Cross-Sector Collaboration for the SDGs
As the host institution for SDSN Kuwait, GUST has brought together a multidisciplinary Leadership Council representing healthcare, government, industry, environmental civil society, and higher education. The Council provides a platform for cross-sector collaboration for research, knowledge exchange, and strategic discussion around sustainability priorities and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Kuwait.
The Leadership Council includes:Dr. Assad Hafeez – WHO RepresentativeDr. Omar AlHussainan – Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director, SEEDS CompanyMrs. Mashael Al Kulaib – Member, Higher Council of Al-Asimah GovernorateDr. Fajhan Helal Al Mutairi – Sustainability Manager, SLB KuwaitDr. Wijdan Al-Oqab – Chairwoman, Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS)Professor Isam Zabalawi – President, Australian UniversityProfessor Ayman S. Al-Zayed – President, Kuwait Technical College
Through the Council, SDSN Kuwait strengthens collaboration between different sectors and creates opportunities to identify national sustainability challenges, research programs, exchange expertise, support evidence-based discussion, and develop coordinated approaches to advancing the SDGs.
GUST Library collaborations AFAQ, Taylor & Francis Group
The GUST Library, in partnership with Taylor & Francis Group, launched a trial access to the Sustainable Development Goals Online (SDGO) platform in 2024, an extensive multimedia collection designed to help universities integrate sustainability into teaching and research. SDGO offers curated book chapters, journal articles, videos, and teaching materials that connect directly to the 17 UN SDGs. During the trial, GUST students and faculty were able to explore how sustainability topics could be incorporated across disciplines using digital-first learning tools. The platform’s flexibility allows institutions to customize collections by goal or faculty, helping educators prepare students to engage with sustainability challenges in their future careers. Through this initiative, that supports SDG 17.2.5, the GUST Library provided its community with an opportunity to experience one of the world’s leading academic resources on sustainability education.
Additionally, through its SpringerLink subscription, the Library offers a unique SDG Filter that enables users to locate research, journal articles, and book chapters directly tied to specific Sustainable Development Goals. This feature connects academic research to real-world sustainability priorities, empowering faculty and students to pursue interdisciplinary, impact-driven work. Together, these initiatives enhance GUST’s role in advancing sustainability education and fostering a culture of research aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda.
Research Programmes Supporting SDG Collaboration
GUST actively promotes a strong research culture on campus by encouraging both faculty and students to engage in impactful, interdisciplinary research that connects academic inquiry with global sustainability challenges. Faculty members across departments regularly involve students as research assistants, providing hands-on experience in real scientific work and fostering early involvement in SDG-related research. Professors such as Dr. Naveed Ahmed, Dr. Kamal Dingle, and Dr. Fadi Deeb are among those who consistently integrate students into their ongoing projects, helping them contribute to research that supports scientific advancement and global development goals.
As part of this commitment, GUST provides an annual Student Research Grant, which enables exceptional students to participate in advanced research under faculty supervision. This programme serves as a direct example of SDG 17.2.5 in action, as it enhances research capacity, strengthens academic-NGO-industry collaboration, and equips students with the skills needed to contribute to SDG-focused work beyond the classroom.
In 2024, one of the recipients of the GUST Student Research Grant was Hiba Khan, a Computer Science student working as a research assistant to Dr. Kamal Dingle from the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The grant allowed her to travel to the University of Cambridge for a three-week research visit, where she collaborated with Dr. Dingle’s research partners, including Dr. Sebastian Ahnert and his doctoral students. This opportunity enabled her to work directly on a computational biology research project related to RNA sequencing and the analysis of suboptimal RNA structures, significantly advancing the quality and progress of the paper.
Through these research programmes, GUST not only supports the development of young researchers but also contributes to international knowledge-sharing and innovation, reinforcing its role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
GUST Partners with Dar Al Shifa Hospital
Gulf University for Science and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dar Al Shifa Hospital in February 2025, marking the beginning of a new era of collaboration between academia and the healthcare sector in Kuwait. This partnership aims to promote joint research, innovation, and professional development while providing GUST faculty with opportunities to engage in applied research that directly contributes to improving community health outcomes. The agreement also creates pathways for students to gain hands-on experience through internships and training programs within the hospital, bridging academic learning with real-world healthcare practice.
This collaboration aligns closely with SDG 17.2.5, particularly under the research programmes category. By working with a major healthcare institution, GUST is contributing to the development of sustainable healthcare research and fostering interdisciplinary cooperation that connects education, health, and technology. The partnership encourages the sharing of expertise, data, and resources to address pressing societal challenges, reinforcing GUST’s role as a hub for innovation and applied research.
