17.2 Relationships to Support the Goals
17.2.1 Relationships with NGOs and Government for SDG Policy
17.2.2 Cross Sectoral Dialogue About SDGs
17.2.3 International Collaboration Data Gathering for SDGs
17.2.4 Collaboration for SDG Best Practice
17.2.5 Collaboration with NGOs for SDGs
17.3 SDG Reports
17.4 Education for the SDGs
Collaboration with NGOs to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) actively collaborates with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private institutions, and community partners to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a diverse range of educational, research, and volunteer initiatives. In alignment with SDG 17.2.5, the University works alongside civil society and industry partners to translate academic knowledge into practical action that benefits both local and global communities.
Through student volunteering programmes, GUST encourages social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement, empowering students to make tangible contributions toward sustainability and community well-being. The University’s research collaborations with NGOs and private organizations further strengthen knowledge sharing and innovation for social impact. Additionally, GUST promotes public awareness and academic engagement with the SDGs through the development of educational resources, such as access to global sustainability databases and partnerships that enhance learning opportunities.
These initiatives embody GUST’s commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration, compassion, and collective action, ensuring that its academic community actively contributes to achieving the UN 2030 Agenda through meaningful partnerships beyond the university campus.
Sustainability Club Beach Clean Up
In 2024, the Sustainability Club at Gulf University for Science and Technology organized a large-scale desert and beach cleanup in collaboration with several local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community partners. The event brought together students, staff, and volunteers to help protect Kuwait’s natural environment while raising awareness about the importance of conservation and responsible waste management. It was more than just a cleanup—it was an opportunity for students to connect with their community, learn about sustainability challenges firsthand, and take practical action to support the environment. This initiative reflects GUST’s commitment to SDG 17.2.5: Collaboration with NGOs for SDGs, by strengthening partnerships with local organizations and encouraging youth participation in projects that advance climate action and environmental sustainability across the country.
Expanding Access to SDG-Focused Educational Resources
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 Summer 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 Summer Scholarships
As part of GUST’s commitment to SDG 17.2.5, the University supports international academic collaboration through its annual GUST Summer Scholarship Program. This initiative enables outstanding students to study abroad at leading global universities, where they engage in advanced coursework, research exposure, and cross-cultural learning aligned with international SDG priorities. By funding tuition, travel, and living costs, GUST empowers students to participate in global learning environments that strengthen research skills, expand academic networks, and contribute to the development of internationally informed educational resources. These scholarships serve as an important channel for academic cooperation and student development, supporting the research programmes component of SDG 17.2.5.
Below are a list of students who were awarded the scholarship in the academic year 2023-2024:
|
# |
Name |
College |
Department |
University |
Location |
Course(s) |
| 1 | Noor Luay Tahat | CAS | Computer Science | Missouri S&T | USA |
CSC 290: Data Science ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics |
| 2 | Munah Ezzat Boresli | CBA | Business Administration — International Business | Autonomous Univ. of Madrid (UAM) | Spain |
MRKT 460: International Marketing MGMT 383: Principles of Entrepreneurship |
| 3 | Ramy Mahmoud Aly | CAS | Computer Science | University of Leeds (UOL) | UK |
Under Humanities (Arab Heritage & Cultural Diverse Offering) MCM 103: Introduction to Mass Communication (University Offerings) |
| 4 | Khadija Salim Abu Lehyah | CBA | Accounting & MIS — MIS | Autonomous Univ. of Madrid (UAM) | Spain |
ECON 495: Special Topics in Economics (MIS elective; major sheet exception) MGMT 383: Principles of Entrepreneurship (University Offering) |
| 5 | Mohammad Hashem Kamali | CAS | Computer Science | University of Leeds (UOL) | UK |
Under Humanities (Humanities & Fine Arts or University Offerings) MCM 495: Special Topics in Mass Communication (University Offerings) |
| 6 | Albatool Bader Alqallaf | CBA | Accounting & MIS — Accounting | Autonomous Univ. of Madrid (UAM) | Spain |
ECON 495: Special Topics in Economics (University Offering) MGMT 383: Principles of Entrepreneurship (University Offering) |
| 7 | Nada Ghazi Alothman | CAS | English — English Literature | University of Leeds (UOL) | UK | N/A |
| 8 | Jana Yousef Hadwan | CBA | Business Administration — International Business | Autonomous Univ. of Madrid (UAM) | Spain |
MRKT 460: International Marketing MGMT 383: Principles of Entrepreneurship |
| 9 | Noor Jamal Alkhasawneh | CBA | Accounting & MIS — Accounting | Autonomous Univ. of Madrid (UAM) | Spain |
FIN 380: International Finance (University Offering) MGMT 383: Principles of Entrepreneurship (University Offering) |
| 10 | Yossef Yasser Elnagar | CAS | Computer Science | Missouri S&T | USA |
CSC 290: Data Science ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics |
| 11 | Hussein Reda Haissam | CAS | Computer Science | Missouri S&T | USA |
CSC 290: Data Science ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics |
| 12 | Ali Khalaf AlAnizi | CBA | Business Administration — Marketing | Autonomous Univ. of Madrid (UAM) | Spain |
MRKT 460: International Marketing MGMT 383: Principles of Entrepreneurship |
| 13 | Hessah A F A Alhendi | CAS | English — Linguistics & Translation | Missouri S&T | USA |
MCM 205: International Communication ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics |
| 14 | Abdulwahab Mohammad Alqenaei | CBA | Computer Science | Missouri S&T | USA |
CSC 290: Data Science ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics |
| 15 | Abbas Ahmad Farman | CBA | Business Administration — Management (Organizational Behaviour) | Autonomous Univ. of Madrid (UAM) | Spain |
MRKT 460: International Marketing MGMT 383: Principles of Entrepreneurship |
| 16 | Hisham Mazen Ghannam | CAS | Computer Science | Missouri S&T | USA |
CSC 290: Data Science ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics |
| 17 | Rahaf Mamdouh Yousef | CAS | English — English Literature | University of Leeds (UOL) | UK |
Under Humanities MCM 101: Introduction to Mass Communication (University Offerings) |
| 18 | Dana Meshal Alabdulghani | CAS | Mass Communication — Visual Communication | University of Leeds (UOL) | UK |
Under Humanities (University Offerings) MCM 495: Special Topics in Mass Communication (University Offerings) |
| 19 | Ayat Ali Alraqum | CAS | Mass Communication — Digital Media Production | Missouri S&T | USA |
MCM 402: Mass Media Criticism ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics |
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.
Kiswa Donation Drive – Ramadan 2025
In Ramadan 2025, GUST partnered with the Kiswa Organization to host a university-wide donation drive supporting families and individuals in need across Kuwait. Students, faculty, and staff contributed clothing, food, and essential supplies, fostering a strong sense of community and social responsibility on campus. The initiative aligns with SDG 17.2.5 under the student volunteering programmes category, as it reflects meaningful collaboration between the University and a local NGO to promote compassion, reduce inequalities, and advance sustainable community support.
