Masdar Institute hosts Sustainability and Innovation Workshop

The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy, and sustainable technologies, and the Abdul Aziz Bin Humaid Leadership Program 2016-2017, today jointly hosted a workshop to provide young professionals with guidance on how to tackle the challenges posed to the UAE by climate change and the need for sustainability.

The one-day event at Masdar Institute was part of round-4 of the Abdul Aziz Bin Humaid Leadership Program 2016-2017, being held in Abu Dhabi. Titled ‘Sustainability and Innovation for Climate-Compatible Business Practices’, the workshop was designed to offer an overview of concepts in sustainable development and the circular economy, which refers to an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times.

The workshop also delivered a climate negotiations simulation to the young mid-level manager attendees, with an interactive interface, and interaction among the participants. Lessons from the simulation were then used to start a discussion on global approaches to a sustainable energy transition and their implications for the UAE and its role in the global energy system. The workshop wrapped up with a hands-on module for developing workable solutions in the energy sector through class and instructor feedback.

Dr. Lamya N. Fawwaz, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: "Engaging with young people on critical topics and providing them with the skills they need is an important responsibility for all educational institutions. We hope the Abdul Aziz Bin Humaid Leadership Program workshop participants will continue to act on what they learnt at Masdar Institute and carry the values of sustainability forward in their future professional work."

Shaikha Ali Al Nuaimi, Corporate Communication Manager, Abdul Aziz Bin Humaid Leadership Program, said: "Sustainability leadership requires forward-thinkers with extraordinary abilities. These leaders need the emotional intelligence to appropriately manage a variety of personalities. They must also be visionaries, able to prepare their team to cope with change to face these complex challenges. We are honoured to present the third day of ‘My Creativity Week’ on innovation and sustainability, in collaboration with Masdar Institute, the global sustainability platform."

Dr. Toufic Mezher, Professor, Engineering Systems and Management, and Dr. Sgouris Sgouridis, Associate Professor, Engineering Systems and Management, led the workshop from Masdar Institute. They covered topics including sustainable development, circular economy, and technology strategy, and interactive negotiation exercise.

Affiliated with Masdar Institute’s Institute Center for Smart and Sustainable Systems (iSmart), Dr. Mezher’s research interests include energy strategy and policy, sustainable development, and technology strategy and innovation systems. Dr. Sgouridis’s research interests focus on understanding sustainable energy transitions using engineering systems modeling. He is also involved in research in energy currency, electric vehicle adoption, sustainable aviation, and the energy transition globally and regionally.

The Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Leadership Program is a six-month program that targets 20 participants aged 25-35 years from middle management in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for each module. The carefully-selected participants then complete a six-week bootcamp that takes place for one week every month from October to March across various emirates.