The Sustainability and Waste Recycling Symposium, hosted by Middlesex University Dubai’s Business School and Institute of Sustainable Development in partnership with Enviroserve UAE and DGRADE, was held on 8 November 2023 at the University’s Dubai Knowledge Park campus. The event was designed to play a key role in advancing youth engagement in sustainable practices and empowering good decisions when it comes to reusing and recycling.The event commenced with a speech from Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director Professor Cedwyn Fernandes, followed by an enlightening keynote from Stuart Fleming, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Enviroserve – the only R2 compliant e-waste processing facility in the UAE and Africa. The session moved into a series of impactful presentations, including a significant exploration into consumer perspectives on e-waste by Dr Sreejith Balasubramanian, Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Excellence at Middlesex University Dubai. The symposium also featured a dynamic panel discussion moderated by MDX Business Lecturer Ryan Stephenson and Adjunct Faculty in Business Mahnoush Gharehdash, which seamlessly integrated the expertise of industry partners and academic scholars together. Insightful discussion points by Stuart Fleming, Emma Barber, Director of DGRADE and Simplybottles and Andrew Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer and Head of the MDX Institute for Sustainable Development, further emphasised the need for collaborative efforts by different stakeholders for effective waste management and recycling initiatives. Throughout the symposium, students from across all academic levels were able to actively participate, engaging with the panelists, networking with experts, and forging valuable connections and learning experiences. The symposium concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating the creativity and insight of students through a photo-essay competition and public speaking contest. The day was wrapped up with motivational concluding remarks from Professor Cody Paris, Deputy Director of Research & Business and Head of the Business School at Middlesex University Dubai.Sony Sreejith, Lecturer in Business and the Business Pathway Coordinator for IFP, who co-organised this symposium with Enviroserve, said: “Such symposiums are vital in narrowing the gap between academic theory and industry practice, particularly in the realms of sustainability and waste recycling. The event received outstanding responses from attendees, presenting students with a meaningful platform to deepen their knowledge in environmental stewardship and to forge connections with professionals dedicated to a greener future.”Andrew Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Institute for Sustainable Development, Middlesex University Dubai, commented, “The student engagement was exceptional, with a range and depth of questions which challenged the panel and brought to light many pivotal questions and discussion of ESG topics, from challenges in the global south, climate skeptics and how to push the sustainable development of countries such as the UAE.” The symposium's success marks a significant milestone in the lead-up to COP28 and reinforces the university's commitment to making environmental changes during the UAE's year of sustainability. We commend all participating students and faculty for their involvement and congratulate the competition winners for their outstanding contributions to sustainability discourse.About the INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTISD aims to sustain collaborative ties among stakeholders by harmonizing scholarly insights with practical application and fostering alliances with the corporate sector, civic groups, and governmental bodies to achieve a sustainable tomorrow.For more details on Institute of Sustainable Development: https://www.mdx.ac.ae/isd

Middlesex University Dubai was honoured to welcome the Pearl Initiative to campus on Tuesday 24 October to launch the innovative Youth Impact Lab competition in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. During the event on the Dubai Knowledge Park campus in the newly opened Study District, students took part in key briefings by industry leaders including Mark Walshaw and Ivy Akinyi from corporate insurance brokers Marsh, alongside Vineetha Matthew from the Pearl Initiative. The day's activities were hosted by Professor Fehmida Hussain, Stephen King and Sheen Gurrib.The session was designed to prepare students for the bigger Youth Impact Lab competition on 18 and 19 November 2023 that will take place during the MDX Innovation Lab’s upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Week event and was organised by the Middlesex Innovation Hub, with support from the Institute of Sustainable Development and Club Impact.The Youth Impact Lab 2023 competition provides a platform for students to connect, brainstorm, collaborate, and learn from mentors offering an invaluable opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing, and promising a showcase of innovative solutions and creative thinking.In teams of 4-5, participants will be challenged to find sustainable solutions for challenges that are affecting the general population in their everyday lives. Each team has a mentor to support them to provide some information and guidance, with each team presenting their solution to a panel of judges. The team that presents a solution that aligns with most of the judges’ requirements – such as scalability, potential impact, logistics, originality and overall quality of pitch – will be crowned the winner. Launched in 2010, in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the Pearl Initiative (PI) is the Gulf region’s leading business-led, non-profit organisation working to promote the business case for a corporate culture of accountability and transparency. The Pearl Initiative is the only private, non-profit Gulf business network to receive special consultative status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Middlesex University Dubai’s faculty and students joined the world’s top technology experts and enthusiasts at GITEX Global from October 16 to 20, 2023. GITEX Global is the largest and most inclusive technology show in the digital economy and is hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre Dubai alongside the complementary Expand North Star conference from 15 – 18 October in Dubai Harbour, focused exclusively on start-ups and entrepreneurship.  Participating in GITEX provided the faculty and students with a chance to exchange their expertise with peers in the STEM field, highlight their industry thought leadership, observe the most recent technological advancements and expand their professional connections.Throughout the event, faculty members Professor Fehmida Hussain, Engie Bashir, Dr Judhi Prasetyo, Dr Sameer Kishore, Chinnu George, Stephen King Santhosh Menon, Jaspreet Sethi, Rhoderick Romano and Mukkaram Ahmed represented the faculty on-site, visiting GITEX Global, GITEX YouthX Unipreneur & Global DevSlam.As part of the Middlesex University Dubai Innovation Hub, three of our students had the opportunity to showcase their innovation ideas at the GITEX YouthX Unipreneur event. Abdurrahman Sagir Isa presented Guide, a platform with advanced algorithms and data analytics to enhance student recruitment. It empowers students in finding universities, accommodation, and courses that match their preferences.Vaibhav Garg showcased remote health monitoring, an innovation that strives to support the UN Sustainable Goal for 'Good Health and Well-Being' by creating an affordable remote health monitoring system connecting patients in remote areas with urban-based healthcare specialists via technology. This enables patients to share vital health data such as heart and lung sounds with medical specialists through a mobile app.Dileep Kumar Munagapati presented a hand-tracking musical player; a platform with advanced hand-tracking technology for expressing music through hand movements, transforming the way we create and enjoy music.Innovation hubs have emerged as vital components of modern education, providing students with an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and access to resources. The spaces have become important for the student experience, and they have a lasting impact on skill development, real-world experience, entrepreneurship and more.Throughout the GITEX Global and Expand North Star events, MDX University faculty members took an active role in stimulating panel discussions and talks. These discussions delved deep into the fascinating realms of digital transformation and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI).Professor Fehmida Hussain, Head of the Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics, actively participated in the GITEX YouthX Unipreneur event that took place on October 16. This event involved an extensive discussion on ‘Transforming Campuses into Centres of Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, and ESG Excellence.’She also participated in an event at the fourth edition of the Government Industry Academia (GIA) Hub that featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on the ‘Convergence of AI and IoT: Building Intelligent Systems.’This session witnessed a remarkable assembly of thought leaders, industry experts, and esteemed academic figures who delved into the dynamic integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Their exploration shed light on the compelling potential of this fusion to revolutionise various sectors.Our faculty member and Head of the MDX RoboTechX Lab Dr Judhi Prasetyo made significant contributions at GITEX Global DWTC in the panel discussions. In the first session, the discussion was on ‘Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Humans or Substituting Them?’. This discussion explored the evolving role of AI in our lives, examining whether it serves to empower human capabilities or potentially replace them.In the second ‘Tech Talk’ session, the discussion revolved around ‘Automation: The Upcoming Frontier of Innovation.’ Dr Judhi Prasetyo and the panellists delved into the advancements and implications of automation, dissecting its potential to drive innovation across various industries. These sessions provided attendees with valuable insights and sparked meaningful dialogue on these pivotal technological trends.Additionally, we also had Dr Sameer Kishore, Head of the MDX VRX Lab playing a pivotal role at GITEX Global DWTC by contributing to two enlightening panel discussions.In the first panel discussion titled ‘Connected Offices: Future of Work,’ Dr Kishore explored the evolving landscape of work and how connectivity is reshaping the way we function. The discussion revolved around the integration of technology and its impact on the future of the workplace.The second panel discussion, ‘Digital Transformation: Building the Enterprise of the Future,’ delved into the strategies and approaches that organisations are adopting to embrace digital transformation. Dr Kishore and the panellists examined the journey toward building future-ready enterprises in an increasingly digital world.Below are a few insights into how students perceived their experience at GITEX 2023:Mohmed Anas Madrawala, 3rd year BSc Business Information Systems student said:“As a proud member of Unipreneur Inc. and a GITEX YouthX ambassador at GITEX Global, I had the privilege of immersing myself in the world of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. This experience included collaborative innovation sessions, mentorship from industry experts, networking opportunities, and pitching innovative ideas.”Jack Evans, 1st year BSc Cyber Security and Digital Forensics student said:“I was amazed and astonished by all the stalls there. I spoke to many of the companies exhibiting and they taught me a lot of interesting things about the industry that I will be joining in the next couple of years.”Anam Zehra, 2nd Year BSc Business Information Systems student said:“The heart of the experience was the hands-on exhibits, each showcasing various aspects of innovation and creativity. From 3D printing and virtual reality simulations to sustainable energy solutions and robotics, the exhibits spanned a wide array of cutting-edge technologies. It reminded us that innovation is a dynamic, ever-evolving force that knows no bounds. It exists not only in technology but also in the realm of ideas and solutions to global challenges.”