Charting a Greener Future: The Sustainability and Waste Recycling Symposium
- Monday, 20 November 2023
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 DEVELOPMENT
ISD 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
