As part of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's vision to promote sustainability concepts and green transformation within higher education institutions, the Supreme Council of Universities, during its recent session, approved the launch of the "University Waste Management" Competition. The competition is being organized under the energy conservation campaign "Save It… Light It Up," which aims to spread environmental awareness and sustainable energy culture among students of Egyptian universities and institutes, while transforming universities into platforms that support innovative ideas and smart solutions with social and environmental impact.
The competition is held under the patronage of Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and supervised by Dr. Karim Hammam, Advisor to the Minister for Student Activities and Director of the Leadership Preparation Institute. It is organized in cooperation with the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund under the supervision of Dr. Tamer Hamouda, Executive Director of the Fund, as part of the Ministry's efforts to support innovative initiatives that connect students' creative ideas with real-world challenges facing society and Egyptian universities.
The competition aims to encourage university and institute students to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for waste management within universities by supporting projects that rely on modern technologies, recycling, engineering innovation, creative design, and green economic models. These efforts will contribute to creating a more sustainable and efficient university environment while empowering youth to support the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt Vision 2030.
The competition includes four main tracks:
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Smart Technology: Employing modern technologies and artificial intelligence to improve waste management efficiency.
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Engineering Innovation: Developing advanced solutions and systems for waste collection, sorting, and processing operations.
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Creative Design: Producing innovative awareness campaigns and ideas that promote positive behaviors toward waste management.
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Green Economic Models: Presenting practical projects that generate economic returns while ensuring environmental sustainability.
The organizing committee has established several stages for the competition, beginning with the official announcement, opening registration, and receiving submissions, followed by the preliminary evaluation of ideas. Selected participants will then submit comprehensive proposals, develop prototypes and project models, and finally compete in the concluding evaluation stage, leading to the announcement of winners and the recognition of outstanding teams.
The competition is scheduled to run for three months. Evaluation criteria will focus on several key aspects, including presentation quality, project feasibility, applicability, innovation, and the environmental impact that the proposed solution can achieve within the university environment.
In this context, Dr. Tamer Hamouda, Executive Director of the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund, emphasized that the "University Waste Management" Competition represents a model for integrating innovation with sustainability. He noted that it helps direct students' ideas toward practical and implementable solutions for addressing environmental challenges within Egyptian universities.
He further stated that the Fund is committed to supporting innovative student projects based on modern technologies and creative ideas, helping transform promising concepts into real applications with economic and environmental impact. He also affirmed the continuation of cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in implementing initiatives aimed at building a generation of innovative young people capable of supporting sustainable development and green transformation efforts.
Dr. Karim Hammam, Advisor to the Minister for Student Activities and Director of the Leadership Preparation Institute, explained that the competition aligns with the Ministry's commitment to empowering students to actively participate in addressing environmental challenges through innovation and creativity. He noted that Egyptian universities possess talented young minds capable of developing practical and sustainable solutions that support the country's green transformation and sustainable development plans.
He added that the Ministry seeks to transform student activities into platforms for producing impactful ideas and initiatives, fostering innovation, teamwork, and entrepreneurship among students. He also highlighted that cooperation with the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund reflects the integration of state institutions in supporting talented and innovative youth and providing opportunities to transform their ideas into implementable and scalable projects.
For his part, Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, Media Advisor and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, affirmed that the launch of the competition reflects the Ministry's commitment to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability within the university community and strengthening the role of universities in supporting national efforts to preserve natural resources and achieve sustainable development.
He further explained that the Ministry continues to support initiatives that enhance students' awareness of environmental and societal issues and encourage them to contribute innovative solutions that serve society, thereby reinforcing the role of universities as centers of creativity, knowledge production, and development.
This competition reaffirms the commitment of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Supreme Council of Universities to embedding a culture of environmental sustainability within the university community and enhancing the role of universities in supporting innovation and sustainable development through engaging students in practical solutions that help preserve natural resources and support the green economy.
