A workshop titled “A Green Future: A Workshop on Sustainable Practices” was organised at Cihan University-Erbil as part of the efforts and programs of the Presidency of Cihan University – Erbil to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The University’s conference hall hosted a session on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 attended by the University President, vice presidents, heads of the scientific departments, faculty members, and a remarkable number of students. The organization of the event was made in association with “Maple Tree Organization for Environmental Awareness and Community Development”.

During the workshop’s opening, Prof. Dr. Amjad Sabir Al-Delawi, the president of Cihan University – Erbil, delivered a speech in which he expressed his delight of a college within his university collaborating with a global organisation to ensure a bright future for future generations. Prof Al-Delawi added that “it is evident that all world leaders are committed to achieving the 17 UN goals by 2030.”

He stated: “As a scientific institution in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region، we have a prominent role in educating students for the future، so our duties are not only to educate but also to implement these 17 goals، and for this purpose we have formed a separate committee and board that includes representatives of foreign countries so that Cihan University- Erbil can take its place among the 17 goals that exist and are called chairs.” Ask any university nowadays, and they would tell you they have a tonne of seats. For this reason, our committee has done a great job of setting five initial goals and is actively working towards achieving them in order to secure our place in the UN.

Prof. Dr. Amjad Sabir Al-Delawi adduced how this process is not the activity of the university alone but it is the activity of university and respectable organization, active students and the society because all these institutions are striving jointly to elevate the society to the level of the seeker of these 17 goals, and he added that this workshop is one of the most important workshops through which the foundation for the initiating of changes at the level of the people within the region can be accomplished, for example, the Kurdistan Region is not any less than the other countries and societies of Dhaka, our institutions are not any far less than the institutions of the countries, and environment is ready for it. Therefore, the infrastructure which is being created with this vision can facilitate the achievement of these 17 goals.

“At Cihan University – Erbil, said Prof. Dr. Al-Delawi said,” Cihan University-Erbil has many contributions to help the poor and those in need of assistance and help, a number of important projects have been implemented, especially in the restoration of the school and the implementation of volunteer and charitable activities during the month of Ramadan, all of which were due to the efforts of teachers and students.” In a segment of his speech devoted to the work and projects that have been carried out in the past, Prof Al-Delawi also stated “these are some of the goals that the program for the coming year will be aiming to achieve. Together with the help of students, instructors, and their families, we can participate in an international project and create an example for others to follow.”

The topics of discussion were “Introduction to Green Washing and Green Marketing” by Assistant Lecturer Azwar Mahdi, Head of the Media Department, and “Building a Sustainable Future: Aligning Our Mission with Personal Action” by Director of Maple Tree Foundation for Community Development and Environmental Awareness Hakar Barzani. Dr. Zainab Sheikhli then spoke about sustainability and primary education. While Assistant Lecturer Musallam Najib Zidan provided a thorough and scientific explanation of the principles of environmental management, including stakeholders’ impacts and sustainable solutions, Mr.Jalal Parvin , a member of the Maple Tree Organization concentrated on renewable energy and its effects on the environment and economy. The audience then engaged in a thorough discussion of the topics covered.

At the conclusion of the session, Cihan University-Erbil students who had previously volunteered to work with the Maple Tree Organization and organized various events were given certificates of gratitude.