The Center for Sustainability, with its five strategic perspectives, provides internal and external stakeholders with relevant resources, organizes activities while helping MCBS faculty, staff and students identify opportunities for collaboration and making an impact. MCBS remains committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the PRME initiative, the promotion of sustainable business models, and responsible management.
MCBS established Estidama Center for Sustainability with an aim to spread awareness on sustainability, serve as a model of sustainability amongst HEIs, bring together industry and academia in solving real world problems through education, research, and community engagement, empowering future generations to be innovative responsible leaders.
A leading center for sustainability in the region.
To demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the Modern College of Business and Science established Estidama, MCBS Center for Sustainability.
Through its five strategic pillars—Education, Staff & Faculty Engagement, Student Engagement, Campus Practices & Operations, and Community & Global Engagement—Estidama actively integrates sustainability across all aspects of the college.
Our actions include including sustainability principles into the curriculum, offering specialized courses, and creating an online resource hub for lifelong learning. We empower faculty, staff, and students to lead sustainability projects, such as waste reduction initiatives, campus energy management, and hands-on student projects that promote leadership in sustainability.
Aligned with UN SDGs and Oman Vision 2040, Estidama partners with local and international organizations to drive impactful change. Our goal is to measure and reduce MCBS’s carbon footprint, working towards a net-zero roadmap. By establishing a culture of sustainability, we aim to be a sustainability leader within the higher education sector, creating a positive impact locally and globally.
A Strategic Framework for Aligning Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses with the Sustainable Development GoalsHigher education institutions play a vital role in advancing the SDGs by
preparing students for their careers and as contributors to sustainable
development. This framework aligns undergraduate course learning outcomes
with the SDGs by integrating these goals into course content and assessments.
The goal is to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to promote
the SDGs and raise awareness of their practical applications. MCBS is
reviewing course syllabi to embed sustainability concepts across disciplines,
ensuring all students are prepared to contribute to sustainable development in
their academic and professional journeys.
The Community Knowledge Bank is a centralized repository at the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) dedicated to preserving and sharing all documents, reports, and resources related to Estidama (MCBS Center for Sustainability). This platform serves as a valuable hub for students, faculty, and staff to access comprehensive materials that support sustainability initiatives, research, and best practices within the college. It fosters collaboration and promotes a culture of environmental and social responsibility by providing a well-organized and easily accessible collection of knowledge essential for advancing the principles of Estidama at MCBS.
- The Paris Agreement on Climate Change as a Development Agenda: https://www.unssc.org/courses/paris-agreement-climate-change-development-agenda-0
- Integration of the SDGs into National Planning: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/integration-of-the-sdgs-into-national-planning/
- Green Marketing Challenge: https://www.unssc.org/courses/green-marketing-challenge
- Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs: https://www.coursera.org/learn/impact-for-sdgs
- Applying Integrated Policy Approaches to Accelerate the 2030 Agenda: https://www.unssc.org/courses/applying-integrated-policy-approaches-accelerate-2030-agenda
- Digital4Sustainability Learning Path: https://www.unssc.org/courses/digital4sustainability-learning-path
- What is the Net-Zero Standard: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/the-net-zero-standard/
- Setting Science-Based Targets to Achieve Net-Zero: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/setting-science-based-targets-to-achieve-net-zero/
- Sustainable Consumption and Production in Africa: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/sustainable-consumption-and-production-in-africa/
- Introduction to risk-informed, conflict-sensitive and peacebuilding programming: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/introduction-to-risk-informed-conflict-sensitive-and-peacebuilding-programming/
- Feeding a Hungry Planet: Agriculture, Nutrition and Sustainability: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/feeding-a-hungry-planet-agriculture-nutrition-and-sustainability/
- Banking on Biodiversity - The Seed Savers’ Crusade: https://www.unsdglearn.org/podcast/banking-on-biodiversity-the-seed-savers-crusade/
- Water: Addressing the Global Crisis: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/water-addressing-the-global-crisis/
- Sustainable Cities: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/sustainable-cities/
- Achieving Sustainable Food Systems: How can we balance biodiversity conservation and food production? https://www.unsdglearn.org/podcast/achieving-sustainable-food-systems-how-can-we-balance-biodiversity-conservation-and-food-production/
- Adding value to typical food products and Geographical Indications (GIs) as a way to ensure Inclusive Industrial Development: https://www.unsdglearn.org/blog/adding-value-to-typical-food-products-and-geographical-indications-gis-as-a-way-to-ensure-inclusive-industrial-development/
- Labour productivity and income of small-scale food producers: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/sdg-indicators-2-3-1-and-2-3-2-labour-productivity-and-income-of-small-scale-food-producers-2/
- SDG Indicator 2.1.1 - Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU): https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/sdg-indicator-2-1-1-prevalence-of-undernourishment-pou-2/
- Digital Agriculture: https://www.unsdglearn.org/courses/e-learning-on-digital-agriculture/
PRME
To demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the Modern College of Business and Science announced that we have become a Signatory Member of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) – a United Nations-supported initiative that aims to raise the profile of sustainability in business schools around the world, equipping business students with the understanding and ability to deliver change tomorrow.
SDG Accord
MCBS Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all developed and developing countries in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. Source: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
In March 2024, the Modern College of Business and Science became a signatory of the SDG Accord. The SDG Accord calls upon universities and colleges to embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals into their education, research, leadership, operations, administration, and engagement activities.
We Accord Signatories recognize:
- The universal set of goals—people, prosperity, planet, partnership, and peace—is indivisible and interconnected.
- As educators, we are responsible for playing a central and transformational role in attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
- And we thereby assert…that as leaders or individual practitioners, academics, students, or researchers, we will:
- Align all significant efforts with the SDGs, targets, and indicators, including through our education, research, leadership, operational, and engagement activities;
- Aim to involve members from all key stakeholder groups in this endeavor, including students, academics, professional staff, local communities, and other external stakeholders;
- Collaborate across cities, regions, countries, and continents with other signatory institutions as part of a collective international response;
- Using our own unique ways, inform, share our learning, and account to both local and global communities our progress toward the SDGs;
- Annual report on ‘How does my institution, MCBS, contribute to the SDGs, and what more can we do?’
Signatories
[As of 11 March 2024]
Muneer Al Maskari, PhD
Executive Chairman
Modern College of Business and Science
Aisha Al Kharusi
Deputy Executive Chairperson
Modern College of Business and Science
Dr. Said Al Kittani
Associate Dean of Community Outreach
Modern College of Business and Science
The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI)!
Modern College of Business and Science is now a member of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI)!
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI)
MCBS is a member of the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) network, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Through this affiliation, MCBS integrates sustainability into its curriculum, research, and operations, promoting a greener future.
CANIE
Modern College of Business and Science is now a member of CANIE – the Climate Action Network for International Educators!
AASHE
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
We are proud to be a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
A team from 44.01 recently visited our campus to engage with students where they shared specific insights into their carbon mineralization work and the environmental impact in Oma.
Named after CO2's molecular mass, 44.01 was founded in Oman in 2020 and leverages Oman's unique peridotite rock formations to permanently remove carbon dioxide by mineralizing it into stone. Their work directly contributes to five sustainable development goals which are
- SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth
- SDG 9 - Industry innovation and infrastructure as did you 12 responsible consumption and production
- SDG 13 - Climate action and
- SDG 17 - Partnerships for the goals
This visit was designed to support MCBS’s mission of facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation and sustainable practices. The exchange of technical expertise with 44.01 has created tangible opportunities for future collaboration enhancing our sustainability initiative at MCBS.
The Sustainable Development Club aims to empower students to make a tangible impact on sustainability both on campus and beyond. Focused on action, the club teaches sustainable business practices and applies them to address real-world challenges. Members can participate in recycling drives, reduce energy consumption, and promote responsible sourcing at campus events, improving our environmental footprint. The club also collaborates with local businesses on green initiatives, advocates for sustainable practices within the college, organizes workshops and speaker series, and brainstorms innovative solutions to sustainability challenges. Together, we strive to create meaningful change locally and globally. Read more…
MCBS Environment Club organized a Seminar on Musical Clean ups which was presented by a very popular Omani Environmentalist- Mr. Fahad Al Abri on October 16th, 2023. He insisted on the importance of keeping our beaches and parks clean and green and the significance of getting rid of plastics. Mr. Fahad made the seminar even more interesting by involving the students in singing along with him in his ukelele!.
In its pursuit of enhanced sustainable development efforts, MCBS has embarked on a collaborative approach by fostering strategic partnerships with government ministries, industry leaders, and relevant organizations. The Ministry of Economy, Be’ah (Oman Environmental Services Holding Company), and the Center for Sustainability and Excellence are among the initial entities with whom MCBS has established collaborations to promote sustainable practices.
To foster a sustainability-conscious work environment and raise awareness of the significance of sustainable practices, MCBS implemented a competition titled “Ten Ways to Encourage Environmentally Conscious Workplace” as part of its Staff Day activities. Divided into four teams, faculty and staff collaboratively designed and presented posters outlining their proposed methods for promoting environmental responsibility within the workplace. A jury comprised of the Dean, Associate Deans, and professors evaluated the presentations.
MCBS faculty actively contribute to the field of sustainable development. Their research is published in prestigious journals and presented at international conferences, fostering international collaboration with esteemed colleagues. Notably, a recent paper titled “Underpinning Sustainability Paradigms: Circular Economy and Enhanced Triple Bottom Line” was presented at the Singidunum University International Scientific Conference (FINIZ) in Belgrade, Serbia. This collaboration involved a professor from Singidunum University, a valued academic partner of MCBS.
MCBS Sustainability Strategy
Introduction:
MCBS recognizes the impact of sustainability in addressing local and global environmental challenges and promotes sustainability within its operations and policies. As a result, MCBS developed a rolling 3-year strategy aligned with its mission, vision, and values. the five-pillar strategy demonstrates our commitment to integrating sustainable practices into all aspects of MCBS’s operations. Most importantly, we value fostering a culture of sustainability among students, faculty, and staff.
Strategic Objectives:
The five perspectives of MCBS’s sustainability strategy are realized through the objectives that are effectively translated into actionable initiatives:
1- Education: Integrate sustainability principles into the institution’s educational framework.
Objective: Increase awareness of sustainability among students and faculty.
Actions:
- Align programs, courses, and research with SDGs and sustainability frameworks.
- Provide tools to incorporate sustainability into curricula.
- Create an online resource hub for sustainability education materials and open it to the public (lifelong learning for sustainability).
- Offer an elective course on sustainability to all students.
2- Staff & Faculty Engagement (Research): Foster a culture of sustainability within academic and research activities.
Objective: Empower staff and faculty to understand and apply sustainability in their roles.
Actions:
- Redefine roles to include sustainability in teaching, research, and community service.
- Promote faculty/staff led projects that address environmental and social challenges.
- Encourage interdisciplinary research on sustainability.
- Publish and present in academic journals and conferences on sustainability issues (SDGs).
- Provide opportunities for certification courses for all on sustainability and climate literacy.
3- Student Engagement: Empower students to become active participants and leaders in sustainability efforts.
Objective: Involve students in sustainability club and events.
Actions:
- Form Sustainable Development Club
- Have Sustainability ambassadors in the college.
- Engage students in direct sustainability projects.
- Encourage student leadership in campus sustainability initiatives.
4- Campus Practices & Operations: Implement sustainable practices in campus operations to reduce the institution’s environmental footprint.
Objective: Measure MCBS’ carbon footprint and prepare a road map for net zero.
Actions:
- Integrate resource management, focusing on energy, water, and waste.
- Establish green campus policies.
- Promote ecofriendly infrastructure and facilities management.
5- Community & Global Engagement: Build partnerships and foster knowledge exchange with local and global communities.
Objective: Establish partnerships, affiliations, and memberships with community and international organizations.
Actions:
- Present on SDGs to community – spread awareness and propose actionable initiatives
- Develop outreach programs and collaborative projects to solve real problems
- Connect with global sustainability networks
Latest
Sustainability News
Estidama office
Phone: (+968) 24 583 578
Email: sustainability@mcbs.edu.om
Alexandra Minic
Sustainability Coordinator
