DUBAI, 30th May, 2023 (WAM) — Zayed University’s Sustainability Programme has announced a partnership with The Marketing Society, around their new Sustainability Squad, which will bring together a group of around 30 sustainability experts to drive change in support of environmental initiatives.
Zayed University students will play an integral part in the Marketing Society’s Sustainability Squad, and will curate events, content, training, podcasts, and more, empowering other members to contribute to progressing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, in the UAE’s Year of Sustainability. The Sustainability Squad will also help to identify inspiring regional case studies to showcase and place itself at the heart of the sustainability conversation for marketeers in the build-up to COP28.
Involvement in the Sustainability Squad initiative is part of an increased focus on sustainability at Zayed University. The University’s College of Interdisciplinary Studies recently launched the UAE’s first interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Sustainability offering three concentrations: Sustainable Enterprises, Sustainability Policies, and Sustainable Environments.
Moreover, Zayed University will enrol its first cohort of graduate students in a new Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Sciences in the next academic year. Sustainability students are empowered to deal with global disruptions and become the leaders to shape the development of the UAE to meet the needs of the present and future generations.
Suzanna El Massah, Sustainability Programme Lead at Zayed University, welcomed the partnership saying, "Sustainability is an area of ever-increasing importance, where the sharing of expertise will be crucial in addressing global environmental challenges. The Sustainability Squad initiative represents an excellent opportunity for our students to engage with real-world organizations committed to improving sustainability outcomes, and to help them enhance their future employability. This builds on our efforts to align with the sustainability goals that the UAE is prioritising and respond to the growing demand for professionals who can tackle environmental challenges at local, national, and global levels.”
From hosting events and creating thought-provoking content to offering training and support sessions, this dynamic group is geared up to make an impact as COP28 approaches.
The Sustainability Squad are also on the lookout for inspiring NGOs and charities to collaborate with, to enable them to amplify the work they are doing to tackle environmental challenges.
Neda Shelton, SVP Communications at Mubadala; Board Member of The Marketing Society Abu Dhabi, and Chair of the Sustainability Squad said: “We’re really excited to launch the Sustainability Squad here in the UAE, during the Year of Sustainability. We believe marketers can play a crucial part in the acceleration of positive change around ESG as natural storytellers and communications experts. The Society’s membership is a community of changemakers and we know that by helping our members do well and do good, the impact that we can have is huge. We know that we’re stronger together than we are alone and as such this Squad can really make a difference.”
The Sustainability Squad focuses on ESG literacy, creativity, storytelling, and behavioral science, enabling Zayed University students to gain practical skills and valuable experience. By partnering with real-world organizations, students become highly employable, empowered to make a meaningful impact on society, and equipped for successful careers in sustainability. With these experiences, they can create endless possibilities for positive change.