As part of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s vision to promote sustainability and green transformation across higher education institutions, the Supreme Council of Universities has approved the launch of the “University Waste Management” Competition during its latest session. The competition is organized under the “Save It… Light It” energy conservation campaign, which aims to foster environmental awareness and promote sustainable energy practices among students at Egyptian universities and institutes while transforming campuses into hubs for innovative ideas and smart solutions with positive environmental and societal impact.
The competition is held under the patronage of Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and is supervised by Dr. Karim Hammam, Advisor to the Minister for Student Activities and Director of the Leadership Development Institute, in cooperation with the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund, under the supervision of Dr. Tamer Hamouda, Executive Director of the Fund. The initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to supporting innovation by connecting students’ creative ideas with real-world challenges facing Egyptian universities and society.
The competition aims to encourage university and institute students to develop innovative and sustainable waste management solutions by promoting projects based on modern technologies, recycling, engineering innovation, creative design, and green business models. These efforts are intended to create a more sustainable and efficient university environment while strengthening young people’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Egypt Vision 2030.
The competition features four main tracks:
- Smart Technologies, focusing on the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence to improve waste management efficiency.
- Engineering Innovation, aimed at developing advanced systems and technical solutions for waste collection, sorting, and treatment.
- Creative Design, which encourages innovative awareness campaigns and communication strategies to promote positive waste management behaviors.
- Green Economic Models, designed to support practical projects that generate both economic returns and environmental sustainability.
The organizing committee has outlined several stages for the competition, beginning with the official announcement, registration, and submission of ideas, followed by the preliminary evaluation of proposals. Participants will then submit fully developed project concepts, proceed to prototype development, and finally compete for the announcement of the winning teams and the award ceremony.
The competition will run for three months, with projects evaluated according to several key criteria, including the quality of presentation, feasibility of the proposed model, practical applicability, level of innovation, and potential environmental impact within the university setting.
In this context, Dr. Tamer Hamouda, Executive Director of the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund, stated that the “University Waste Management” Competition represents a successful model for integrating innovation with sustainability. He explained that the initiative encourages students to develop practical, implementable solutions to environmental challenges facing Egyptian universities.
He added that the Fund is committed to supporting student-led projects based on advanced technologies and creative ideas, helping transform promising concepts into real-world applications with tangible economic and environmental benefits. He also affirmed the Fund’s continued cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in implementing initiatives that nurture a new generation of innovative youth capable of advancing sustainable development and the green transition.
For his part, Dr. Karim Hammam, Advisor to the Minister for Student Activities and Director of the Leadership Development Institute, stated that the competition aligns with the Ministry’s strategy to empower students to actively address environmental challenges through innovation and creativity. He noted that Egyptian universities possess exceptional young talent capable of developing sustainable solutions that support the state’s green transformation agenda and sustainable development goals.
He further emphasized that the Ministry seeks to transform student activities into platforms for generating impactful ideas and initiatives while promoting innovation, teamwork, and entrepreneurship among students. He added that cooperation with the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund demonstrates effective collaboration among national institutions to support talented innovators and enable young people to transform their ideas into practical, scalable projects.
Meanwhile, Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, Media Advisor and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, affirmed that launching the competition reflects the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening environmental awareness and sustainability across the university community while reinforcing the role of universities in supporting national efforts to preserve natural resources and achieve sustainable development.
He 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 their communities, thereby reinforcing universities’ role as centers of creativity, knowledge production, and sustainable development.
The 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 throughout the university community and strengthening universities’ role in fostering innovation and sustainable development by engaging students in developing practical solutions that conserve natural resources and support the green economy.