29 May 2026
In line with the vision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research aimed at promoting sustainability and green transformation within higher education institutions, the Supreme Council of Universities has approved the launch of a new competition titled “Waste Management in Universities”, as part of the energy-saving campaign “Save It… Illuminate It.” The initiative seeks to foster environmental awareness and sustainable energy practices 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 Professor Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and supervised by Professor Karim Hammam, Advisor to the Minister for Student Activities and Director of the Leadership Development Institute, in collaboration with the Innovators and Geniuses Fund under the supervision of Dr. Tamer Hammouda, Executive Director of the Fund. This initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to supporting innovation-driven programs that connect students’ creative ideas with real-world challenges facing society and Egyptian universities.
The competition aims to encourage university and institute students to present innovative and sustainable solutions for waste management in universities by promoting projects based on modern technologies, recycling, engineering innovation, creative design, and green economic models. This contributes to creating a more sustainable and efficient university environment and strengthens the role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt Vision 2030.
The competition includes four main tracks: smart technologies and the use of modern systems and artificial intelligence in waste management to improve efficiency; engineering innovation to develop advanced systems for collection, sorting, and treatment processes; creative design focused on awareness campaigns and innovative ideas that promote positive behavioral change toward waste management; and green economic models aimed at producing feasible projects that achieve both economic return and environmental sustainability.
The organizing committee has outlined several stages for the competition, beginning with the announcement and registration phase and submission of ideas, followed by preliminary evaluation, full proposal development, prototype creation, and finally the announcement of results and recognition of winning teams.
The competition is scheduled to run for three months. Evaluation criteria include presentation quality, feasibility of the proposed model, applicability, level of innovation, and the environmental impact of the idea within the university setting.
In this context, Dr. Tamer Hammouda, Executive Director of the Innovators and Geniuses Fund, stated that the “Waste Management in Universities” competition represents a model of integration between innovation and sustainability, guiding students’ ideas toward practical, applicable solutions to environmental challenges within Egyptian universities.
He noted that the Fund is committed to supporting innovative student projects based on modern technologies and creative thinking, contributing to transforming promising ideas into real-world applications with economic and environmental impact. He also emphasized continued cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in implementing initiatives aimed at building a generation of innovative youth capable of supporting sustainable development and green transformation efforts.
Professor 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 direction to empower students to actively participate in addressing environmental challenges through innovation and creativity. He highlighted that Egyptian universities possess significant youth potential capable of providing real and sustainable solutions that support the state’s green transformation and sustainable development plans.
He added that the Ministry is committed to transforming student activities into platforms for generating impactful ideas and initiatives that enhance innovation, teamwork, and entrepreneurship among students. He also emphasized that cooperation with the Innovators and Geniuses Fund reflects institutional integration in supporting talented and innovative youth and enabling them to turn their ideas into implementable and scalable projects.
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 embedding environmental awareness and sustainability culture within the academic community and strengthening 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 develop innovative solutions that serve society, reinforcing the role of universities as centers of creativity, knowledge production, and development.
The competition underscores 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 academic community and strengthening the role of universities in supporting innovation and sustainable development by engaging students in developing practical solutions that contribute to natural resource conservation and the advancement of the green economy.
