On June 29th and 30th 2020, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Bahrain held a training workshop provided by a group of experts from the International Cad Corporation (Global CAD). During the two-day workshop, 17 faculty members from various colleges at the university were trained on delivering the content of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) course that is being developed by the expert group through UNDP.

This cooperation builds on the partnership between the University of Bahrain and UNDP by developing a Sustainable Development Goals course in the Environment and Sustainable Development PhD program offered by the College of Science. CAD International is known for its extensive experience working in the field of sustainable development and its emphasis on the promotion of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to enhance, among others, the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of development.

The course that is being developed will focus on the environmental framework for the goals of sustainable development, with an explanation of the legal and economic dimension of the process of activating sustainable development and its impact on society and individual lives, through real examples and success stories from countries around the world, and in the Arab region in particular. It is worth noting that the University of Bahrain has contributed to promoting the SDGs through global partnerships and by offering academic programs related to scientific research in the field of sustainable development.

In a welcoming speech at the beginning of the session, both the President of the University of Bahrain, Prof. Dr. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, and Mr. Stefano Pettinato, UNDP Resident Representative in Bahrain, stressed the importance of this cooperation between the two institutions. They also highlighted that the course is part of a broader joint project to support the University in mainstreaming the SDGs through innovation, capacity development and knowledge sharing, through the University’s fundamental role in developing human capital, pioneering innovation, and contributing to the Kingdom’s sustainable development.