AUS earns prestigious AASHE STARS Gold Rating for sustainability achievements

A distinguished recognition for driving climate action, fostering social sustainability and advancing cutting-edge research 

American University of Sharjah (AUS) is being recognized for its comprehensive and impactful sustainability achievements across all aspects of higher education. AUS was recently awarded the prestigious Gold Rating under the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), cementing its reputation as a regional leader in sustainability.

STARS is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. With more than 1,200 participants across 52 countries, the program evaluates achievements in five core areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration and innovation and leadership. This year AUS excelled with a perfect score of 100 percent in both academics and innovation and leadership, 85 percent in engagement, 35 percent in operations and 57 percent in planning and administration.

“This STARS Gold Rating is a testament to the steadfast commitment of AUS to lead sustainability efforts in the region and beyond. At AUS, we recognize the critical role that universities must play in addressing the global climate crisis. Our Climate Action Plan, aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative, reflects our determination to reduce carbon emissions and to create a more sustainable future. This achievement strengthens our resolve to innovate, inspire and lead in shaping a world that can overcome the challenges of climate change,” said Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS.

In 2018, AUS became the first university in the GCC to receive a STARS rating. Since then, AUS has been relentless in its efforts, earning global recognition in 2021 as one of the top five institutions for community engagement in sustainability. AUS’ ongoing initiatives have made it a beacon of climate leadership in the GCC and beyond. In the lead up to the UN’s Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, AUS co-hosted the Conference of Youth, the largest youth conference on multilateral UN climate processes, and participated in the Student Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Many AUS faculty, staff and students participated in COP28 events.

Omar Alnuaimi, Head of Sustainability at AUS, emphasized the importance of the STARS rating in assessing the university’s sustainability initiatives, stating: “STARS has been an essential benchmarking tool for AUS since 2018, allowing us to assess the global impact of our sustainability initiatives. Achieving a Gold rating reflects the commitment of our faculty, staff, and students to making sustainability a central priority. I would especially like to thank Julia Carlow, Associate Head of Sustainability, who has served on the AASHE Advisory Council for the past four years and acted as the primary STARS liaison for AUS, as well as the entire AUS community for making this milestone possible. It’s truly rewarding to see how our collective efforts have resulted in this prestigious recognition."

At AUS, sustainability and research are integral to the university's mission of creating lasting impact. Recently, AUS launched the Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center, a hub focused on global challenges in energy, water and environmental sustainability, aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050, UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 and other key national strategies. Additionally, the newly established Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development collaborates with partners in Sharjah to bring student and faculty research to market, focusing on environmental, social and governance sustainability, as well as fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.

In addition to its achievements in environmental sustainability, AUS is widely recognized for promoting diversity and inclusion, with a student and faculty body representing over 90 nationalities. This diversity, combined with a commitment to social sustainability and human wellbeing, enables AUS to make significant contributions to addressing global sustainability challenges.

“AUS has demonstrated significant progress in sustainability as demonstrated in its most recent STARS Gold report. We congratulate everyone at AUS for the sustainability impact they've initiated, and for its ongoing participation and support of AASHE and STARS," said Meghan Fay Zahniser, AASHE's Executive Director. 

Reaffirming its leadership in sustainability, AUS ranks third in the UAE and among the world’s top 600 universities for sustainability, according to QS World University Rankings: Sustainability (2024). With a diverse community and strong commitment to environmental initiatives, AUS continues to lead the way in shaping a sustainable future through education and innovation.

For more information about AUS’ sustainability initiatives, visit www.aus.edu/sustainability. 

To access the AUS public report by AASHE, visit https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/3388/report/2024-07-25/.