AUS recognized in The Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition

American University of Sharjah (AUS) has made its debut in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition for its commitment to environmental sustainability.

The guide profiles universities and colleges “selected for their exceptional programs, policies, and practices related to sustainability and the environment.” It is an online resource for college applicants interested in attending universities that foster a culture of environmental responsibility.

The guide was compiled based on a survey of administrators at nearly 600 colleges as well as data shared by the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). AUS was included in the guide based on information from AASHE, following AUS’ STARS 2024 submission. Green Rating scores for  universities were calculated on a scale of 60 to 99. AUS received a high green score of 81.

“Our commitment to sustainability is not just a goal, it’s a guiding principle that influences every aspect of campus life. Being recognized by The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges reaffirms our dedication to fostering a sustainable future for our students and community. We remain committed to aligning our initiatives with global standards and contributing to the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 goals, ensuring that AUS continues to lead in environmental stewardship and innovation,” said Omar Alnuaimi, Head of AUS Sustainability.

A member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), AUS was the first university in the GCC to be rated in AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), and currently holds a STARS gold rating. It was also named one of the top seven institutions worldwide for community engagement in sustainability in AASHE’s 2024 Sustainable Campus Index.

AUS is widely recognized for its sustainability initiatives, which include a comprehensive Climate Action Plan that aligns the university’s sustainability efforts with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic plan. It was also the first university in the UAE to launch a campaign to educate the university community about the detrimental environmental impact of single-use plastics. Additionally, the AUS Engineering and Sciences Building received a highly sought-after 2 Pearl rating by Estidama, a sustainable development initiative of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. AUS was also the recipient of the Green Audit Award as part of the Abu Dhabi Environmental Agency’s Sustainable Campus Initiative for university students. 

As a leader in sustainability in higher education, AUS is part of the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), a domestic alliance of stakeholders led by Emirates Nature-WWF, focusing on advancing net zero targets in line with the Paris Agreement. AUS is also a member of the Universities Climate Network, which connected UAE-based universities and higher education institutions to facilitate workshops, public events and youth participation in COP28. 

Recognizing the importance of sustainability education, approximately 22 percent of all undergraduate and graduate courses at AUS incorporate relevant sustainability components.  These courses are offered across all disciplines, with 21 out of 22 academic departments at AUS having at least one sustainability course offering. Students are also encouraged to engage in various extracurricular activities focused on sustainability, such as the AUS EcoRep program. This initiative empowers students to educate their peers on critical issues like waste reduction, energy conservation, and promoting diversity and tolerance.

"We are delighted to recommend AUS to students who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a 'green' one," said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief. “AUS, which offers excellent academics, also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability in its campus programs, policies and practices.”

This commitment to sustainability has helped shape the student experience of AUS EcoRep and environmental science major Rawand Abdullah, who said: “The initiative that impacted me the most was the Manbat Farmers’ Market. I got into the habit of purchasing local fresh produce every week, while supporting and forming connections with local business owners”

She added: “knowing that AUS is recognized for its sustainability efforts by The Princeton Review makes me proud and reassures me that our university’s efforts and determination to implement sustainability are not going unnoticed.”

Abdullah’s work as an EcoRep has given her the chance to see firsthand how sustainability initiatives can impact campus culture. By helping to host events such as Cook for Change, a program that educates students about sustainable, healthy eating with local ingredients, she has seen many students from different majors bond over their shared interest in creating a more sustainable world.