1. Purpose
The Sustainability Committee is established to provide institutional leadership, coordination, and oversight of the University’s sustainability agenda.
The Committee supports the integration of environmental, social, and economic sustainability principles across the University’s governance, education, research, operations, campus development, and community engagement.
It serves as the principal institutional body responsible for coordinating sustainability initiatives, monitoring progress against approved sustainability objectives and targets, and providing recommendations to University leadership on policies and actions that advance the University’s sustainability commitments.
2. Committee Membership
The Sustainability Committee shall include representatives from key academic and administrative areas of the University to ensure institution-wide participation and accountability.
Chair
Prof. Hania Nakkash – Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
Provides strategic leadership to the Committee and ensures that sustainability priorities are aligned with the University’s institutional strategy.
Vice-Chair
Dina Abou El Ez – Executive Research Administrator
Supports the Chair and assumes the Chair’s responsibilities when required.
Secretary / Sustainability Coordinator
Ms. Hala Moghrabi – Research Administrator
Coordinates Committee activities, prepares meeting agendas and minutes, maintains sustainability records and data, and follows up on agreed actions.
Committee Members
University senior management Dr. Omar Houri – Secretary General of BAU
Academic faculties/schools Dr. Bilal Azakir
Sustainability or environmental management Dr. Hiba Mohsen
Facilities and campus operations Mr. Issam Kaissi
Engineering and maintenance Dr. Mohammad Ayache
Finance and procurement Dr. Maggie Houchaimi
Research and innovation Prof. Hania Nakkash – Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
Academic affairs and curriculum development Prof. Soubhi Abou Chahine – Dean of Academic Affairs and International Relations
Student affairs Prof. Soubhi Abou Chahine – Dean of Academic Affairs and International Relations
Human resources Dr. Cerine Tafran – HR Director
Health and safety Prof. Nada El Darra
Information technology Mr. Alaa Fleyfel
Communications and public relations Mr. Tayssir Choughari
Quality assurance / institutional effectiveness Prof. Fatima Saleh
Community engagement Mr. Bilal Daaboul
Student representatives Ms. Hala Moghrabi
3. Terms of Reference
The Sustainability Committee shall:
- Provide strategic oversight of the University’s sustainability policies, strategies, plans, commitments, and institutional targets.
- Develop and recommend sustainability priorities and targets for approval by the university leadership and periodically review progress toward their achievement.
- Support the integration of sustainability into institutional planning, governance, academic activities, research, operations, procurement, infrastructure, and community engagement.
- Oversee climate action and emissions reduction, including monitoring the University’s greenhouse gas emissions and progress toward its approved carbon-reduction and net-zero commitments.
- Monitor environmental performance, including energy consumption, renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water management, waste and recycling, sustainable transportation, biodiversity, and responsible use of resources.
- Promote sustainability in teaching and learning by encouraging the incorporation of sustainability principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into relevant curricula and educational activities.
- Support sustainability-related research and innovation and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration addressing environmental, social, and economic sustainability challenges.
- Promote sustainable campus operations, including energy efficiency, green buildings, responsible procurement, waste reduction, water conservation, sustainable mobility, and environmentally responsible campus development.
- Strengthen social sustainability, including equality, inclusion, wellbeing, accessibility, community engagement, and responsible institutional practices.
- Coordinate sustainability data collection and reporting, ensuring that appropriate information is collected, reviewed, documented, and maintained to support institutional decision-making and external sustainability reporting.
- Review sustainability performance against established indicators, objectives, targets, and relevant national and international frameworks.
- Identify sustainability risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate actions to University leadership.
- Engage the University community by promoting awareness and participation among students, faculty, researchers, professional staff, and other stakeholders.
- Review and recommend sustainability policies and initiatives before their submission to the appropriate University authority for approval.
- Report regularly to the university leadership on sustainability performance, achievements, challenges, and recommended actions.
4. Governance and Oversight Role
The Sustainability Committee acts as the University's central coordinating and oversight body for sustainability.
The Committee shall work across academic and administrative units to ensure that sustainability responsibilities are appropriately assigned and that approved initiatives are implemented and monitored.
Individual departments and units remain responsible for implementing sustainability actions within their respective areas. The Committee provides institutional coordination, monitoring, guidance, and oversight and may request relevant information or progress updates from responsible units.
Where significant sustainability matters require institutional approval, funding, policy changes, or strategic decisions, the Committee shall submit its recommendations to the University President for consideration and approval.
5. Meetings and Decision-Making
The Sustainability Committee shall meet quarterly, with additional meetings convened when necessary.
Decisions should normally be reached by consensus. Where consensus cannot be achieved, matters may be decided by a majority vote of members present.
The Secretary shall maintain formal records of meetings, including attendance, decisions, recommendations, assigned responsibilities, and agreed deadlines.
6. Monitoring and Reporting
The Committee shall establish and periodically review measurable sustainability indicators and targets.
An annual sustainability performance review should be prepared summarizing:
- progress against sustainability objectives and targets;
- greenhouse gas emissions and progress toward the University's net-zero target;
- energy, water, waste, transportation, and other environmental indicators;
- sustainability activities in education and research;
- social and community sustainability initiatives;
- progress on relevant SDGs;
- significant achievements and areas requiring improvement; and
- priorities and actions for the following year.
The Committee shall present its findings and recommendations to the University Leadership and support the public communication of sustainability progress where appropriate.
7. Accountability
The Sustainability Committee is accountable to University President.
The Committee shall ensure that sustainability commitments are supported by measurable objectives, appropriate evidence, periodic monitoring, and transparent reporting.
8. Review of the Committee
The Committee’s membership, Terms of Reference, responsibilities, and effectiveness shall be reviewed periodically, and at least once every two years, to ensure continued alignment with the University’s strategic priorities and evolving sustainability requirements.