Professor Dr. Mohammad Nurunnabi
Prince Sultan University (PSU) has established comprehensive collaborations with non-governmental organizations to accelerate progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating the institution's commitment to multi-stakeholder partnerships and community engagement for sustainable development.
Strategic Framework for NGO Collaboration
The university has developed a robust framework for NGO engagement that encompasses three critical dimensions of SDG implementation: student volunteering programmes, collaborative research programmes, and development of educational resources. This approach enables PSU students and researchers to participate in local and international forums while fostering partnerships with international researchers focusing on SDG-related challenges.
Student-Led Initiatives Driving Social Impact
YDA Club: Balancing Academic Excellence with Social Responsibility
The Youth Development & Awareness (YDA) Club represents PSU's commitment to holistic student development. As a student-run youth organization, YDA focuses on social and academic improvement, enhancing student life both on and off campus through targeted awareness campaigns emphasizing the importance of maintaining healthy social and academic balance.
The club's mission extends beyond traditional academics, utilizing university facilities strategically to ensure students graduate not only with degrees but with beneficial lifetime experiences. YDA's programmes strengthen students' learning profiles while fostering social consciousness and civic engagement aligned with SDG objectives.
Namaa Club: Community Development Through Creative Engagement
Founded by Prince Sultan University students in 2016, Namaa Club emerged following the success of its flagship initiative, "Art is Generosity." The social development club continues to provide the community with experiences that develop and elevate societal well-being, demonstrating how student-led organizations can serve as catalysts for sustainable development.
Namaa's programmes exemplify the integration of creativity, social responsibility, and community engagement in advancing SDG targets at the grassroots level.
COVID-19 Response: Demonstrating Social Responsibility
In response to the global pandemic, PSU's Center for Sustainability, Climate, and Environmental Consulting (CSCEC) launched a significant community protection initiative. Recognizing the Ministry of Health's efforts in combating COVID-19, CSCEC coordinated the donation of 32,600 protective masks to densely populated labor areas in Riyadh.
This intervention demonstrated PSU's commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and supporting public health objectives, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and reinforcing the university's social responsibility mandate.
International Research Collaboration
PSU researchers actively collaborate with international research partners on SDG-focused investigations, contributing to the global knowledge base on sustainable development challenges. These partnerships enable knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the development of evidence-based solutions applicable across diverse contexts.
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Global Goals
Through these multi-dimensional collaborations, Prince Sultan University exemplifies SDG 17's emphasis on partnerships for the goals, recognizing that achieving the 2030 Agenda requires coordinated action across academic institutions, civil society organizations, government entities, and international partners.
The university's comprehensive NGO collaboration framework aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and reinforces PSU's role as a catalyst for sustainable development in the Kingdom and beyond.
For comprehensive information on PSU's NGO partnerships and SDG initiatives, visit: https://www.psu.edu.sa/en/sdg-17-collaboration-with-NGOs-for-SDGs