Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. In the context of Dubai, a rapidly growing and diversifying city, addressing food security and hunger is a critical aspect of achieving sustainable development.
Food Security in Dubai:
Dubai faces unique challenges when it comes to food security due to its arid climate and limited agricultural resources. However, the Dubai government has implemented innovative strategies to ensure a consistent and sustainable food supply. This includes investments in technology, vertical farming, and strategic partnerships for food imports.
Canadian University Dubai’s Role:
The Canadian University Dubai (CUD) recognizes the importance of contributing to SDG 2 both within its campus and in the wider community. Here’s how CUD is addressing hunger and promoting food security:
Campus Initiatives:
Food Donation Programs: CUD may run food donation and surplus food redistribution programs on campus. Excess food from university cafeterias or events can be redirected to local charities, reducing food waste and helping those in need.
Student-Led Initiatives: Student organizations and clubs at CUD may organize food drives and events to raise awareness about hunger-related issues and collect food donations for local food banks.
Sustainable Agriculture: CUD may explore sustainable agriculture initiatives within its campus, such as rooftop gardens or hydroponics. These projects not only contribute to food production but also serve as educational tools for students.
Community Engagement:
Research and Advocacy: CUD’s faculty and researchers may engage in studies related to food security and sustainable agriculture. Their research can help inform policies and practices aimed at improving food access and reducing hunger in the wider Dubai community.
Community Partnerships: CUD may collaborate with local organizations, governmental bodies, and non-profits working on hunger and food security initiatives. These partnerships enable joint efforts to tackle food-related challenges more effectively.
Educational Programs: CUD may offer workshops, seminars, and courses related to food security, sustainable agriculture, and nutrition. These educational opportunities not only benefit students but also extend to the broader community.
In conclusion, achieving SDG 2 in Dubai requires a concerted effort from various stakeholders, including educational institutions like the Canadian University Dubai. CUD plays a crucial role in addressing hunger and promoting food security through campus initiatives, research, advocacy, and community engagement. By raising awareness, contributing to research, and actively participating in food-related projects, CUD contributes to Dubai’s journey toward ensuring that no one goes hungry and that sustainable agricultural practices are prioritized for the well-being of the community and future generations.
Cafeterias
Our campus has inhouse cafeterias serving a wide range of cuisines. The cafeteria areas provide a coeducational, multicultural, multinational, and social environment. They are the main gathering place for students between classes and during their free time where they can enjoy free wireless internet. In addition, the students can always use one of the many vending machines located throughout the campus.
Canadian University Dubai Students Present at GITEX | DWTC | 10-14 October 2022
Canadian University Dubai (CUD) are proud of esteemed Computer Science students Mr. Zahab Khan, Mr Prateek Mishra, Mr. Denver Dias who showcased their metamorphic project at the ‘Future Disruptors Zone’ at GITEX, Dubai World Trade Centre during October 2022.
“This initiative has helped us to discover our strengths and provide solutions to preserve our environment.” Denver Dias, Computer Science Student, CUD.
GITEX 2022, UAE’s annual technology event unveils paramount digital initiatives and projects in the world of technology. Numerous international businesses, from over 170+ countries unify at GITEX – to display several creative and imaginative digital and technological solutions, including metaverse ecosystems and solutions, robotics, future mobility, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, 6G, smart cities, computing, and the data economy. GITEX connects leaders and revolutionary pioneers in the world of technology.
In June 2022, CUD and Software AG collaborated with students from CUD, together with 10 other universities in UAE, to enrol students in a competition called ‘Future Disruptors’. The competition required students to form a small group and to present three innovative projects – with each pioneering project concentrating on an aspect of the ‘United Nation’s Global Sustainability Development Goals’.
“A mass of food waste within the UAE calculates to an astounding net worth over $6 billion each year! Our generation has been gifted with substantial advancements in technology which can be applied to pursue sustainability.” Prateek Mishra, Computer Science Student, CUD.
Mr. Khan, Mr. Mishra, Mr. Dias’s project: ‘Resolving Food Waste While Rewarding You’ – ‘how to reutilize food waste to produce biogases’ was nominated by Software AG to be exhibited and presented at GITEX by CUD’s students. The hypothesis of the project is that food waste is generated and populated from all corners of the earth and the invention of a Digi-Bin would improve sustainability – through minimizing the negative effects of food waste, using the IoT (Internet of Things).
“It is rewarding to find a solution to improve the negative impacts food waste has on our environment.” Zahab Khan, Computer Science Student, CUD.
The Digi-Bin is a unique bin designed to collect an abundance of food waste – intricately connected to Software AG dashboard tools through Smart feature functioning. The smart app records the weight of the food deposited into the Digi-Bin, by simply tapping the device onto the bin’s NFC Tag. It is fitted with multiple sensors, which work alongside the IoT to connect to the internet and user app. The Software AG dashboard tool concisely calculates and instantly displays the food waste data to the user’s mobile app.
Users are rewarded with carbon credits – which can be applied as electricity saving coupons. The Digi-Bin encourages users to actively contribute towards sustainability; and save on electricity bills whilst doing so.
A filled Digi-Bin is transported to a biogas plant to be converted into biofuel – the process is to transform the food waste into renewable electricity which is redirected to the PowerGrid source. The food waste which is not suitable for this process is segregated to produce fertilizers – directed back to feeding the lands of Mother Earth.
“Valuable insights were received from key business players at GITEX. This has enabled us to develop our project further.” Denver Dias, Computer Science Student, CUD.
GITEX highlights futuristically applicable technologies and projects, accentuating innovative technology inventions and solutions – which in this case is redirected to promote sustainability. The exhibit fuels the evolution of the digital world – assembling extraordinary and significant global technological players under one roof.
“We thank CUD, Software AG, and GITEX for facilitating the pathways for us to showcase our sustainability-driven project to the world. This global platform has connected us to potential business collaborations, bringing Digi-Bin to life.” Zahab Khan, Computer Science Student, CUD.
EID Mubarak!
Looking back at Iftar Dinner with the CUD community! It was a wonderful celebration of friends, classmates, and staff coming together to enjoy the occasion.
World Humanitarian Day
Today we celebrate #WorldHumanitarianDay with focus on the theme of #ItTakesAVillage 🌎
For 2022, the campaign shines a light on the thousands of volunteers, professionals and crisis-affected people who deliver urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, water and much more.
Spirit of Gratitude iftar at CUD
Our students have embraced the spirit of Ramadan with the distribution of care packages which were gifted to cleaning, maintenance, and security staff across campus to mark the holy month
Organized by student-led philanthropy club CUD Cares.
Alumni Iftar
Canadian University Dubai Alumni Office invites its Alumni Community for the first CUD Alumni Iftar on May 21st, 2019 at the Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road.
This is a great opportunity for our Alumni to reunite with old friends, faculty members and connect with other fellow alumni and expand their professional network!
The event will also highlight recent professional achievements of our alumni around the globe and one award for the ‘CUD Alumnus of the Year’ will also be presented.
CUD Launches New Two-year Program in Food Safety
Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is to launch a new Associate Degree in Food Safety in response to a growing demand for trained professionals in the field.
The two-year program, developed in collaboration with Dubai Municipality, has been accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and is due to admit its first cohort of students in August this year.
The proliferation of the tourism and hospitality sector in the region has created an accelerating demand for skilled food safety practitioners. The new associate degree will help to address this demand by providing students with a practical education in the discipline. The program will emphasize hands-on experience through field visits and a work placement, alongside classroom and lab-based learning.
Dr. Rami El Khatib, Chair of the School of Environment and Health Sciences at CUD, explained, “Food safety is one of today’s major issues in environmental health management and something that affects people the world over.
“With the increasing awareness and expectations among consumers over food safety, and the comprehensive regulations implemented by the UAE Government, our aim in introducing this program is to help meet the growing demand for professionals who have the right knowledge and skills to operate in this specialized field.”
As food safety is a worldwide issue, the program will also be internationally-focused, incorporating global food management systems and standards, such as HACCP and ISO 22000. Graduates of the program can expect to be in demand among government, business and specialist consulting organizations, both in the UAE and beyond.
The new qualification is among a suite of environmentally-focused degree programs offered by CUD’s School of Environment and Health Sciences. On graduation from the Associate Degree in Food Safety, students can also take the opportunity to fast-track through the School’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health Management, offering them the opportunity of progression in two distinct career paths.
CUD Students Impress at Prestigious Food Safety Conference in Dubai
Dubai World Trade Centre: Students in Public Health (Food safety) Department attended the 11th Conference of Food Safety which organized by Dubai Municipality.
Dubai Municipality organized the 11th Dubai International Food Safety Conference with the theme “Predict, Prevent & Protect,” its aim being to focus on timely and trending topics that will address the opportunities and challenges in the emerging technology and data-driven food safety world.
Over the three days of the event, Dubai Municipality explored opportunities and ideas to use Technology Platforms, Artificial Intelligence; Big Data, Data Analytics and Data Science and IoT Devices. The aim was to learn how governments as well as the food industry are using these tools for driving inspections and decision making in food safety, nutrition and other areas of public health.
Over 2000 delegates attended the conference, one of the largest in the world dealing with Food Safety issues.
Different universities in the UAE shared their knowledge and experience in this important event and around 42 of our students participated. Ten of our student presented 5 different projects on various topics based on wet lab analysis in CUD labs. They used true data collected as part of their course work.
Speaking of the event, Dr. Yassen Al Foteih, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Public Health and Health Sciences remarked that the projects presented by CUD were the best in terms of number of students and quality of research when compared with students from other universities in the region.
Our students came away with renewed determination to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to enable them to better meet the food safety challenges we face today.
Speaking on behalf of the Organizing committee, Darin S. Detwiler, Dean of Graduate Studies at Northeastern University said that he was impressed by level of English and the scientific knowledge of our students and marveled at their general performance during their presentations. He said conferences like this were a great platform for students to showcase their talents.
Basics of Food Tourism | Info session
You’re invited to join the Info Session about the Basics of Food Tourism. Learn about this special interest tourism and how we all are consumers of Food Travel.
Refreshments will be served!
Location: Hall C
Time: 12 pm – 5 pm
Environmental Health Students Get Firsthand Experience of Food Safety Systems
Senior students from the School of Public Health & Health Sciences at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have been given a revealing insight into the practices employed to reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses during a recent field visit to Dubai World Trade Centre.
Coordinated by Associate Professors, Dr. Rami El Khatib, in collaboration with instructors from Dubai Municipality, the practicum was organized to give students firsthand experience of Hazard Analysis of Critical Points (HACCP) practices, which monitor food from the time of harvest to the time of consumption.
Led by Mr. Ravi Arul, Manager of Hygiene and Safety at Dubai World Trade Centre, the students met with the event and hospitality services crew and were taken through a tour of the stores, chillers, freezers and kitchens. They then had the opportunity to monitor and evaluate HACCP application using the seven principles of the system, applied within the World Trade Centre hospitality service department.
Speaking about the experience, student, Shanice Da Costa, said, “We were taken through each step of how the food in the kitchens are received, stored, processed, cooked and monitored. The journey was informative, but moreover, it made us realize that handling a kitchen that caters to more than 5,000 people per day is a challenge.
“The most interesting object we came across at the kitchen was an enormous machine that they called the ‘boilers’. The cooks placed multiple ingredients into the boiler, set a recipe on a digital display that controlled the machine, and the machine would whip up a dish for 500 plates. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and one that was unique to our program, letting us see the fun and work that goes into preparing one meal at such a big place.”
Business Students Get a Taste of the Corporate World at Al Rawabi Food
Students from the School of Business Administration at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have witnessed the real-life business operations of a desert farm during a site visit to Al Rawabi Food Corporation, the UAE’s leading integrated dairy and poultry products company.
Led by Chair of the Human Resource Management program, Dr. Rommel Sergio, and Assistant Professors, Dr. Fermin Castillo and Dr. Maria Jade Catalan Opulencia, the field trip aimed to help students from a range of business majors to understand the various aspects involved in the day-to-day functioning of a major corporation.
The students witnessed the structure and organization of the Al Rawabi operations, which encompass more than 1,200 staff members, with plants and farmland covering over 460 hectares, and discovered how the company has used technology to boost its productivity.
Student Shakhnoza Zaitova commented, “The visit was very educational and provided some interesting insights into how businesses can apply innovation to help minimize costs. As a HR student, the most important thing I witnessed was how Al Rawabi is able to motivate all of its employees, regardless of tight schedules and tough work. This motivation is mostly derived from effective compensation plans for each and every employee and having a friendly organizational culture.”
International Business student Ginevra Nencha added, “The visit to Al Rawabi turned out to be something completely unexpected; it was fascinating to see how they have established a fully functional farm in the middle of the desert and become the leaders in the dairy product market. It was also interesting to meet with the employees and to see how the organization itself functions.”
The visit was organized as part of the University’s mission to enhance the curriculum with practical lessons from industry. Dr. Sergio said, “This educational plant visit is the first of its kind in the School of Business Administration. Students got the chance to interact with top brass people in the organization on how they recruit, train, and cope with the demands of the job. Students also roamed around the site to environmentally scan how the business operates. It was such a rewarding experience for students and faculty alike.”
Food Tastes Better with Family – CUD’s First Cook-off Challenge!
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Culinary Boutique Restaurant owned by our own CUD Alumni hosted a cooking competition on campus to advocate healthy eating as part of a long list of activities the University has undertaken during its Wellness Month campaign. Six teams per round competed to create nutritious, low-cost meals to enjoy.
Judges chose one team from each round for a total of four rounds to compete in the final round. All participants were given the same ingredients and were asked to create their own dish with presentation and taste being the winning criteria.
As the 12 participants got down to business, the scent of delicious cooking took over the entirety of Hall-C.
The finalists were brought together to watch Chef Julius Mutaba create an elevated dish that the participants were given the opportunity to re-create. The winners were given 2 tickets to The Color Run UAE, and a free breakfast cooking class.
Congratulations to the winners, Basil Ahmed & Zemri Samy who won by showcasing their cooking talent as a pair.