The University of Sharjah Public Speaking Team, the over-all ‘21st Inter-College Environmental Public Speaking Competition’ over-all winner.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Besting 73 teams with over 440 student participants from 10 countries, the University of Sharjah (UoS) successfully regained the coveted “rolling trophy” from the Nov. 23 and 24 “21st Inter-College Environmental Public Speaking Competition” organised by the non-government organisation Emirates Environmental Group (EEG).

Under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Education, the competition conducted in both Arabic and English, was first held in 2001 and since then, the “rolling trophy” exchanged hands with the UoS students bringing it home for the first time in 2019.

The 2021 edition was conducted both in-person and virtually from the Dubai Knowledge Park. Other countries represented were Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Czech Republic.

Based on the criteria which revolve around research and evidence, environmental impact and solutions, clarity of speech and originality of the idea, the UoS environmental public speakers were given the maximum and highest points on the topics of “Sustainable Living: A Path for a Greener Future?,” Environment and Education: Need for Change,” “Balancing the Three Pillars of Sustainability in a Post-Pandemic World,” and “Integrating Environment & Technology: A Solution to Sustainability?”

As a norm, the topics were chosen from among the suggestions of students who are continually encouraged by EEG to reach out to them for whatever issues and concerns they want tackled.

As the UoS environmental public speakers were adjudged the over-all champion as well as the winner for the “Balancing the Three Pillars of Sustainability in a Post-Pandemic World,” their counterparts from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Dubai, UAE), New York University (Abu Dhabi, UAE), and Princess Nora Bint AbdulRahman University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) took home the bacon on “Sustainable Living: A Path for a Green Future?,” “Environment and Education: Need for Change,” and “Integrating Environment & Technology: A Solution to Sustainability?,” respectively.

The jury was composed of Rashed Karkain Research & Training Institute founder/Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University associate/Canadian University of Dubai and Zayed University lecturer Dr. Rashed Karkain; DP World-Renewable Energy and Environment Projects manager Hana Dalmar; Royal Danish Consulate General (Dubai) senior advisor Majd Naim Fayyad; and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-Sustainability senior specialist Zeina AlHashmi.