Inter College Environmental Public Speaking Competition 2020

• To build the capacity of university students in sustainability issues • To develop their public speaking skills • To serve as a platform for the future generations to express their concern over the fragile environment • To find ways to preserve and protect the environment • To build the confidence and personality of the undergraduate community • To provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring and enabling young people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations • To recognise the contribution made by the youth and distinguish themselves in the field of environmental protection • To allow the students to improve and practice their oratorical skills, networking and research abilities. • To enable the undergraduate community to identify and practice research ethics and responsible conduct in research • To develop youth’s responsibility towards sustainability from an early age • To discuss and debate issues related to sustainability and environmental action • To further enhance youth’s environmental awareness, knowledge building and produce recommendations and suggests solutions to critical sustainability challenges. • To enable the youth to develop a stronger understanding of the need to preserve and protect the natural resources and adapt sustainable practices for a better environment and a secure future • To work collaboratively with other students, using listening and communication skills • To enable the students to reflect on their own research, identifying lessons learned, strengths, and ways to improve • To provide students the platform to explain their research to others in the field and to broader audiences through research presentations • To facilitate multidisciplinary research excellence Every year, undergraduate students from the GCC, the Levant and North Africa conduct extensive research and develop case studies to firmly voice their viewpoints on a set of environmental concerns to prominent judges and an enthusiastic audience. This Competition also prioritises one of the key national priorities of UAE’s 2021 Vision of ‘First-Rate Education System’, which is a fundamental element for the development of a nation and the best investment in its youth. Building awareness and skills in today’s youth on critical issues also prepares them to be strong leaders and policymakers of the future. Since its inception in 2001, the Inter College Environmental Public Speaking Competition (ICEPSC) has grown from strength to strength. In 2006, the platform was opened to the entire GCC region. In 2012, a national competition was extended to the neighbouring country - the Sultanate of Oman - as a result of an MOU signed with a sister NGO there. In 2014, the Competition opened its doors for students from the wider Arab Region. In 2019, EEG extended the support to roll out a national campaign in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In 2020, a hybrid version of the Competition was rolled out to deal with COVID-19 Pandemic. It provided the students from out of the UAE an opportunity to present virtually. There were 40 teams with 180 students from across the MENA region. In the upcoming year, we would like to: 1. Find networks and partners that can connect us to colleges and universities in the Middle East to promote the Competition amongst the youth 2. Invite environment and sustainability experts from different Arab countries to join the competition as judges and mentors 3. Find sponsors and like-minded partners who can sponsor teams from different Arab states to be able to come and participate in the Competition 4. Invite NGOs and partners to roll out national Competitions to the students in their respective countries