Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has launched a nationwide university outreach programme to encourage Emirati students to engage in environmental, social, economic and cultural programmes as part of the Emirates sustainability iconic vision 2030.
During the first outreach programme initiative, the UniverCity Outreach Programme, senior planners and executives from the UPC presented the vision 2030 development programme to students across different education disciplines; its impact on the Emirate's urban environment and lifestyle; economic and community building opportunities that it presents for the next generation, and a glimpse of the modern and sustainable capital city that is currently being developed.
Speaking about the initiative to Gulf News, Yousuf Al Junaibi, Human Resource Manager at the UPC said: "The UniverCity Outreach Programme is an ongoing initiative that will encompass key universities across the UAE with an objective to engage with the next generation including Emiratis and residents."
Key component
"Consultation with communities for all development programmes has been a key component of Abu Dhabi's heritage, and hence the UPC has in the form of its charrette programmes, traditionally been encouraging the involvement of the respective communities at various stages of its development programmes. Several charrette sessions were recently organised by the UPC in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region."
Apart from organising charrette programmes for consulting with the communities, the UPC has also engaged with Abu Dhabi's future generation by participating at key industry platforms such as Tawdheef and Najah career events, along with the organisation of urban development oriented competitions amongst key educational institutions in the country.
Inspire involvement
"These engagements aim to inspire and increase citizens' involvements by identifying the key motivations that will drive people to interact with Abu Dhabi's sustainable vision 2030 initiative, which is aimed at improving community, environment, social, economic and cultural responsibility, as their inputs are incorporated into the final development plan," Al Junaibi told Gulf News.
In addition, the council has been promoting sustainable education opportunities for students across the Emirate in association with other key Government entities in Abu Dhabi, in efforts to incorporate the community in the UPC's final development plan to help create a sustainable environment.