Heliopolis University Office of Sponsored Programs

✨ Wishing you a Ramadan full of mercy, forgiveness, and light.✨

✨The Office of Sponsored Programs at Heliopolis University is pleased to announce the publication of a research paper in the Journal of Sustainability Perspectives entitled:
"A Model for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development in Egypt"
💡The study addresses the gap in understanding how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are integrated into higher education, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region.
🌟Focusing on Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development , Egypt, established in 2012 and aligned with SEKEM and its Sekem Vision Goals (SVGs), the research examines SDGs across education, research, governance, and community engagement. Using content analysis of curricula and journal publications, complemented by a UNESCWA survey assessing faculty and student perceptions, the study highlights HUSD’s holistic approach, community-building efforts, and climate-conscious projects.
The findings offer valuable insights for higher education institutions, particularly in the Global South, seeking to embed sustainability into their structures and enhance their global contributions.🌱
👉 Read the full research paper via the link below : https://linktr.ee/hu.osp

The second day of the 2nd RSD Forum continued advancing sustainability under the theme “Weaving the Threads” at Heliopolis University. 🌱

👉 The day opened with a panel discussion entitled “The Power of Media & Cinema in Driving Change” Different opinions across the arts committee on art's contribution to the social progress of the country and the region discuss how they chose to present stories that pose a social challenge and make people empathize with important issues.

🌟 On the second forum day, SEKEM ambassadors joined workshops and seminars.

🟢 Panel (Plant) Title: Higher Education for Sustainable Development
Heliopolis University’s Education for Sustainable Development Center (ESDC) presented initiatives on integrating sustainability into higher education programs.
🟡 Panel (Prosperity)Title: “Economy of Love as a Standard for Holistic Sustainable Development”
The session discussed innovative economic models for holistic sustainability, with participation from EBDA, Economy of Love, and CFC.

🔴 Panel (People) Title: Zero Displacement, Zero Hunger
The Rural Development Center RDC highlighted impactful projects that enhance food security and community resilience, demonstrating approaches to reaching and supporting rural underserved communities.

🟢 Panel (Plant) Title: Green Economy and Environmental Innovation
The panel discussed the green economy and environmental innovation, with the participation of several specialists, including a faculty member from the Faculty of Engineering at Heliopolis University. The session highlighted projects focused on developing sustainable technologies and delivering innovative green solutions.

🔴 Workshop (People) Title : Healthy Habits at Work: Ergonomic Safety and Practical Nutrition Tips
The Integrative Health Center IHC led a workshop offering practical nutrition and wellness advice to improve healthy routines in the workplace, along with simple exercise practices.

💡 In conclusion, the forum highlighted SDGs through practical strategies in education, economy, environment, and health, fostering knowledge exchange and partnerships.

✨ Heliopolis University hosted the 2nd Regional Sustainable Development Forum (RSD) ✨

Gathering changemakers from Egypt, the region, and the international development community, the forum was held under the theme “Weaving the Threads”, aiming to build new partnerships and drive sustainable development across various sectors. 🌱

👉 The event created an interactive platform for discussing social responsibility, sustainability, and the interconnected goals shaping development in the region, highlighting the links between the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, as well as the vital role of education and the private sector in supporting sustainable development, with panels structured around four key themes: People, Planet, Prosperity, and Peace & Partnerships.

💡 The forum emphasized the connection between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the importance of promoting sustainable practices regionally Its program included a series of panel discussions and workshops addressing key sustainability related themes.
As one of the main event partners, SEKEM Group, together with Heliopolis University, showcased 50 years of contribution to sustainable development in Egypt.

🌟On the first day, a number of ambassadors from both institutions took part in panel sessions covering the following topics:

🟢 Panel ( Plant ) | Title: Green Egypt: Successful National Projects : During the panel, SEKEM and Heliopolis University shared their experiences and insights on the projects they lead, emphasizing their ongoing efforts to broaden the reach of SEKEM’s sustainability mission .

🔴Workshop (Pepole) |Title: Integrative Health Applications in Rural Areas : With the participation of the Integrative Health Center at Heliopolis University team IHC, the workshop highlighted health awareness initiatives targeting rural areas especially women and showcased impactful projects implemented on the ground.

🤝 The forum also witnessed the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), including a cooperation agreement between Aspire International Consulting and Heliopolis University to enhance collaboration in sustainable development.

🚨 The countdown begins to closing the InnoHub application!
Have you applied yet?

We’re looking for the next sustainable & innovative idea, in those three areas:
✅ Agriculture & Water
✅ Renewable Energy
✅ Environment; including Climate Change

👉🏼 Checkout your eligibility criteria and apply by Thursday 8th January:
https://linktr.ee/innohub.eg

Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development
Heliopolis University Office of Sponsored Programs
HU Entrepreneurship Center for Social Impact

Season’s greetings and best wishes for a bright New Year !✨

🌱 2nd African Organic Research Conference (AFROREC) in Egypt.

As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting organic agriculture & empowering holistic research, Heliopolis University hosted the Second African Organic Research Conference, welcoming diverse attendees from across Africa. The conference witnessed participation from a large number of institutions across Egypt, Africa and the world, including: , SEKEM Group , Organic Egypt, EBDA , Economy of Love , GIZ, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) , AfroNet , IFOAM Organics International, ISOFAR, INOFO, FARA, KHNA, KCOS, Brot für die Welt, and the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) .

The conference aimed to promote cooperation, exchange experiences, and build capacities in organic and agroecological agriculture across the continent.

💡Conference Highlights Across two intensive days included key topics such as:

🔸Research and development in organic food systems.
🔸 Market dynamics and marketing strategies for organic products.
🔸 Education, training, and capacity building.
🔸 Policy frameworks supporting organic and agroecological agriculture.
🔸 A comprehensive summary of organic and agroecological research in Africa was presented.
🔸 The Organic and Agroecological Research Agenda for Africa 2035 (OARAA 2035) was officially launched.

The conference served as an important platform for accelerating the adoption and expansion of organic and agroecological agriculture in Africa.

We had the honor of hosting H.E. Mrs. Angelina Eichhorst, the European Union Ambassador to Egypt at Heliopolis University-HU this week during the EU Projects Day Event.

The event included the welcome remarks from H.E. Mrs. Angelina Eichhorst, along with Mr. Helmy Abouleish, HU Chair of Board of Trustees, and Prof. Dr. Abdelhamid ElZoheiry HU Deputy Chair of Board of Trustees; followed by an overview of the EU funded projects and programs at Heliopolis University & Sekem, by Dr. Ahmed Elshazly, HU Vice President for Community Development & Partnerships.

The highlight of the event was the interactive discussion session between H.E. Mrs. Eichhorst, and Heliopolis University students and staff on the topic of Science for Society, which was moderated by Dr. Ahmed Elshazly & Ms. Laila Ayman, Head of Research & Innovation Support Unit.

After concluding the event at Heliopolis University, we then went for a field visit at Sekem Farm in Sharkia, where H.E. Mrs. Eichhorst visited multiple sites that showed on-ground progress of EU funded projects.

The visit highlights the value of partnerships for the sustainable development of communities, and the impact of Heliopolis University's collaborations with diverse partners and funding bodies from the European Union.

Stay tuned for more coverage of this remarkable visit!

We were honored to receive a visit from H.E. Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt, during the EU Projects Day earlier this week at Heliopolis University.

Stay tuned for more coverage from the visit.

**How night watering changed our desert fields—and our economics 🌙💧🌳

We used the sun to lift water by day and gravity to irrigate at night from a hilltop reservoir—no diesel, no batteries.
Versus day irrigation, night irrigation on wheat, basil, and beans gave 14–20% less water use, 14–20% more yield, and 24–30% less water per kilogram (m³/kg).

We learned and adapted: a clay-sealed reservoir kept leaking; a plastic liner fixed it.
We also created education modules and short films so Heliopolis University students can keep learning on the desert farm and help demonstrate the system.
Awareness continues, and we hope more farms will try this approach.

The ripple effect: Water saved → more trees planted → carbon credits, which can support farm finances and scaling of climate-smart practices.

Want to adopt it?
Contact EBDA – Egyptian Biodynamic Association**.
First in the region. Financed by DEG.