Second Edition of Program Equips 20 Engineering Systems and Management Undergraduates with Practical Skills to Understand Emissions and Plan Climate Action
A total of 20 undergraduate students from Khalifa University’s Engineering Systems and Management program have earned internationally recognized Carbon Literacy Certificates after completing the second edition of the Carbon Literacy Training and Certification Program.
The program was delivered by the Department of Management Science and Engineering in collaboration with the Khalifa University Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Student Chapter. The training is accredited by the UK-based Carbon Literacy Project, which certifies individuals who complete approved climate education and develop practical commitments to reducing carbon emissions.
Carbon Literacy helps participants understand the carbon costs and effects of everyday activities and gives them the knowledge and motivation to reduce emissions at an individual, community and organizational level. The program was designed to help students connect climate science with the decisions they make in their personal lives, academic work and future careers.
Delivered through four sessions totaling eight hours, the training combined simulations, role-playing exercises, case studies, interactive lectures, group discussions and reflective activities. Students examined the causes and consequences of climate change, evaluated possible solutions and identified opportunities to take meaningful action.
Participants also developed individual and group climate action plans with measurable carbon-reduction targets. This enabled them to move beyond understanding the problem and identify practical steps they could take within the university, their communities and their future workplaces.
During the certificate presentation ceremony, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Qutayri, Associate Provost for Academic Operations, Khalifa University, presented the certificates.
Dr. Adolf Acquaye, organizer of the program and an accredited Carbon Literacy Trainer, said: “Climate literacy is becoming an essential competency for future leaders and professionals. Through this program, students not only gained a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change but also developed the practical skills needed to identify and implement effective solutions. The certification represents an important step in empowering our students to become sustainability champions within their communities and future workplaces.”
Dr. Mecit Emre Simsekler, Acting Chair of the Department of Management Science and Engineering, said: “Lifelong learning is a cornerstone of engineering education and professional development. Programs such as Carbon Literacy Training complement the technical competencies expected of our graduates by strengthening their understanding of sustainability, ethical responsibility and societal impact.”
He added that these competencies align with student outcomes emphasized by ABET, which encourage engineering graduates to recognize their professional responsibilities and make informed decisions that consider environmental, societal and global effects.
Dr. Al-Qutayri also expressed his hope that the Carbon Literacy Training and Certification Program would continue to grow and eventually reach other departments across the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the wider Khalifa University community.
The completion of the second edition reflects Khalifa University’s continuing efforts to integrate sustainability into education and student development. By combining climate knowledge with practical action planning, the program prepares students to consider environmental responsibility alongside the technical, economic and social dimensions of their future work.
