Projects on sustainability continue at CIU
At the informative meeting held at Cyprus International University (CIU), information was given about the sustainability efforts implemented at the university, which is ranked 69th in the world in the UI GreenMetric World university rankings.
After the opening speech delivered by CIU Rector Prof.Dr. Halil Nadiri at the meeting held in the conference hall of CIU Çevik Uraz Center, Prof. Dr. Serkan Abbasoğlu, Advisor to the CIU Board of Trustees and who is also in charge of the Sustainable Campus Center, talked about the sustainability projects they initiated.
Rector Nadiri, who was invited to the podium first to deliver his opening speech, pointed out that CIU's commitment to the environment, both on campus and globally, is well known and said, “This passion is clearly seen in our work, teaching and research activities. Promoting sustainability is a way of life on our campus.”
Nadiri said that as a result of the work as stated in CIU’s vision and carried out by all concerned, they are proud to be ranked 69th among 1183 universities in 2023 in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, and underlined that this result is an indicator of a remarkable leap forward.
In his statement at the meeting, Abbasoğlu said that sustainability studies at CIU started in 2009, and that they carried out the studies under 6 headings with the participation of students and staff, and that the Sustainable Campus Center, established in 2018, has been serving as the office where these studies have been coordinated.
Stating that separate studies have been carried out for each title, Abbasoğlu said that many projects have been carried out in the last 6 years to increase green areas and physical activities, and in the last two years, with the initiation of the "Sustainability Forest" and the “Garden”, students have been growing vegetables and opportunities for people with special needs have also been provided. He said that these were works carried out under the title "Infrastructure”.
Abbasoğlu stated that within the framework of "Waste Management", they aim to first reduce consumption and then utilize the waste produced. He explained that many processes are now done by software and thus they have reduced the use of paper; the use of plastic bottles has been completely reduced, especially in the Rectorate and cafeterias, and the organic waste from the cafeterias is collected and given to shelters. The remaining paper, cardboard, wood, and other waste items are transformed into usable products by students at the "Sustainability Workshop".
Abbasoğlu said that within the scope of "Transportation", work has been carried out to provide free bus services, to install electric charging stations, to provide electric bicycles for the personnel and to encourage car-pooling activities. As per title "Water Management", 100% of the water used has been purified and used for garden irrigation, plus free water fountains and water-saving devices have been provided.
Abbasoğlu reminded that within the scope of the title "Education and Research", they cooperate with municipalities and private companies as well as sustainability workshops, seminar and conference organizers, and said that according to the other important title, "Energy", similar to "Waste management", first they reduce the use and then meet the need to obtain energy from renewable energy sources.
Since it has been their objective to primarily implement energy efficiency practices, Abbasoğlu said that CIU is the first campus on the island that converts solar energy into electrical energy, and that they currently meet 30% of the need through clean energy sources. By the end of 2025, they are aiming to become a “net-zero carbon university” since they will reach the level of meeting all their needs with clean energy sources.
Noting that because of these works they have been carrying out, CIU has achieved great success in the UI GreenMetric World University rankings. Abbasoğlu concluded by saying that CIU is ranked 69th in the world, 30th in Europe, 3rd in Turkey and 1st on the island of Cyprus (North and South).