08 Decent Work and Economic Growth – �鶹��Ƶ

Bioadaptation Project for the Ecosystems of the Valle de las Palmas River Basin – Tijuana (community intervention)

Ada Inman — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:29:49 +0000

Teachers and students from FCITEC coordinated their courses around a project focused on community activity in Valle de las Palmas (municipality of Tecate, Baja California). This section of the project analyzes the legal, hydrological, resource management, and project administration aspects of construction waste management the Valle de las Palmas area, considering its impact on the local population and how to improve public health in the town.

Students and teachers from five educational programs participated on this project (Civil Engineering; Bioengineering; Software Engineering and Emerging Technologies; Industrial Engineering; and a Master’s in Public Health program). Field visits were conducted in the town and along the Valle de las Palmas stream, and in this first phase, community-based initiatives were implemented towards a public school.

The project is linked to an external organization called the Mexican Association for Recycling Construction and Demolition Waste (Asociación Mexicana de Reciclaje de Residuos de Construcción y Demolición A.C.) and aims to analyze local legislation and incorporate sustainable practices to reduce the environmental impact in the area.

On December 9th, a progress presentation was made before members of the community and local government, and work will continue during the 2026-1 semester (January-May).

Bioadaptation of ecosystems in the Valle de las Palmas-Tijuana river basin. Recycling of construction waste and glass

Ada Inman — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:28:05 +0000

Teachers and students from FCITEC coordinated their courses around a project involving the community of Valle de las Palmas (municipality of Tecate, Baja California). The project seeks to evaluate the use of materials recovered from construction waste and glass in order to promote sustainable construction practices and mitigate the community’s vulnerability to soil, aquifer, and air pollution, as well as the risk of flooding inherent in the extraction of natural resources in the Valle de las Palmas area.
Students and professors from five courses in the Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering programs participated. Field visits were conducted in the town of Valle de las Palmas, and in this first phase, actions were implemented at a local school.
The project is linked to an external entity called the Border Environmental Education Project (Proyecto Fronterizo de Educación Ambiental, A.C) and aims to incorporate sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and promote the use of materials derived from construction waste in the area.

On December 9th, a progress presentation was made before members of the community and local government, and works will continue during the 2026-1 semester (January-May).

Badilisha Digital Resource Centers: School-Community Affiliate Hubs for Resilience

Ada Inman — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:21:52 +0000

The Vision:

The Badilisha Digital Resource Centers (DRC) project is a school-community affiliate initiative that transforms educational institutions into hubs for regional digital resilience. By leveraging professional-grade telecommunications infrastructure, we create a “Digital Commons” where university innovation directly fuels community economic growth.

Partners & University Assets:

Building on my foundation as an alumnus of Uganda Christian University, we collaborate with local institutions such as the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University and Dar Salaam University in Tanzania(IYF Partnered in April 2025). We utilize university assets—specifically ICT faculty and student researchers—to provide technical oversight and data-driven management for our community networks. This academic rigor is reinforced by my professional background as a Telecom Engineer for Safaricom and Zuku, ensuring all installations meet industrial standards.

Community Need & Proven Impact:

Many youth-led enterprises in our region struggle with the “last mile” of digital access. We have already addressed this by successfully installing managed internet services at Green Palm Secondary School and St. Claret Primary School. These sites serve as real-world proof that school-based digital hubs can effectively provide the connectivity required for local business incubation and student success.

Work Plan & Reinvestment Model:

During this partnership, we will:

Deploy Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) Access Point Repeaters to extend university connectivity into surrounding neighborhoods.
Implement a Social Revenue-Sharing Model where a percentage of service fees is reinvested into the hub for long-term maintenance and student innovation stipends.
Develop our 3.5-acre flagship site in Utange into a regional center for digital business continuity and an international franchise training ground.

The National City Earthquake Safety & Outreach Initiative

Ada Inman — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:41:12 +0000

This report contains a series of policy proposals developed by San Diego State University (SDSU) students, in collaboration with National City officials and the SDSU Sage Project, to increase the use of existing earthquake preparedness resources among National City residents. The primary focus of student research was the California Earthquake Brace + Bolt program and encouraging homeowners to engage in seismic retrofitting. Additionally, students developed policy recommendations aimed at increasing general earthquake safety, awareness, and education. Being located in Southern California, earthquake preparedness
is a topic the SDSU community is very familiar with and many students were able to use this as an opportunity to draw upon prior knowledge in their research.
Students worked to create policy suggestions specific to National City, based on methods proven effective in similar municipalities, by researching how the area’s demographics may impact the use of community resources. National City is a heavily Hispanic city, with a large population that does not speak English as a first language. As such, many of the policies in this report focus on bridging that gap in communication and establishing trust between community members and those with access to earthquake preparedness resources. Another major trend among policies developed by students was a focus on finding creative ways to lower the economic burden on residents interested in seismic retrofitting. This led to the creation of several innovative proposals focused on helping residents pay for seismic retrofitting, primarily where other government programs would not suffice. These policies may be more difficult to implement than direct outreach, but they represent an alternate approach the city could take to encourage seismic retrofitting.
The policies presented in this report were chosen for their adaptability as part of a larger earthquake awareness initiative, as well as their ability to function independently. As stressed by National City officials, the city budget does not have any extra funding for extensive earthquake preparedness programs. The purpose behind choosing policies which can operate independently is to work around these constraints and offer solutions that may be more budget-friendly. These policies are categorized based upon the type of actor affected: resident, government group, or external organization.

Mixed-Methods Tools for Program Co-Design, Iteration, and Assessment for a Guaranteed Income Program

Ada Inman — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:57:28 +0000

This report is a result of the collaborative partnership between the Black Women’s Resilience Project (BWRP) and the Sage Project at San Diego State University (SDSU). The BWRP, a project sponsored by Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFSSD), is a guaranteed income (GI) program intended to uplift low-income Black women and their families out of poverty by targeting the challenges they face. Research contained in this report was conducted as part of Dr. Kristen Maher’s Fall 2024 Political Science Seminar in Foundations of Public Policy (POL S 603) class at SDSU. The POL S 603 course focused on the theory and practice of policy-making, which comprises the design, agenda setting, tools, and implementation process. Students who opted to participate were tasked with exploring, researching and evaluating methods for tracking the project’s impact. The aim was gathering participant experiences and assessing the effects of the project. This report provides an overview of mixed-methods research and assessment approaches through a Participatory Action Research (PAR) framework, including a discussion of the affordances and constraints of narrative research, Photovoice, and community mapping methods.

Strategic Visioning for Scalable Workforce Program Alignment

Ada Inman — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:06:05 +0000

The City of Tempe is a forward-looking community dedicated to building a resilient and inclusive economy that meets the needs of its residents and regional partners. With a strong focus on workforce development, the City is evaluating how to better align its programs with evolving industry demands and long-term labor market trends. As part of this effort, students from the School of Public Affairs will analyze current workforce programs, identify gaps, and assess opportunities for strategic growth and improved industry partnerships. The project will result in two key deliverables: an internal report with labor market analysis and stakeholder input, and a strategic roadmap outlining scalable program enhancements for the next 3–5 years.

Exploring Tax Increment Financing Strategies for the City of Tempe

Ada Inman — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:02:12 +0000

The City of Tempe is a dynamic and innovative community located in the heart of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Home to more than 190,000 residents and the Arizona State University Tempe Campus, the City is committed to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking policies that enhance quality of life for all. As part of these efforts, the City is exploring the potential of tax increment financing (TIF) as a tool to support targeted redevelopment and economic growth. Students from the School of Public Affairs will research the structure, benefits, and challenges of TIF implementation in comparable cities, engage with key stakeholders and city staff, and produce two deliverables: an internal report with literature review and case analysis, and a persuasive policy brief outlining a proposed TIF model suited to Tempe’s needs.

Incorporating Young Perspectives into Planning Tempe’s Future

Ada Inman — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:49:47 +0000

The City of Tempe is a vibrant and forward-thinking community at the heart of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Home to more than 190,000 residents and the Arizona State University Tempe Campus, the City is committed to promoting long-term livability, economic vitality, and equitable access to opportunities for all generations. In response to shifting demographics and the evolving needs of its younger population, Tempe is proactively working to engage youth in shaping the city’s future. As part of this effort, the City is partnering with students from The Design School to explore strategies for retaining and empowering young residents in civic life. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will examine key social, economic, and sustainability factors that influence youth engagement and long-term community connection. Through collaboration with Tempe leaders, residents, and youth, students will develop future scenarios to inform city planning and support decision-making that anticipates the needs of upcoming generations.

Aging In Place: A Strategy for Updating the General Plan

Ada Inman — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:26:22 +0000

The City of Tolleson, located in the West Valley of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, is committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and affordable community for its more than 7,000 residents and thousands of daily commuter and industry visitors. As the City has reached 90% build-out, and simultaneously the General Plan 2024 has reached its maturity, Tolleson staff and leadership are interested in exploring new opportunities to plan for Tolleson to continue to be a thriving community for people of all ages. To advance these efforts, a team of Master of Urban and Environmental Planning (MUEP) Planning Workshop students will collaborate with the City of Tolleson staff, leadership, and community members through the ASU Project Cities program to explore best practices to plan for aging in place to inform a supplemental General Plan chapter focused on implementing recommended strategies throughout the City now and into the future.

Green Technology and Sustainable Education Conference

Ada Inman — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:35:45 +0000

The Green Technology & Sustainable Education Conference at Ajou University Tashkent (AUT), chaired by Professor Dr Che Zalina Zulkifli, is a major regional platform to accelerate green innovation, green university transformation, and sustainable education across Uzbekistan. The conference follows the �鶹��Ƶ Model by connecting university expertise with local environmental authorities, industry partners, and communities to address real, measurable sustainability needs.

Uzbekistan is strengthening its national commitment to environmental protection, green infrastructure, sustainable land use, and climate-resilient education.

AUT aims to serve as a regional driver for sustainable technology and green education. Through Prof Zalina’s leadership, the conference brought together academia, government, community groups, and industries to co-design solutions aligned with �鶹��Ƶ principles of:

community impact
long-term partnerships
scalable solutions
real-world implementation

The conference was designed to:

Accelerate Green University transformation
Strengthen capacity in green technologies, IoT, and smart systems
Support environmental education and sustainability literacy
Enhance university–community partnerships
Link AUT to global and ASEAN networks working on sustainability

The conference was honoured by major international and national keynote leaders:

His Excellency Ilham Tuah

Ambassador of Malaysia to Uzbekistan
Delivered an inspiring keynote on Malaysia–Uzbekistan cooperation in sustainable development, education diplomacy, and future green partnerships.

WWF-Malaysia

Representatives shared insights on:

climate resilience
biodiversity conservation
community-driven environmental solutions
green innovation partnership models

Their presence strengthened international environmental collaboration with Uzbekistan.

MARDI (Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute)

Provided expert perspectives on:

smart agriculture
land sustainability
innovative farming technologies
research opportunities for Uzbekistan–Malaysia collaboration

These keynote contributions elevated the scientific, diplomatic, and technical depth of the conference.

Key Components of the Conference

5.1 Academic & Technical Sessions

Smart environmental monitoring technology
IoT and AI for sustainability
Green campus and green metrics
Smart agriculture & land management
Circular economy and eco-innovation
Environmental education models

5.2 Local Environmental Authorities & Community Partners

Local environmental protection departments
Municipal green development offices
NGOs and eco-community organisations
Youth and student sustainability groups

5.3 Industry & Innovation Partners

Green technology companies showcased:
renewable solutions
low-cost environmental sensors
smart farming tools
waste-to-resource technologies

Role of Professor Dr Che Zalina Zulkifli

As Director of ICGTSS AUT and Conference Chairperson

Developed the conference theme, structure, and academic direction
Coordinated international speakers and keynote leaders
Strengthened partnerships with environmental authorities and industry
Integrated �鶹��Ƶ frameworks into the conference design
Positioned AUT as a Central Asian hub for green technology & smart systems
Ensured high-quality scientific, educational, and community outcomes

�鶹��Ƶ Alignment

Strengthened AUT’s status as a regional leader in green technology
New pathways for international collaboration with Malaysia (government, WWF, MARDI)
Enhanced academic capacity in sustainability and smart systems
Empowered student and faculty contributions to local environmental challenges
Increased opportunities for �鶹��Ƶ aligned future projects across Uzbekistan

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Future Directions

Annual continuation of the AUT Green Conference
Establishment of AUT as a Central Asia �鶹��Ƶ Demonstration Campus
Joint training programs with WWF-Malaysia and MARDI
University–local authority collaboration on green city initiatives
Applied research and community projects on land, water, and biodiversity

This conference reflects the outstanding leadership of
Professor Dr Che Zalina Zulkifli,
whose international work continues to advance green technology, sustainable education, and community-driven innovation across Malaysia, Uzbekistan, ASEAN, and the global �鶹��Ƶ network.