Education – �鶹��Ƶ

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

⸻

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.

Community Vision and Academic Collaboration in El Paso, Texas

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:09 +0000

The partnership was initiated by the El Paso Community partners. After conducting a needs assessment that included findings that there were few registered Hispanic architects in El Paso, El Paso American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chapter and community partners approached universities for collaboration. Dr. Valerie Paton represented Texas Tech’s Provost’s Office in early articulation agreements and opening of the 2+2 program in 2007 and began conducting research on successful transfer pathways for Hispanic students, engaging six College of Education doctoral students in the research and publication and presentation of the findings. From inception, the partnership honored reciprocity and mutuality with the community partners sharing their vision and Tech responding. Together, the partners co-created new curriculum, student support, mentoring, internship, and student-led community engagement activities. Together, the partners wrote a collaborative grant application.

STEM Explorers Program

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:07 +0000

The STEM Explorers program started in Lubbock during the spring semester of 2019 at a disciplinary alternative education program within Lubbock ISD with six students as a STEM/robotics education and behavior intervention and has grown to include six sites in the spring of 2022. It explicitly incorporates social and emotional learning and cognitive behavioral techniques and strategies to support students beyond the STEM content. There has been marked improvements in student behavior, attitudes toward school, academic achievement, and future interest in both STEM and education. The program also provides undergraduate students (many studying to become teachers themselves) with an opportunity not found in many courses. The STEM Explorers Program was presented by Daniel Kelly, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction, TTU College of Education.

Winner of the 2022 President’s Engaged Scholarship Award for Excellence in Engaged Teaching

Lubbock Children’s Literature and Film Festival

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:07 +0000

The Lubbock Children’s Literature and Film Festival (LCLFF) is a community-oriented celebration of children’s literature and film that intends to contribute to local and regional youth-based arts programming and raise awareness of reading and viewing as family-centered events. Their goal is to bring families from Lubbock and across the South Plains together to promote children’s literature and film as opportunities for learning, building family bonds, and forging community ties. Leveraging the power of literature and cinema to foster the imagination and build groups of shared interest, LCLFF champions authors and filmmakers that expose the families of Lubbock to innovative and international forms of cultural expression, experienced collectively in a social setting.

The LCLFF strengthens existing relationships we, as Texas Tech faculty, have with several community resources, including LHUCA (Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts) and KTTZ (Texas Tech Public Media). LHUCA, in particular, contributes their Icehouse Theater space to the event as a form of community partnership and co-sponsor, rather than charging the regular rental fee. LHUCA is excited to begin a mutually beneficial relationship, working as a partner to benefit the community by supporting much-needed children’s programming in Lubbock.

Texas Education Policy Fellowship Program

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:06 +0000

Three TTU faculty members, Drs. Rebecca Hite, Jessica Gottlieb, and Jon McNaughtan, over three years have designed and implemented a nine-month in-depth community-engaged service program that recruits and professionally develops cohorts of mid-level leaders from across the state of Texas. The mission of the EPFP nationally and here at the Texas site is to expand participants’ knowledge of education policy, develop fellows’ situated skills in advocacy-based leadership, and help them cultivate new networks and connections among policy scholars, equity experts, and community leaders in education. Upon graduation, fellows are equipped, empowered, and engaged in improving problems of policy and practice in P-20 Texan education and beyond.

Winner of the 2022 President’s Exemplary Engaged Scholarship Program Award

Community Partner: Mid-Level P-20 Texas Educators

Mental Health Screening and Prevention Within Elementary Schools

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:06 +0000

Dr. John Cooley, a clinical child psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences began this project to address the mental health needs of children. He discusses the mental health issues facing the community’s youth, the creation and findings of a comprehensive, evidence-based child and teaching assessment, and how the project directly focuses [...]

Protected: Informative Signage Along Proposed Linear Park Trail

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:58 +0000

Raiders Who Code Summer Camp

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:08 +0000

Raiders Who Code is a summer camp offered by Texas Tech University that aims to increase the interest in coding and programming for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who qualify as low socio-economic, have a learning disability, or are foster care youth. The primary goal of the the camp is to provide hands-on experiences that are both challenging and innovative. These experiences will enhance student’s problem solving and analytical skills, while simultaneously fostering an overall interest in STEM-related careers.
Texas Tech University was awarded a $64,390 grant by the Texas Workforce Commission(TWC) for Raiders Who Code to focus on increasing middle schoolers’ interest in coding and computer science. “The growing demand for high-skilled technical workers means Texas must continue to attract more students into STEM fields,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel, a TTU alumnus. “Through programs like Camp Code, TWC remains committed to building a diverse workforce with the foundation in STEM necessary to keep our world-class economy growing.”

Recreation: Programming for a Community Garden

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:37:48 +0000

The Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization’s (MWMO) education and outreach program seeks to “provide information, services and products to promote responsible stewardship of water and natural resources by the watershed community.” As part of this goal, MWMO would like to develop curriculum units for stormwater management best management practices (BMPs) that can be shared with both formal and informal educators. Currently, MWMO shares general resources with educators (e.g., resources from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or the U.S. Geological Survey), but MWMO does not have the capacity to develop curriculum units for specific BMPs in their watershed.

Students in Engineering in the P-12 Classroom will be invited to develop engineering design curriculum units for BMPs in MWMO’s watershed boundaries. Curriculum resources tailored to stormwater management BMPs that are installed on sites within MWMO’s boundaries may increase and facilitate educators’ and the public’s engagement with these sites and practices. Curriculum units that educators can use at specific sites in the watershed would also support the goal of place-based education.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Sustainable Communities Partnership Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
Debbie Monson
Education

mons4647@stthomas.edu
6519624443

Local Government / Community Contact
Michele Ross

Program Specialist