Doha: The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) and Dhofar University in the Sultanate of Oman on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on advancing green building knowledge and best practices within the Sultanate of Oman.

According to Qatar News Agency, the MoU was signed by GORD Chairman, Dr. Yousef bin Mohamed Alhorr and President of Dhofar University, Professor Amer bin Ali Al Rawas, on the margin of an event titled "REWAA Dhofar: Sustainable Development in Oman".

In a statement, Dr. Alhorr said that this MoU sets the stage for integrating GORD's Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) into the university's engineering curriculum, fostering education and capacity building on green building practices among students and professionals in Oman.

For his part, the President of Dhofar University commented: "Academia has a profound responsibility to prepare the next generation of talent for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. To achieve this, it's critical that we, as educators, stay at the forefront of the latest and best standards, particularly in areas critical to our future, such as sustainable development and climate resilience." As part of the MoU, GORD will provide training and professional certification programs for Dhofar University faculty members, enabling them to become licensed GSAS trainers. This will equip them with the expertise to deliver GSAS training and education to students and professionals in Oman, effectively expanding the reach of GSAS knowledge, and preparing the students for careers mindful of sustainable development and green building practices.