Sustainable AASTMT

Student Sustainability Community

AASTMT

Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Students Sustainability Ambassadors

SSA

Empowering Change, Leading the Future  |  Academic Year 2025/2026

SSA Webpage: https://aast.edu/en/sdg/sda/contenttemp.php?page_id=100690002

Contact: sustainability.admin@aast.edu   |  Social Media: Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LdDpzk1ic/?mibextid=wwXIfr  

1. Society Identity and Formal Status

The Students Sustainability Ambassadors (SSA) is a formally constituted student-led society at the Arab Academy for Science, Techn

ology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), established under the authority of the Deanship of Student Affairs and the Environmental Sustainability Committee. The SSA operates as an independent student body with institutional recognition, dedicated to advancing sustainability awareness, education, and action across all AASTMT campuses in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Legal basis: The SSA is constituted under AASTMT's Deanship of Student Affairs student society framework, with formal recognition granted by the Environmental Sustainability Committee.

Established: Academic Year 2021/2022. Current edition of governance framework: September 2025.

Membership: Open to all registered AASTMT students regardless of programme, year of study, campus, or discipline. Ambassadors are recruited through an annual open call in September of each academic year.

Current cohort size: 30 active Ambassadors for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Campuses represented: Abu Qir, Miami / Alexandria HQ, Cairo, Port Said, and other AASTMT campuses.

Society email: sustainability.admin@aast.edu

Society webpage: https://aast.edu/en/sdg/goals.php?unit_item=10101&page_id=1010100001  

Social media: (Facebook page) https://www.facebook.com/share/1LdDpzk1ic/?mibextid=wwXIfr

2.  Mission, Purpose & Objectives

The SSA exists to ensure that AASTMT students are equipped, motivated, and empowered to contribute meaningfully to the global agenda for sustainable development. It bridges institutional sustainability commitments and student agency, translating institutional policy into visible, student-owned action.

• Raise awareness and promote sustainable practices among the entire AASTMT student body and faculty.
• Engage in climate action, waste reduction, clean energy promotion, marine conservation, and biodiversity protection.
• Drive student-led innovation in green technologies, sustainable transportation, and eco-friendly practices.
• Cultivate a sustainability-conscious campus culture that empowers future leaders across all disciplines.
• Strengthen AASTMT's sustainability partnerships with local, regional, and international organisations.
• Support AASTMT's SDG reporting by documenting and mapping student sustainability activities annua

  3. Governance Structure

  The SSA is governed through a three-tier structure comprising an elected executive leadership, five thematic committees, and nine cross-cutting individual roles. All leadership positions are held by students; the faculty advisor provides guidance without holding a vote. All ambassador positions carry a defined mandate, an accountability line, and a term of one academic year, renewable by re-election or reappointment.

  3.1 Organizational Structure—All Roles

  Tier	Role / Unit	Type	Core Responsibilities
  TIER 1 Executive Leadership	President (SSA)	Individual	Chairs all SSA meetings; represents SSA to the Sustainability Office and institutional leadership; approves annual plan and budget; serves as primary public spokesperson and signatory on institutional agreements.
  	Vice-President — Programmes	Individual	Oversees all five thematic committees; coordinates inter-committee collaboration; deputises for the President; leads the annual programme planning cycle and mid-year review.
  	Vice-President — Operations	Individual	Manages administrative functions, meeting logistics, record-keeping, and internal compliance with the SSA Constitution; oversees the member database and selection process for new ambassadors.
  TIER 2 Thematic Committees (Groups)	Environmental Action Committee (4 members)	Group — 4	Plans and executes environmental campaigns: beach cleanups, Zero Waste Weeks, energy-saving drives, campus biodiversity monitoring activities. Leads Earth Day events and SDGs 13–15 programming. Reports to VP Programmes.
  	Social Impact Committee (4 members)	Group — 4	Coordinates community service, inclusivity campaigns, disability and autism awareness events, orphan day activities, food distribution, and health outreach. Champions SDGs 1–5 and 10–11. Reports to VP Programmes.
  	Education & Awareness Committee (4 members)	Group — 4	Designs and delivers sustainability workshops, seminars, SALT-Students peer support sessions, and SDG literacy campaigns. Manages the SSA knowledge hub and resource library. Reports to VP Programmes.
  	Research & Innovation Committee (3 members)	Group — 3	Supports student sustainability research projects, green technology innovation, and the Student Affairs Academic Journal. Bridges SSA with faculty research units and postgraduate students. Reports to VP Programmes.
  	Partnerships & External Relations Committee (3 members)	Group — 3	Manages relationships with UNDP Egypt, Greenish Egypt, SDSN Youth, YOUNGO, and other partners. Coordinates participation in COP events, UN youth forums, and Leaders Hub. Explores new collaboration opportunities. Reports to VP Programmes.
  TIER 3 Cross-Cutting Individual Roles	Secretary-General	Individual	Maintains SSA official records, minutes, and member database. Prepares meeting agendas and circulates minutes within 5 working days. Files activity reports to the Sustainability Office and coordinates with RDSU for institutional evidence submissions.
  	Treasurer	Individual	Manages SSA budget and expenditure tracking. Liaises with the Deanship of Student Affairs for funding requests and prepares the annual financial summary for governance review.
  	Communications & Media Officer	Individual	Manages all SSA social media channels (@AAST_SSA). Produces digital content, event graphics, and campaign materials. Coordinates with the institutional Marketing and External Affairs units for official communications.
  	Campus Liaison — Abu Qir	Individual	Represents SSA on the Abu Qir campus. Recruits members, coordinates local events, and reports campus-specific sustainability needs and concerns to the VP Operations.
  	Campus Liaison — Miami / Alexandria HQ	Individual	Represents SSA on the Miami and Alexandria main campus. Recruits members, coordinates local initiatives, and maintains active campus presence and visibility.
  	Campus Liaison — Cairo & Other Campuses	Individual	Covers Cairo, Port Said, and other AASTMT campuses. Coordinates remote engagement and ensures all campuses are represented in SSA planning and general assembly sessions.
  	Faculty Advisor Liaison	Individual	Serves as the formal SSA contact with the appointed Faculty Advisor. Schedules advisor meetings, incorporates academic guidance into SSA planning, and coordinates faculty input on research and innovation activities.
  	SDG Reporting Officer	Individual	Documents all SSA activities with SDG alignment codes. Compiles the annual SSA SDG Impact Report submitted to the Environmental Sustainability Committee. Supports institutional ranking and sustainability evidence submissions.
  	Wellbeing & Inclusivity Ambassador	Individual	Ensures SSA activities are inclusive and accessible across gender, disability, and background. Champions SDGs 5 and 10 within SSA itself. Monitors member wellbeing and reports concerns to the president.

  3.2 Member Allocation and Selection

   

  Role / Unit	N	Selection Method
  President	1	Elected annually by all SSA members at the Annual General Meeting by simple majority vote.
  Vice-President — Programmes	1	Elected by SSA general assembly from among serving committee leads.
  Vice-President — Operations	1	Elected by SSA general assembly from general membership.
  Environmental Action Committee (incl. elected lead)	2- 4	Lead: elected within committee. Members: open call, confirmed by VP Programmes.
  Social Impact Committee (incl. elected lead)	2-4	Lead: elected within committee. Members: open call, confirmed by VP Programmes.
  Education & Awareness Committee (incl. elected lead)	2-4	Lead: elected within committee. Members: open call, confirmed by VP Programmes.
  Research & Innovation Committee (incl. elected lead)	2-4	Lead: elected within committee. Members: open call, confirmed by VP Programmes.
  Partnerships & External Relations Committee (incl. elected lead)	2-4	Lead: elected within committee. Members: open call, confirmed by VP Programmes.
  Secretary-General	1	Appointed by the President with Executive approval.
  Treasurer	1	Appointed by the President with Executive approval.
  Communications & Media Officer	1	Appointed by VP Operations; demonstrated media or design background required.
  Campus Liaison — Abu Qir	1	Self-nominated; confirmed by vote of campus-resident SSA members.
  Campus Liaison — Miami / Alexandria HQ	1	Self-nominated; confirmed by vote of campus-resident SSA members.
  Campus Liaison — Cairo & Other Campuses	1	Self-nominated; confirmed by vote of campus-resident SSA members.
  Faculty Advisor Liaison	1	Elected by general membership; preference for postgraduate or senior UG student.
  SDG Reporting Officer	1	Appointed by VP Operations; coordinates directly with RDSU.
  Wellbeing & Inclusivity Ambassador	1	Elected by general membership; independent of committee structures.
  TOTAL	22-32	All 30 present positions constitute the formal SSA membership for the 2025/2026 academic year.

  3.3 Governance Principles

  • Student sovereignty: All strategic decisions are made by SSA members. The Faculty Advisor holds no vote.
  • Democratic election: Executive officers, committee leads, campus liaisons, the faculty advisor liaison, and the wellbeing ambassador are elected by the general membership or within their respective units. No officer is appointed by an institutional body.
  • Transparency: Meeting minutes are shared with all members within five working days. The annual SDG Impact Report is submitted to the Sustainability Office and published on the SSA webpage.
  • Inclusivity: Membership is open to all registered AASTMT students. Active recruitment is conducted across all colleges and campuses each September.
  • SDG alignment: Every SSA activity must be mapped to at least one of the 17 UN SDGs in the activity proposal form before approval by the relevant committee lead.
  • Accountability: The SSA President presents a progress report to the Environmental Sustainability Committee each semester. The SDG Reporting Officer submits the annual impact report coordinated with RDSU.

  •  Key Stakeholders and Named Officers

    The following table identifies the key stakeholders of the SSA for the 2025/2026 academic year. Student officer names are to be completed following the Annual General Meeting in September 2025. Institutional stakeholders are named.

  • Role	Name	College / Programme	Contact	Reg.
    SSA President	Dr Omneya darwish	Sustainable Development Administration	omneyadarwish@aast.edu	-
    Vice-President — Programmes	Souvana Samy Mohamed	Medicine	souvanasamy@gmail.com	221000288
    Vice-President — Operations	Ahmed yasser	Engineering	ahmed123yasser321@gmail.com	231006499
    Secretary-General	Dana mohamed	Computer Science	00201006539132	241013806
    Faculty Advisor	Ta. Mariam Helmy	Pharmacy	00201212155717	-
    Institutional Liaison (RDSU)	Dr. Rania Rageh	RDSU	rania.rageh@aast.edu	-
    Environmental Sustainability Committee	Hamsa waled	Engineering	00201017009198	241003746

  5.  Faculty Advisor Role and Responsibilities

  The SSA Faculty Advisor is a senior academic member nominated by the Environmental Sustainability Committee and confirmed by the SSA general membership at the Annual General Meeting. The Faculty Advisor serves in a supportive and advisory capacity, preserving SSA's student-led identity.

  • Attends SSA Executive Meetings in an advisory capacity, without voting rights.
  • Signs off on SSA activity proposals that require institutional resource allocation or external representation.
  • Provides academic mentoring to SSA members conducting sustainability research projects and innovation initiatives.
  • Serves as the formal escalation contact when the SSA Executive needs to engage with senior institutional leadership.
  • Submits an annual advisory report to the Environmental Sustainability Committee on SSA governance health and student engagement quality.

  6. Annual Governance Calendar

   

  Period / Frequency	Governance Activity
  September (Annual)	Annual General Meeting (AGM): Election of President, Vice-Presidents, Campus Liaisons, Faculty Advisor Liaison, and Wellbeing Ambassador. Ratification of annual activity plan and budget. New member induction and orientation.
  October (Annual)	Committee formation: self-nomination and lead election within each thematic committee. Committee leads brief the VP Programmes on Q1 plans. SSA Constitution reviewed and reaffirmed.
  Monthly	Executive Meeting (President, VPs, Secretary-General, Treasurer): review of activity progress, budget status, and inter-committee coordination. Minutes circulated within 5 working days.
  Monthly	Committee leads report to VP Programmes on activities, attendance, and upcoming plans. Secretary-General records and archives reports.
  Twice per semester	Full SSA General Assembly: all members. Updates from all committees and cross-cutting roles; open forum for proposals; strategic decisions by majority vote.
  March (Annual)	Mid-year review: Executive and Faculty Advisor review progress against annual plan; adjust targets; submit interim impact report to the Sustainability Office.
  June (Annual)	End-of-year review and SDG Impact Report: SDG Reporting Officer compiles annual report; submitted to the Environmental Sustainability Committee and RDSU for institutional records and ranking evidence.
  August (Annual)	Handover and succession: outgoing Executive prepares transition notes for incoming officers; AGM preparations begin; open call for new ambassador nominations issued.

  7. Key Activities and Initiatives—Academic Year 2024/2025

  The following table documents the SSA's recorded activities for the 2024/2025 academic year, including the affiliated SDGs and reference links. These activities represent a cross-disciplinary, cross-campus programme spanning environmental, social, and governance sustainability pillars.

  Initiative / Activity	Date	SDGs	Description & Evidence
  Sustainable Development Symposium	Nov 2024	11, 16, 17	Symposium on Presidential Initiatives and Sustainable Development at Abu Qir. Government representatives, Egyptian Senate member, and civil society participated. Link: aast.edu/en/student-affairs/alex/news-details.php?...news_id=486103507
  Disability Awareness & Inclusiveness Campaign	Nov 2024	3, 10	Student participation in national disability rights campaign, Ministry of Higher Education in cooperation with Hope Donors. Link: news_id=486103714
  Autism Awareness Symposium — "Towards a Better Tomorrow"	Dec 2024	4, 10	Symposium at Al Farsi Hall, Abu Qir, raising awareness of neurodiversity and inclusive education. Link: news_id=486104267
  WebWave Web Development Bootcamp (IEEE)	Mar 2024	4, 9	Free multi-day bootcamp organised by IEEE AAST Alexandria Student Branch. 50+ participants; certificates awarded. Facebook: facebook.com/share/p/1CeWFTdBMw/
  Palestine Solidarity Mural Art Workshop	Oct 2025	16	Large-scale mural at Miami branch combining artistic expression with humanitarian awareness and peacebuilding. Link: news_id=486105323
  Newspaper Art Workshop — Sharm El-Sheikh Conference	Oct 2025	13, 16	Drawing and Decoupage workshop at Miami; students reflected on Egypt's role at Gaza Ceasefire Conference. Link: news_id=486105326
  AASTMT Student Affairs Academic Journal	2024/2025	4, 14	Student-run publishing platform covering sustainability and marine sciences. Facebook: profile.php?id=61570385653598
  Children's Day and Family Solidarity — Orphan Day	Apr 2025	1, 3, 10	370+ children from orphanages hosted at Abu Qir campus. Recreational activities and community engagement. Link: news_id=486104373
  IEEE Cybersecurity Vigilance Expedition	Apr 2025	9	Cybersecurity awareness event for the students, organised by IEEE AAST Alexandria Student Branch. Facebook: IEEEAAST posts.
  Ramadan Community Service: Food Distribution	Mar 2024	1, 2	Voluntary food distribution to workers and community members at Abu Qir Youth Centre, organised by SSA-affiliated students across all colleges.
  Leaders Hub — Climate Awareness Event	2024/2025	13	In collaboration with Empower Hub; students created content on climate change, plastic pollution, and sustainable agriculture. Link: aast.edu/en/sdg/news-details.php?...news_id=486103422

  Recurring Flagship Initiatives

  Carpooling Initiative: Ongoing campaign to reduce carbon emissions from student commuting Sustainability Day: Annual campus-wide event focusing on climate awareness, SDG promotion, and student-led showcases. Zero Waste Weeks: Term-time waste reduction campaigns across all campuses. Earth Day Celebration: Annual event aligned with global Earth Day programming and local environmental action. Beach Cleanup Campaigns: Recurring coastal cleanup events in collaboration with Banlastic Egypt and Greenish Egypt.

  8.  SDG Alignment and Coverage

  SSA activities collectively address 13 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals across all three sustainability pillars (Environmental, Social, Governance) and the Economic dimension. The following table maps SSA programmes to their primary SDG targets.

  SDG	Goal	Pillar	SSA Activities Addressing This Goal
  1	No Poverty	Social	Orphan Day, Ramadan food distribution, community outreach programmes.
  2	Zero Hunger	Social	Ramadan food distribution to workers and marginalised community members.
  3	Good Health & Well-being	Social	Disability awareness, autism symposium, orphan day recreational activities.
  4	Quality Education	Social	WebWave bootcamp, autism awareness, Student Affairs Academic Journal, Education & Awareness Committee.
  5	Gender Equality	Social	Wellbeing & Inclusivity Ambassador mandate; gender-inclusive membership policy.
  9	Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure	Economic	WebWave bootcamp, IEEE Cybersecurity event, Research & Innovation Committee.
  10	Reduced Inequalities	Social	Disability awareness campaign, autism symposium, orphan day, inclusivity ambassador role.
  11	Sustainable Cities	Environmental	Sustainable Development Symposium; carpooling initiative.
  13	Climate Action	Environmental	Leaders Hub, newspaper art workshop, Environmental Action Committee annual programmes.
  14	Life Below Water	Environmental	Student Affairs Journal (marine sciences), beach cleanups, Greenish Egypt partnership.
  15	Life on Land	Environmental	Campus biodiversity activities, Nahdet Misr partnership, Environmental Action Committee.
  16	Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions	Governance	Palestine solidarity mural, Sharm El-Sheikh art workshop, sustainable development symposium.
  17	Partnerships for the Goals	Governance	Partnerships & External Relations Committee; SDSN Youth, YOUNGO, UNDP Egypt.

  9. Institutional and External Partnerships

  The SSA operates in collaboration with the following institutional bodies and external organisations, ensuring that student initiatives are supported, amplified, and connected to wider sustainability networks.

  Partner Organisation	Type	Nature of Collaboration
  AASTMT Sustainability Office / ESC	Institutional	Formal reporting line, resource allocation, policy alignment, and institutional recognition of SSA activities.
  AASTMT SDG Workforce Committee	Institutional	SDG mapping of SSA activities, integration with AASTMT's annual SDG report, and co-governance of sustainability initiatives.
  Research, Data Science & University Ranking (RDSU)	Institutional	SALT-Students peer support programme, annual SDG evidence compilation, and ranking data provision.
  Nahdet Misr	Local NGO	Community outreach, literacy and education campaigns aligned with SDG 4 and SDG 1.
  Greenish Egypt	Local NGO	Environmental campaigns, beach cleanups, and waste reduction initiatives aligned with SDG 13 and SDG 14.
  UNDP Egypt	UN Agency	Youth engagement in SDG implementation, co-organisation of awareness events, and access to UN-led sustainability programmes.
  SDSN Youth	International Network	Participation in global SDG youth networks, access to research resources, and representation in international sustainability forums.
  YOUNGO (UN Climate Youth)	International Network	Youth representation in UNFCCC processes; participation in COP events and Youth4Climate movement.
  IEEE AAST Alexandria Student Branch	Campus Partner	Co-organisation of technology and innovation events (cybersecurity, web development) aligned with SDG 9.
  Empower Hub	External Partner	Co-organisation of Leaders Hub event; content creation on climate, plastic pollution, and sustainable agriculture.
  Banlastic Egypt	External Partner	Beach cleanup campaigns and plastic pollution awareness; alignment with SDG 14.

  10. Future Vision and Expansion

  Expand SSA membership to 50 active ambassadors by the 2026/2027 academic year, with explicit recruitment targets for under-represented colleges and campuses. Launch an SSA-specific dedicated webpage separate from the institutional SDG portal, featuring governance documents, member profiles, activity archive, and open membership application. Develop an SSA Annual Sustainability Impact Report, published each June and distributed to students, faculty, and external partners. Establish an SSA Innovation Fund in partnership with the AASTMT Entrepreneurship Centre to support student-led sustainability project proposals. Formalise SSA participation in international youth sustainability networks (SDSN Youth, YOUNGO) with named student representatives attending at least one international event per year. Integrate the SSA Ambassador Programme with the SALT-Students assessment framework: Champion-level students identified through SALT-Students will be offered a priority path to SSA membership.

  11.  Document Management and Review

   

  Document Title	Students Sustainability Ambassadors (SSA)
  Document Reference	ES5
  Version	2.0 (Revised — September 2025)
  Prepared by	Environmental Sustainability Committee in collaboration with RDSU
  Approved by	Dean of Student Affairs / Environmental Sustainability Committee Chair
  Date of Approval	September 2025
  Next Review Date	September 2026
  Filing Location	AASTMT Sustainability Office