17.2.3 Canadian University Dubai — International Collaboration on SDG Data Gathering and Measurement
Institutional Commitment
Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is committed to advancing the measurement, analysis and reporting of progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through international research collaboration and participation in global sustainability reporting frameworks.
The University recognises that measuring sustainable development requires reliable data, transparent methodologies and cooperation between researchers and institutions across national boundaries.
CUD contributes to these objectives through:
- Internationally structured SDG and responsible management education reporting.
- Empirical environmental research conducted through international academic collaboration.
- Quantitative measurement and numerical analysis of sustainability-related outcomes.
- Research partnerships supporting the exchange of scientific knowledge and measurement methodologies.
During 2025, CUD participated in international sustainability reporting through the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and contributed to published international research measuring the environmental performance of sustainable building technologies.
1. Summary of International SDG Data Collaboration
| International Activity | Partners and Institutions | Data Collected or Reported | Reporting Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRME Sharing Information on Progress 2025 | CUD and the international PRME reporting network | Institutional information on responsible management education and sustainable development activities | Published 2025 SIP Report |
| Modular Green Walls Research | CUD, Université Clermont Auvergne and University of La Rochelle | Experimental wall surface temperatures and modelled building cooling-load performance | Peer-reviewed 2025 research article |
| Sustainable Materials and Energies for Resilient Buildings | CUD, La Rochelle University and Université de Sherbrooke | Research and methodological exchange on building materials and energy performance | International workshop, 9 April 2025 |
| International SDG Assessment | CUD and Times Higher Education | Institutional research, education, policy and operational sustainability data | THE sustainability assessment participation |
These activities demonstrate CUD's involvement in internationally coordinated reporting and research relevant to understanding sustainable development outcomes.
2. International SDG Data Reporting — PRME SIP 2025
Principles for Responsible Management Education
International Initiative: United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)
Participating Institution: Canadian University Dubai
Membership: Since June 2021
Reporting Framework: Sharing Information on Progress (SIP)
Relevant SDGs: All 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Canadian University Dubai participates in PRME, an international initiative that supports responsible management education and the integration of sustainable development principles within higher education.
A central component of PRME membership is the Sharing Information on Progress reporting process.
The framework enables universities to collect, organise and share institutional information on their activities and contributions to responsible management education and sustainable development.
Confirmed SIP Reporting History
CUD's official PRME institutional profile lists the following reports:
| Report | Reporting Year |
|---|---|
| Canadian University Dubai — SIP Report | 2023 |
| Canadian University Dubai — SIP Report | 2025 |
| Canadian University Dubai — SIP Report | 2026 |
The 2025 report establishes that CUD participated in international sustainability information reporting during the relevant calendar year.
How the SIP Framework Supports SDG Data Capture
The PRME reporting framework provides a structured method for documenting institutional contributions to sustainable development.
Relevant reporting areas include:
| Reporting Dimension | Data or Information Focus |
|---|---|
| Responsible Management Education | Institutional educational commitments and activities |
| Teaching | Integration of sustainability and responsibility into educational activities |
| Research | Academic research related to responsible management and sustainable development |
| Partnerships | Collaboration with external organisations on sustainability priorities |
| Institutional Practice | Sustainability-related institutional policies and operations |
| Knowledge Sharing | Communication of progress, activities and institutional experiences |
By submitting information through the SIP reporting mechanism, CUD contributes institutional data and evidence to an international initiative involving universities from multiple countries.
The reporting process supports the comparability, accessibility and sharing of sustainability-related institutional information.
Primary Evidence
Canadian University Dubai — SIP Report 2025
CUD's PRME Institutional Profile
https://www.unprme.org/canadian-university-dubai
3. International Research Collaboration — Empirical Measurement of Sustainable Building Performance
Research Publication
Title: Modular green walls: A sustainable architectural solution for energy efficiency in oceanic climates
Journal: Energy and Buildings
Publication Year: 2025
Volume: 342
Article: 115850
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115850
International Research Team
| Researcher | Institutional Affiliation | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Salah-Eddine Ouldboukhitine | Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, Institut Pascal | France |
| Amer Bakkour | Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, Institut Pascal | France |
| Seif Khiati | Canadian University Dubai | United Arab Emirates |
| Rafik Belarbi | Canadian University Dubai and LaSIE, University of La Rochelle | United Arab Emirates and France |
The publication demonstrates collaboration between researchers affiliated with institutions in the United Arab Emirates and France.
The research combines experimental environmental measurements and numerical modelling to examine the energy-efficiency benefits of green wall systems.
Research Objective
The study investigated the thermal performance of modular green walls in an oceanic climate.
Green walls incorporate vegetation into building façades and have potential to improve building thermal performance and reduce demand for mechanical cooling.
The researchers sought to quantify how a modular living wall affects external wall temperatures and building cooling requirements.
The study was undertaken in La Rochelle, France.
International Data Gathering and Measurement
The research involved two complementary approaches.
A. Experimental surface-temperature measurement
Researchers installed a prefabricated modular living wall on a house-like rectangular experimental structure.
A comparable structure without vegetation was used as a reference.
External wall surface temperatures were measured to assess the thermal effects of the vegetated wall relative to the reference structure.
This experimental comparison generated quantitative environmental performance data.
B. Numerical building-energy analysis
The researchers also conducted numerical analysis of a three-storey building.
The analysis compared cooling demand under building configurations with and without green walls.
The modelling examined the contribution of vegetated east- and west-facing façades to improved indoor thermal conditions and reduced cooling loads.
Quantitative Findings
| Measured or Modelled Indicator | Reported Result | Method |
|---|---|---|
| External surface temperature reduction | Up to 15°C compared with the reference wall during peak hours | Experimental temperature measurements |
| Building cooling-load reduction | Approximately 64.38% with green walls on the east and west façades | Numerical building-energy analysis |
The study identified substantial thermal benefits associated with modular living wall systems.
The experimentally measured surface-temperature results provide direct evidence of the system's thermal performance.
The numerical analysis provides additional evidence of its potential to reduce building cooling requirements under the modelled conditions.
The reported results apply to the experimental and modelled configurations studied and should not be interpreted as guaranteed reductions for every building or climate.
Contribution to SDG Measurement
The research is relevant to several Sustainable Development Goals.
| SDG | Research Contribution |
|---|---|
| SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy | Measuring and modelling building energy-efficiency improvements |
| SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | Evaluating sustainable construction technologies and building materials |
| SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities | Generating evidence for more energy-efficient and climate-responsive buildings |
| SDG 13 — Climate Action | Supporting research into passive cooling and reduced building energy demand |
| SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals | International collaboration involving UAE and French research institutions |
Relevance to International SDG Data Gathering
This publication demonstrates that CUD researchers participate in international scientific work producing quantitative evidence relevant to sustainable development.
The study goes beyond general institutional cooperation by reporting:
- An identifiable experimental setup.
- A reference structure for comparison.
- Direct measurement of environmental performance.
- Numerical modelling of building energy demand.
- Quantified research findings.
- International research authorship and institutional affiliations.
The publication establishes international collaboration on the generation and analysis of sustainability-relevant scientific evidence.
The abstract does not separately identify which institution undertook each measurement or modelling task. The research is therefore presented as an international co-authored study, without assigning unverified data-collection responsibilities to individual institutions.
Research Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115850
4. Additional International Research Engagement in 2025
Second Workshop on Sustainable Materials and Energies for Resilient Buildings
Date: 9 April 2025
Host Institution: La Rochelle University, France
Participating Institutions:
- Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- La Rochelle University, France.
- Université de Sherbrooke, Canada.
CUD participated in the Second Workshop on Sustainable Materials and Energies for Resilient Buildings.
The workshop brought together researchers working on sustainable building materials, energy performance and climate-responsive construction.
Topics included:
- Sustainable materials for resilient buildings.
- Energy-efficient construction.
- Thermal and moisture transfer in porous materials.
- Three-dimensional printing in construction.
- Climate-responsive building design.
This event complements CUD's empirical research collaborations by demonstrating international scientific exchange during the 2025 reporting year.
The workshop is presented as evidence of research and methodological collaboration rather than as a separately completed data-gathering project.
5. International Sustainability Reporting Through THE
CUD also participates in Times Higher Education's international sustainability assessment framework.
The assessment requires universities to collect and provide institutional information concerning their contributions to the SDGs.
Relevant categories include research, university operations, institutional policies, student participation, community engagement and partnerships.
CUD's participation involves compiling institutional information according to an internationally standardised assessment structure.
This creates a further mechanism for organising and communicating sustainability-related institutional data internationally.
Participation in an international ranking is distinct from conducting an internationally collaborative research measurement project, but it complements the University's PRME reporting and sustainability research activities.
6. Institutional Approach to Data Collection and Measurement
CUD's international activities demonstrate several approaches to gathering and communicating information relevant to sustainable development.
| Data-Gathering Approach | Documented Example | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Institutional Reporting | PRME SIP 2025 | International sharing of sustainability-related institutional information |
| Experimental Environmental Measurement | Modular green wall temperature study | Quantitative evidence on building thermal performance |
| Numerical Modelling | Three-storey building cooling-load analysis | Quantitative assessment of potential energy-performance improvements |
| International Research Exchange | Sustainable Materials and Energies workshop, April 2025 | Exchange of approaches relevant to environmental measurement |
| International Institutional Benchmarking | THE sustainability assessment | Standardised reporting and international comparison of SDG-related information |
Together, these activities connect institutional sustainability reporting with scientific measurement and international research collaboration.
7. Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals
CUD's participation in PRME and international sustainability research supports information sharing, research cooperation and the generation of evidence relevant to sustainable development.
These activities align with SDG Target 17.16 on international partnerships and Target 17.18 on reliable, timely and disaggregated data.
SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy
The modular green wall research provides quantitative findings concerning thermal performance and potential reductions in building cooling demand.
SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
International research on green walls supports innovation in sustainable building technologies.
SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities
Measurement and modelling of building energy performance contribute knowledge relevant to more sustainable urban environments.
SDG 13 — Climate Action
Research into passive cooling strategies supports the development of approaches that can reduce energy requirements and associated environmental impacts.
Institutional Commitment
Canadian University Dubai contributes to international SDG data gathering and measurement through both structured sustainability reporting and empirical research collaboration.
The University's 2025 PRME Sharing Information on Progress Report demonstrates its participation in an internationally coordinated framework for collecting and communicating institutional sustainability information.
Its 2025 peer-reviewed research on modular green walls, developed through collaboration among researchers affiliated with CUD and French institutions, demonstrates direct quantitative measurement and modelling of environmental performance.
The study reports external surface temperature reductions of up to 15°C and a modelled cooling-load reduction of approximately 64.38% under the conditions examined.
Together, these activities establish CUD's involvement in international information sharing, scientific measurement and research cooperation relevant to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
International Reporting Initiative: Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)
International Research Institutions: Université Clermont Auvergne and University of La Rochelle
Research Publication: Modular green walls: A sustainable architectural solution for energy efficiency in oceanic climates