Research addressing sustainable resource use, circular economy, and responsible production systems.
Research on responsible consumption and production [List] (12.1)
Introduction:
Research plays a central role in advancing Al-Ahliyya Amman University’s (AAU) vision for sustainability and its commitment to SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production. Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates engineering, agricultural technology, business innovation, and environmental sciences, AAU fosters evidence-based research addressing the global challenges of over-consumption, waste generation, and unsustainable resource use.
AAU’s research strategy emphasizes the transition toward a circular economy, focusing on optimizing material flows, promoting renewable resources, and minimizing the ecological footprint of production systems. The University’s academic units and research centers— particularly the Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research (HCASR), the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), and the Faculty of Agricultural Technology lead pioneering studies on sustainable materials, waste valorization, eco-design, and green manufacturing practices.
Through collaborative partnerships with local industries, government institutions, and international universities, AAU ensures that its research outputs are both scientifically rigorous and socially relevant. Projects span from the development of biodegradable products and smart agricultural techniques to sustainable tourism and ethical supply-chain models, all contributing to the efficient use of natural resources.
The University’s sustainability research framework is guided by Jordan’s National Green Growth Strategy and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring every study contributes to national resilience, economic competitiveness, and environmental protection. By promoting open-access research, student participation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, AAU transforms scientific inquiry into practical solutions that advance responsible consumption and sustainable production at institutional, community, and national levels.
| # | Research Title | Link |
| 1. | ||
| 2. | ||
| 3. | ||
| 4. | ||
| 5. | ||
| 6. | ||
| 7. | ||
| 8. | ||
| 9. | ||
| 10. |
Impact Evaluation & Development Plan
- Performance Evaluation
Sustainability-Oriented Research Framework
Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) actively advances research that supports sustainable resource use, circular-economy systems, and responsible production models. Through its Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research (HCASR), Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), and Faculty of Agricultural Technology, AAU conducts applied projects on renewable materials, smart agriculture, waste-to-energy conversion, and sustainable manufacturing technologies.
Circular-Economy and Green Innovation Research
Faculty members have published peer-reviewed studies on circular-economy business models, resource-efficiency analytics, and environmentally responsible consumption behavior. Several funded projects focus on reducing industrial waste, valorizing agricultural residues, and developing biodegradable materials for packaging and production.
Integration into Curricula and Laboratories
Research findings are embedded into course syllabi, laboratory modules, and graduation projects across engineering, pharmacy, business, and agricultural sciences. The Hourani e- Learning Center and Teaching & Learning Center support the digitization of sustainability- related research outputs for open access and academic dissemination.
Collaboration and International Partnerships
AAU collaborates with regional and international universities; including the University of Jaén (Spain), University of Anbar (Iraq), and Swiss Education Group (SEG) on projects addressing food security, green entrepreneurship, and sustainable materials. Faculty participation in events such as the Future of Smart Food Conference, the Smart Agriculture Conference in Tunisia, and the World Public Assembly in Moscow demonstrates the
university’s expanding role in global sustainability dialogues.
- Development Actions
Action 1: Circular Economy Research Fund (2025 – 2028), Dedicated annual fund to support faculty research on waste minimization, renewable materials, and responsible production, to get 5 funded projects per year; annual publication in indexed journals.
Action 2: GreenLab Expansion Program (2025 – 2028) Expand the AAU GreenLab to include modules on bio-composting, water reuse, and sustainable food systems, Full operational capacity by 2026; to get 3 new lab modules.
Action 3: Industry-Academia Sustainability Cluster (2025 – 2028) Establish collaborative research between AAU and local industries (energy, manufacturing, agriculture) to develop low-carbon and circular-production solutions, to get 10 industry collaborations by 2027.
Action 4: Student Research Accelerator (2025 – 2028), Introduce a student-led research track focused on sustainable product design, eco-innovation, and material lifecycle management, to get 100 undergraduate projects annually.
Action 5: Sustainability Research Repository (2025 – 2028), Launch an open-access digital repository of AAU’s SDG 12 research for transparency and citation tracking, to get Repository live by 2025; updated quarterly.
-
Benchmarking & Best Practice
AAU benchmarks its research strategy against institutions such as the University of Cambridge (UK), University of Melbourne (Australia), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia), which are recognized for circular-economy innovation and sustainability-integrated research ecosystems.
Adopted Best Practices
· Integration of sustainability KPIs within faculty promotion and research-funding criteria.
· Use of Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) in research methodologies.
· Promotion of open-access publishing for SDG-related findings.
Localization & National Alignment
AAU aligns its sustainability research agenda with Jordan’s Green Growth National Action Plan (2021–2025) and the National Waste Management Framework Law No. 16 (2020), ensuring research outcomes directly support national environmental and economic policies.
Future Goal (by 2028):
Establish the AAU Center for Circular Economy Research and Sustainable Materials, serving as a national knowledge hub linking academia, industry, and government for responsible production transformation.
Institutional Integration Summary
Research on responsible consumption and production at AAU is coordinated through the Sustainability and International Ranking Center (SIRC) in collaboration with the Scientific Research Deanship, HCASR, CIE, and Faculty of Agricultural Technology. SIRC oversees the collection and verification of all sustainability-related research data, ensuring compliance with SDG 12 indicators (12.2 – 12.8) and the UNESCO Science for Sustainability Framework.
Each faculty submits periodic progress reports detailing ongoing research, publications, and community impact. Data are verified by SIRC and incorporated into the Annual Sustainability Report and Executive SDG 12 Report for public transparency.
This integrated governance guarantees that research initiatives are evidence-based, policy- aligned, and socially impactful, embedding the principles of circular economy, responsible innovation, and sustainable production within AAU’s academic mission. Through this structure, AAU directly contributes to SDG 12, while simultaneously supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
