The "University Challenge" competition, organized by the United Arab Emirates University in collaboration with the Sharjah Government Communication Award, kicked off on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. It took place on the sidelines of the International Government Communication Forum 2023.

In its second edition, "University Challenge" features 23 teams from 15 universities, both inside and outside the country. The participating universities include the United Arab Emirates University, the University of Sharjah, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi University, Ajman University, Umm Al-Quwain University, Dubai University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Al Ain University, Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence, the American University of Sharjah, Sultan Qaboos University, Cairo University, and the University of Jordan. Each team presents an idea, initiative, application, or project related to promoting the concept of sustainability in government communication, coinciding with the Year of Sustainability 2023.

The judging panel includes a selection of experts in government communication from both within and outside the country. The three winning teams of the challenge will be announced at the conclusion of the International Government Communication Forum.

Abdullah Abdul Karim, the Executive Director of the Content Sector at the Emirates News Agency and a member of the judging committee, stated, "During the first day of judging the competition, we witnessed promising ideas and projects. We look forward to the students' contributions in providing solutions to numerous challenges facing the world in achieving a sustainable future. In the second edition of the University Challenge, we received twice as many submissions as in the first edition, and we are delighted to have participation from teams from Arab countries, including Oman, Egypt, and Jordan."

The participating teams in the challenge showcased several innovative projects during the first and second days of the competition. These projects included:

The "Nelsa" project by the team from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, aims to reduce water resource consumption in agricultural programs and to be connected to a "Farm Assistant" robot that sends electronic notifications about the plants' conditions, whether they require more or less water.

"WestMatch" project by Zayed University, focusing on connecting government and private sectors for waste management.

"Air Underground" project by the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, which innovatively uses rice husk filters to reduce carbon levels in ground parking lots in public complexes.

"Save the Plane" project by the United Arab Emirates University, the "Lean & Green" project by the American University of Sharjah, and many more.

On the sidelines of the International Government Communication Forum, the United Arab Emirates University organized a panel discussion titled "The Role of Media and Education in Sustainable Development." The speakers included Dr. Doria Sharaf El Din, Head of the Egyptian House of Representatives Committee on Culture, Media, and Antiquities, Prof. Ahmed Murad, Associate Provost for Research at the United Arab Emirates University, and Prof. Imad Alsyouf, Director of the Sustainability Office at the University of Sharjah. The session was moderated by Ms. Ghalia AlAhbabi, Director of the University Outreach Department at the United Arab Emirates University. The discussion covered various topics related to the role of educational institutions and different media entities in contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.