make cities and human settlements inclusive
safe, resilient, and sustainable
Pr.Jamel Neji, UTM,SDG 11 Ambassador
“The Tunis El Manar University: A city that wants to be sustainable in a city that we want to be sustainable.”
Med-Eco Su Re Project: A summer school on MicroGrid energy systems in Tunisia. June 20 to 23, 2023
Tunis El Manar University with Electrical Systems Laboratory (L.S.E.) has organized a summer school at the National Engineering School of Tunis, partner of Med-EcoSuRe.
The summer school, untitled “Micro-Grids 2023: Technical and economic modeling and Benefit from real time with OPALRT“, was organized over four days including a 2-day workshop dedicated to young researchers on real-time simulation and the Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop approach.
Micro-Grid energy units installed at ENIT were the object of the summer school, among which is SMARTNESS (Smart Micro-grid plAtfoRmwiThaN Energy management SyStem), a Micro-Grid platform powered by PV solar panels enabling decentralized renewable energy generation, investigation of new concepts such as Energy Management Systems, Blockchain technology and the VPP (Virtual Power Plant).
Med-EcoSuRe Project (closed on December 2023) – Mediterranean University as Catalyst for EcoSustainable Renovation
The project allows Mediterranean university building managers and, in the mid-term, public building managers to tap into a wide array of proven technologies, policies, and financing mechanisms to improve energy efficiency and capture cost-effective energy savings in buildings.
Med-EcoSuRe will also create job and business opportunities related to the installation and maintenance of energy efficiency equipment in buildings, as well as local manufacturing and marketing of energy-efficient construction materials.
Low energy educational buildings are becoming the standard for new buildings in European and Mediterranean countries. Technical solutions are continuously developed by universities for eco-sustainable building renovation, but a gap remains between designed models and their actual application. This is due to barriers such as insufficient collaboration between key actors and the lack of efficient tools from the public sector to develop solutions.
The Med-EcoSuRe project offers an innovative approach to the definition and diffusion of cost-effective energy renovation within university buildings, with the perspective of extending results to the entire public buildings sector in the long term.
A Mediterranean cross-border living lab — bringing together researchers, building managers, companies, public organisations, and students — will be established to develop energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions as well as retrofitting schemes to be implemented in 9 university buildings. The final aim is to turn university managers into active players contributing to the co-creation and experimentation of emerging ideas, breakthrough scenarios, and innovative concepts.
Smart Transportation Week: 15 to 18 January 2024
Tunis El Manar University, together with National School of Engineers of Tunis, Tunis Rapid Rail Network Company (RFR), Helios Tunisia (BYD), and the National Road Safety Observatory, organized the opening week: “Smart Transportation” at the National School of Engineers of Tunis.
Themes covered:
- Transport & Mobility: Transport, Urban Rapid Rail Network (RFR)
- Energy & Sustainability: Energy and Electrical Vehicles, E-mobilité
- Safety & Research: Scientific research for road safety and mobility
- Innovation & Industry: Involvement of startups and private sector, New technologies
Conference on “Stabilized Compressed Earth Block” with Satprem Maïni – February 14, 2024
Tunis El Manar University, together with National School of Engineers of Tunis and the GDA Sidi Amor Association, organized a conference day on: “Stabilized Compressed Earth Block – Durability – Stability – Seismic Resistance – Arched Structures”.
Key topics discussed included: Durability, Stability, Seismic Resistance, and Arched Structures.
Workshop: Austrian-Tunisian Collaboration in Asphalt and Pavement Technologies and Research – September 16, 2024
Tunis El Manar University, together with National School of Engineers, TU WIEN, BAU & Umwelt_transport, and the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalization, organized a PaveTech Workshop.
Themes covered during the workshop:
- Fate of Polymers in Recycled Asphalt: A Multiscale Approach
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation through Cool Pavement Technologies
- Experimental Approach to Study Multi-Recycled Asphalt Mixtures
- Analysis of New Deflection Basin Indices for Asphalt Pavements
- Distribution of Total Cost for Different Pavement Alternatives using Monte Carlo Simulation
- METAsphalt – Reducing Environmental Impacts and Energy Consumption of Asphalt Mixtures
- Inverted Pavement
- Chemomechanical Analysis of Bituminous Materials
- Performance-Based Specifications
- The Sponge City Principle in Austria
- Q&A: Studying in Austria & Collaboration with TU Wien
Screening: “Before the Flood” by Leonardo Di Caprio – July 6, 2024
The University of Tunis El Manar and the OSIRIS Scientific Association for Sustainability organized a screening of the film “Before the Flood” by filmmaker Leonardo Di Caprio in the conference room of the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis.
“Before the Flood” is an American documentary film by Fisher Stevens, co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and released in 2016. The film addresses the theme of climate change. A round table followed the screening to discuss the scourge of climate change.
One highlight was how Leonardo DiCaprio, Messenger of Peace on climate issues at the United Nations, explored the tragic impact of climate change on the Earth, as well as the individual and collective actions that can prevent the catastrophic disruption of our planet.
Global Sustainable Investment Policy
The University of Tunis El Manar has adopted a comprehensive sustainable investment policy, integrating sustainability and social responsibility as part of its transition to EPST.
The policy includes six key types of sustainable investment, aimed at achieving a positive environmental and social impact while ensuring long-term financial returns:
- Socially Responsible Investment (SRI): Taking social and ethical criteria into account in investment decisions, avoiding controversial activities, and investing in companies with positive social impact and ethical practices.
- ESG Integration: Evaluating companies based on environmental, social, and governance practices and favoring those demonstrating good ESG performance.
- Impact Investing: Investing in projects with measurable social and environmental benefits, including renewable energy, access to clean water, and affordable housing initiatives.
- Alignment with SDGs: Prioritizing investments in projects and businesses that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, climate change mitigation, and gender equality.
- Investments in Community Development: Supporting local impact, economic development, and the well-being of communities in Tunisia.