MU ADVANCES THE SECOND EDITION OF THE GLOBAL “LEAP-FAST” PROGRAM WITH UNESCO AND UNITAR

CIFAL Saudi Arabia, Majmaah University, is conducting the second edition of the international program “Leading Education Transformations to Accelerate Sustainability Transitions (LEAP-FAST II)”, which began officially on September 14 in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). 

As one of the world’s leading initiatives in advancing sustainability leadership, the program aims to empower higher education leaders across the globe to drive institutional transformation aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. It offers an integrated learning pathway that combines online training, collaborative projects, and global peer exchange, enabling universities to strengthen their capacity for systemic and sustainable change.

This year’s edition brings together leaders from 27 universities worldwide, representing diverse regions and disciplines. The participants embark on a developmental program that starts from institutional level and ends with faculty and curriculum design, helping them to design more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative university ecosystems.

The program includes a 10-week virtual phase featuring self-paced learning, team-based and individual projects, and peer-to-peer exchange. This will be followed by an in-person phase hosted by Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia from November 22 to 27, 2025, where participants will translate their acquired knowledge into actionable institutional initiatives and sustainability plans.

Participating institutions are expected to become catalysts for systemic transformation in higher education by integrating sustainability competencies into learning, fostering interdisciplinarity, and embracing multiple ways of knowledge that promote inclusion and global citizenship.

Prof. Saleh Al-Mezal, MU Rector and Chair of CIFAL Saudi Arabia, commended the program’s broad international participation and highlighted the university’s commitment to sustainability as a core priority aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. He emphasized that the university aspires to make Saudi higher education a global model of quality, innovation, and sustainability, capable of preparing generations to lead and compete globally.

The CIFAL Saudi Arabia at MU seeks to serve as a global benchmark in integrating the SDGs into its academic, research, and administrative systems—strengthening the role of Saudi higher education as an active partner in international efforts toward sustainable development and representing the Kingdom with distinction in global forums.

Both UNESCO and UNITAR expressed their deep appreciation to MU and CIFAL Saudi Arabia as well as to Prof. Al-Mezal for his visionary leadership and continued support of UN-led initiatives in advancing education for sustainability.

This year’s edition builds on the success of the first LEAP-FAST program, which resulted in the development of a strategic roadmap for empowering universities to advance the SDGs. It further reflects Majmaah University’s and CIFAL Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to aligning higher education with Saudi Vision 2030.