The awards – Best Waste Management Institution, Best Exhibition and Green Institution of the Year (Newcomer) – recognise the University’s student-led innovation and commitment to sustainability.
The UMP Green Campus Initiative (GCI) was established in 2025 under the leadership of the Student Housing Unit and the guidance of Director of Student Housing, Dr Nomvula Twaise.
Held under the theme Advocacy & Sustainability: Smart Campuses for the Future, the conference brought together student leaders, housing professionals and researchers from across the SADC region.
UMP showcased three student-led innovations: Green-Flow Bin, a smart waste management system; Botanical Cube, a vertical garden that repurposes plastic waste while promoting food security; and Hydroflora, a smart farming solution that uses sensor technology to improve plant health and water management.
GCI Chairperson, Ms Kurhula Khoza, said the conference was a significant moment for the initiative and for women in sustainability leadership.
“It was inspiring to attend a conference that celebrated not only environmental sustainability but also the women leading this movement,” she said.
“Seeing ACUHO-I-SAC celebrate its first female President, Ms Jay Pillay, made me especially proud to represent UMP as the first Chairperson of our Green Campus Initiative. It reminded me that women have an important role to play in shaping a more sustainable future.”
UMP delegates also participated in a panel discussion on Smart Campuses for the Future, exploring what the concept means for South African universities.
The programme included keynote addresses, workshops and practical learning sessions. Dr Sibusiwe Hlela from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment addressed delegates on cultivating green skills.
Delegates also visited the Anglo American Digital Dome to explore how technology and innovation can contribute to a more sustainable future.
For a GCI chapter established just over a year ago, the three awards mark an important milestone in UMP’s sustainability journey and highlight the potential of student-led initiatives to contribute to greener campuses.
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