Construction Engineering Students Win in Sustainable Thesis Competition

Construction engineering students Kareem Fouad, Youssef Khairy, Mohamed Emad and Mohamed Shatat won first place at the 2025 Construction Sustainability Competition for their thesis, “Returning to Nature: Deconstructable Housing with Biodegradable Materials for Shelters.”

The competition, co-designed by the Career Center, the Construction Engineering department and Cemex, was conducted exclusively for AUC Construction Engineering graduating seniors as part of their Fall 2025 thesis projects. A total of 23 undergraduate students, organized into six groups, participated in the competition, addressing pressing sustainability and resilience challenges facing the construction sector in Egypt and beyond.

“This competition demonstrates how undergraduate research can meaningfully engage with real-world sustainability challenges while remaining grounded in technical rigor and feasibility”  commented Ezzeldin Yazeed, Chair of the Department of Construction Engineering at AUC."

Students were encouraged to propose forward-looking materials, systems, and design concepts that integrate environmental considerations, resource efficiency, and constructability. An academic-industry jury evaluated projects based on four key criteria: Innovation and value-driven Sustainability, Practicality and Feasibility, Technical Merit, and Presentation and Communication.

“These initiatives exemplify AUC’s collaborative spirit and commitment to experiential, impactful learning that bridges research and academia with industry—empowering our students with the skills, exposure and experience that enhance their employability and readiness for the world of work.” Leidya Boutros, Employer Engagement Director, AUC.