Muscat: In a significant step towards promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable development in the Sultanate of Oman, National Finance Company (NFC) and the Environment Society of Oman (ESO), have announced the launch of the second edition of the Green Campus Competition.

The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 1 July 2026, by HH Sayyida Wisam Al Said, Chief Marketing, Corporate Communication and Sustainability Officer at National Finance, and Ms. Suaad Al Harthi, Executive Director of the Environment Society of Oman.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the Second Edition of the Green Campus Competition seeks to empower university and college students to adopt environmentally responsible practices and develop innovative solutions that reduce their environmental footprint while fostering a culture of sustainability. The initiative provides participants with practical, hands-on experience in addressing real-world environmental challenges and equips them with the knowledge and leadership skills needed to champion sustainable change within their institutions and communities.

Commenting on the partnership, HH Sayyida Wisam Al Said of National Finance said: “We are delighted to partner once again with the Environment Society of Oman in advancing sustainability and environmental awareness among young people. Our previous collaboration successfully engaged students in initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-friendly campus practices. Through this second edition, we hope to inspire even greater participation and innovation in building greener campuses across the Sultanate in a participative and competitive spirit.”

HH added, “Sustainability is an integral part of National Finance Company’s corporate values and operations. By supporting this initiative, we aim to encourage students to design, implement, and measure impactful sustainability initiatives within their institutions. We believe empowering young people today will help shape a more resilient and environmentally conscious future for generations to come.”

Ms. Suaad Al Harthi of the Environment Society of Oman further shared: “We are pleased to renew our collaboration with National Finance Company for the second edition of the Green Campus Competition. This initiative serves as an important platform for environmental innovation, collaboration, and youth engagement.” 

She continued, “Building on the success of the first edition, which attracted 62 initial applications, narrowed them down to 16 finalists, and proudly crowned three winning teams, the second edition aims to inspire even greater innovation.”

Therefore, this year’s competition introduces a new student-led fundraising component that will support environmental initiatives implemented by ESO. We believe this addition will encourage participants to demonstrate leadership, creativity, and community engagement while making meaningful contributions to sustainability efforts.”

She concluded, “The transition towards a sustainable future requires collective action and fresh perspectives. Universities and colleges are uniquely positioned to nurture the ideas and leadership that will shape tomorrow’s environmental solutions. Our ambition is that the Green Campus Competition becomes a national movement that embeds sustainability into campus culture and inspires measurable environmental action long after the competition concludes.”

The competition is open to all universities and colleges in Oman, with each participating institution establishing a dedicated Green Committee comprising students, faculty members, and administrative staff to lead campus sustainability initiatives.

Participating institutions will conduct a comprehensive sustainability assessment before developing and implementing a Sustainability Action Plan aligned with the competition theme, “Towards Net-Zero Campuses.”

Over a period of seven months, teams will engage their campus communities in a range of sustainability initiatives while documenting measurable outcomes and environmental impact. At the conclusion of the programme, participating institutions will present their achievements before an expert judging panel. The winning institution will be honoured with the prestigious Green Campus Award and a rolling trophy during a special awards ceremony in Muscat.