RUET is committed to promoting inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable communities, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 11. The university’s efforts span campus infrastructure, research on urban sustainability, and community engagement—ensuring that both the institution and its surrounding region thrive together.
Key Highlights
Green Campus: RUET’s campus spans approximately 152 acres (≈ 0.615 km²), described as an evergreen “green campus” with landscaped gardens of mango, litchi, coconut, and deodaru trees. (RUET)
Research in Sustainable Construction: The Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management at RUET published a paper titled “Advancing Green Building Design in Bangladesh: Empowering Sustainability with Polyurethane Foam for High-Performance Insulation and Eco-Friendly Construction” (Oct 2023), demonstrating active research into sustainable built environment practices. (icpaceruet.org)
Renewable Energy Assessment: A campus-based renewable-energy assessment reported that RUET receives on average 4–6.5 kWh/m² per day of solar radiation, underlining the physical potential of the campus for sustainable infrastructure deployment. (Memorial University Research Library)
Urban Accessibility and Connectivity: RUET maintains accessibility and connectivity: its urban site is about 4 km (≈10 minutes’ drive) from the Rajshahi railway station and bus terminal, and 8 km from Shah Makhdum Airport, ensuring students, staff and visitors can engage easily with the broader city and region. (ipe.ruet.ac.bd)
Community-Oriented Campus Design: The university incorporates community-oriented zones—residences, academic blocks, cultural and recreational spaces—that are clearly demarcated, enabling both student life and urban-adjacent public use. (RUET)
Impact & Next Steps
By embedding green infrastructure within its campus, conducting research on sustainable building and energy systems, and maintaining strong urban-connectivity, RUET is positioning itself as a model for sustainable communities in Bangladesh.
Planned Directions for Improvement Include:
Quantitative Sustainability Indicators: Publishing quantitative indicators such as area (hectares) under green space, percentage of campus energy derived from renewable sources, and number of urban-sustainability research projects.
On-Campus Demonstration Sites: Developing demonstration sites on-campus—such as vertical farms, rain-water harvesting zones or smart green zones—that serve both educational and community-benefit purposes.
Municipal Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships with the local municipal authority of Rajshahi city to pilot smart-city / green-city initiatives that involve students, faculty and local residents.
Urban Sustainability Outreach: Increasing community outreach by organising annual urban-sustainability challenges or hackathons for local schools and urban neighbourhoods, thus embedding RUET’s impact beyond campus walls.