Lahore: An innovative collaboration between Forman Christian College in Pakistan and Effat University in Saudi Arabia has successfully turned agricultural waste into sustainable packaging solutions. This initiative, part of the Global Course Connections program, involved transforming date palm fronds into eco-friendly packaging for dates, highlighting the potential of international academic partnerships.

According to Forman Christian College, the project, titled "Waste-to-Wonder: A Cross-Cultural Innovation Project," brought together students from Dr. Hina Abid's Industrial Chemistry course and Dr. Sajid Khalifa's Contemporary Issues in Design class. Pakistani students conducted feasibility studies on the chemical properties and sustainability of date palm fronds, which informed the design and prototype development by Saudi students. The collaboration resulted in practical packaging concepts that merge scientific and cultural elements.

Dr. Khalifa noted the project's success in creating effective packaging solutions, while Dr. Abid emphasized the personal and professional growth experienced by students. The initiative also facilitated intercultural exchange, with participants gaining insights into each other's cultural and professional perspectives. The project underscored the importance of adaptability, open communication, and digital collaboration tools in managing international academic partnerships.

Both Dr. Abid and Dr. Khalifa found the collaboration professionally enriching, reinforcing the value of global knowledge exchange. The project serves as an example of how higher education institutions can tackle sustainability issues and prepare students for a globalized professional environment.