The student chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) at the Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology – Yarmouk University has achieved second place in the prestigious Eco Concrete 2025 international competition, organized virtually by ACI in the United States. The competition promotes the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly concrete mixes.

The award-winning team includes civil engineering students Tala Al-Momani, Ahed Ahmad, Farah Bani Mustafa, Ali Juma’a, Qabas Al-Batoush, and Ruba Al-Afeef, under the supervision of Dr. Faris Matalkah. The team demonstrated excellence through collaborative work, practical application, innovative design, and strong academic guidance.

Dozens of teams from leading global universities participated. In addition to Hijjawi’s team, finalists included universities from the USA, the Philippines, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Ecuador.

Dr. Matalkah explained that this year’s competition focused on designing innovative concrete mixes that reduce carbon emissions by using sustainable materials such as fly ash, slag, and silica fume. The evaluation was based on a comprehensive technical report, a video presentation highlighting the environmental impact and durability of the mix, and a live virtual interview with a panel of experts.

Dr. Mohammad Alzubaidi, Dean of the Faculty, emphasized that this achievement reflects the exceptional capabilities of Hijjawi’s students and their readiness to compete globally. He expressed pride in their success and stressed the importance of research and development in sustainable construction. He also highlighted how such initiatives foster academic excellence, innovation, and community responsibility.

With this award, the ACI student chapter at Hijjawi Faculty has now won 12 awards in six years, including 4 local and 8 international honors, underscoring their ongoing excellence, teamwork, and ability to excel on the global academic stage.