Ain Shams University- Paving the way towards a paperless University

Abstract

The conventional use of paper-based operations indaily working practices introduces numerousrisks and financial burdens. Nowadays, Universities are aligning with the growing movement of"green" campuses. Going paperless is a green initiative contributingto sustainable developmentgoals 11 and 12. Ain Shams University (ASU) attempted to establish a paperless campus throughdigital transformation as this movement promises high-quality academic andadministrative services. This paper aims to highlight ASUsdeveloped 3 R’sapproachfor paper waste reduction include switching toelectronicexams, customizing paper amountsannually,implementing electronic payment and service options,and using barcodes for cafeterias by creating E-Systems to deliver servicesonline. Starting withthe ASU community’s cultural level, awareness campaigns are being conducted on proper wastemanagement. Parallelly, segregation bins are placed throughout the campus to effectively separatewaste streams for recycling options, either internally by the artistic activities or externally by ourspecialized partners. To ensure the efficiency of this digital transformation, this study investigatesthe different waste streams, generation rates and quantities. Statistical methods will be used toanalyze relationships between variablesand identifypotential paper waste reduction and recycling plans. The outcome of this study is an evaluation of the current progress in implementing the strategy. Additionally, it could be used as a case study fordeveloping strategies in moving towardestablishing a successful paperless university model