University Leadership Council Launched in UAE under Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak to Spearhead Innovation and Technology Transfer
Executive Committee Comprises Members from UAEU, Zayed University, Khalifa University, Masdar Institute and AUS
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 11 January, 2012 – The University Leadership Council (ULC) was launched in the UAE today under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak, UAE Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The new organization will provide a platform for thought leadership and offer actionable recommendations to deepen collaboration and advance regionally relevant research and innovation.
The Executive Committee of the University Leadership Council consists of representatives from five leading UAE universities. They include Dr. Tod Laursen, President of Khalifa University, Dr. Larry Wilson, Provost of Zayed University (ZU), Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of American University of Sharjah (AUS), Dr. Rory Hume, Provost of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies.
The five leading universities who are members of the University Leadership Council, in collaboration with the nation’s top academic institutions, will generate creative ideas and foster common interests for spearheading innovation and technology transfer in the region under the new organization.
More UAE-based universities are expected to become members of the University Leadership Council (ULC). A logo of the new Council was later unveiled.
To fulfill the prime responsibility towards the community, the academic leaders will drive the onset of new concepts especially through research and sow the seeds of profound change in the mindsets of students and build a foundation for the advent of scientific advancements under the new initiative. By coming together and initiate collaborative efforts, the academic leaders will help advance the nation’s socio-economic development and expand the knowledge base within the UAE and indeed the region more broadly.
The Council has a clear mandate to interface with industry and government to bring about a clearer understanding of the goals and mission of research-based universities and to work collaboratively towards common goals such as promoting a culture of research and innovation (R&I), advancing the educational goals of the UAE-based universities and alignment of policy with the government with regard to meeting the requirements of the industry and the economy.
The University Leadership Council will focus on higher education issues and needs, foster synergy through complementary and cooperative research and academic activities, as well as act as a link for faculty and students to interface with both the public and private sectors. It will also seek financial support from industry, government, and private individuals for relevant academic and research activities within member institutions. Ultimately, the ULC serves to promote the overall economic development of the country by broadening the base of knowledge and sharing technology across multiple stakeholders.
As a part of this strategy, the Executive Committee has scheduled an upcoming workshop titled ‘Government, Industry and Academic Partnership to Promote Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi’. It will aim to gather influential members from the government, industry and academia.
Dr. Tod Laursen said: “Khalifa University is an academic institution with a very clear mission to establish an internationally recognized center of higher education and provide regionally relevant research and innovation. We are pleased to support this initiative and collaborate with other research-driven institutions in the UAE. The Council’s mandate aligns very well with our mission to expand the knowledge economy and with our collective desire to highlight the critical role that UAE-based institutions have in making this economic transformation a reality.”
Dr. Larry Wilson said: “Zayed University aims to prepare today’s students to be capable leaders of tomorrow to provide the knowledge and skillsets required to secure the country’s long-term social and economic progress. We will support any collaboration effort that supports human development and we believe the establishment University Leadership Council is a step in the right direction that will ensure the country’s continued development.”
Dr. Peter Heath said: “Rooted in Arab culture, the American University of Sharjah is part of a larger concept of revitalizing intellectual life in the Middle East. We believe the University Leadership Council will play a crucial role once again in bringing the Arab world back to its pioneering status in education and knowledge and we are ready to contribute to this key initiative in the UAE.”
Dr. Rory Hume said: “As a world-class center for applied research, national and international outreach, innovation and outcome-based learning, the United Arab Emirates University strongly believes in collaborative efforts on knowledge sharing. The University Leadership Council aims to focus on research and innovation through collective measures that will help develop human capital and we are keen to extend our cooperation to the new organization to achieve its objectives.”
Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh said: “With the influx of newly established graduate research-based universities, the formation of a University Leadership Council has become vitally important. Education holds the key to social and economic progress and it is the responsibility of the academic institutions in the UAE to effectively inform and educate its graduates so that they become the leaders of tomorrow and transform the UAE into a knowledge-based economy.”
About the UAE University
Basis of Authority
The United Arab Emirates University was established by the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan (may his soul rest in peace), by virtue of Federal Law 4 of the year 1976. UAEU is a research‐based institution providing research solutions to support the UAE and, through its global partners, the wider world.
UAE University Council
The UAE University Council is the governing body responsible for the management of the academic and administrative affairs of the University.
Faculties and Departments
UAEU has nine faculties through which academic staff conduct their teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels while pursuing research and scholarly investigations. The University General Requirements Unit (UGRU) offers a preparation program to ensure that students are adequately prepared for university study.
UAEU Faculties provide comprehensive opportunities for study and careers to more than 12,300 students offering a full range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The University offers 71 Bachelor’s degrees, 23 Master’s degrees in 9 Faculties, and the UAE’s first national university PhD program offering 3 Doctorate degrees with 70 students in six Faculties.
University Management
The Vice‐Chancellor is responsible for the management of the university as well as the overall direction of institutional planning, budget and financial activities, and external relations. The Provost is the Chief Academic Officer and Chief Operating Officer responsible for undergraduate education, research and graduate studies, and services that support the academic mission of UAEU.
The Secretary General is responsible for services that support the academic mission and includes finance, budget, facilities management, human resources, auxiliary services, and safety.
The Deans are the heads of Faculties, which are groupings of academic disciplines, through which the academic staff conduct teaching at undergraduate and post graduate levels, and pursue research and scholarly investigations.
Research Emphasis
Research is the engine that drives advancement in technology, agriculture, medicine, law, the economy and science; the development of research drives policy and underpins growth. UAEU, the research engine for the nation, continues to develop this strong research mission.
Student Life
Students from all seven Emirates plus more than 20 countries enrich and enliven the campus and the classrooms. The 7,200 students who live on campus enjoy a full range of organized campus activities and events that add a unique educational value and vibrant dimension to each student’s academic program. Classrooms and labs feature state‐of‐the art equipment and instructional technology to enhance student learning and contribute to academic success.
Graduates
The more than 51,000 UAEU graduates provide leadership throughout the UAE, the Gulf region and increasingly the global community. UAEU is committed to the human development goals and cultural values expressed by Sheikh Zayed in establishing UAEU as the national university in 1976.
Staff
Thirty‐two faculty members were promoted this year and 94 faculty were recruited during the year under review. Thirteen nationals were appointed through the National Teaching Assistants (TA) Program, all of whom have been sent abroad to pursue their graduate studies, while three TAs obtained
their PhDs and were appointed as Assistant Professors. The UAEU prides itself by employing 192 Emirati National faculty, which is over 26% of all faculty, confirming that the university is truly a National university.
Wide Range of Strong Bachelor’s Degree Programs
UAEU recognizes its special responsibility to the community by making knowledge and resources readily accessible. More than 730 faculty members add unique quality to every undergraduate degree and unparalleled academic opportunities for students. In 2010‐2011 UAEU: distributed enhanced recruitment materials to more than 26,000 prospective students and secondary school personnel; processed applications and admission for 5,100 new undergraduate and graduate students; scheduled 9,300 courses and final examinations; conducted online registrations for 40,500 students; processed and recorded 99,600 final grades; verified degree completion and prepared and distributed diplomas for 2,850 graduates; issued 14,350 official transcripts and attestations; and billed graduate students and sponsors for tuition and fees in excess of AED 11.5 million.
Transformation of the UAEU
Significant progress has been made this year towards the transformation of UAEU. The strategy is outlined in six core goals, which form the basis of this Annual Report.
Media Contact:
About Zayed University
Zayed University is an educational centre of excellence in an emerging and evolving nation, the UAE. Proudly bearing the name of the founder of the nation– the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – it stands for innovation, inspiration, and education. The University was founded to prepare male and female leaders who will provide the knowledge and abilities this nation will need to enjoy a future of security and progress. It offers an academic program that prepares talented, ambitious and enthusiastic students for success in government, the arts, business, media and IT and to meet the challenges of a dynamic twenty-first century world.
The University was founded for UAE National women in 1998, with campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Today, the University is educating more than 7,000 female and male students from more than 19 countries to compete and thrive in a global environment.
The university is considered the first university in the Middle East to be accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the University's programs are recognized internationally as coming from a quality assured university. This is considered an accomplishment as this accreditation has not been given to any other university outside the United States.
Since its inception, the University has set ambitious development targets and is adamant that these will be accomplished without losing sight of UAE national culture, heritage and identity. As a national educational leader of the UAE, Zayed University celebrates past, present and future by combining Emirati traditions with progressive and innovative pedagogical practices.
About Khalifa University
Khalifa University was established in February 2007 by a decree issued by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to complement Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision, which aims at building a knowledge-based economy that effectively contributes to the development of the UAE.
Khalifa University’s main campus is located in Abu Dhabi, while it operates with another campus in Sharjah, and presently offers bachelor degrees in Computer, Communication, Electronic, Software, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, Master’s and Doctorate degree programs in Computer, Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering, in addition to Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Information Security and International and Civil Security.
In the future, Khalifa University will also offer degrees in other disciplines of Engineering, Logistics and Management and Life Sciences which include bachelor degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Moreover, Khalifa University will include research centres in disciplines such as Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Energy, Nanotechnology, Aerospace and Health Sciences.
Khalifa University is open to men and women from all nationalities with particular emphasis being placed on educating young UAE nationals. For more information, please visit www.kustar.ac.ae
For media inquiries, please contact:
Momen Khaiti, Specialist/PR & Media at Khalifa University
Tel: +9712 4018066
Mobile: +971 559568864
About Masdar Institute
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of importance to the region.
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.
An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic institutions in collaborative activities.
Masdar Institute offers degrees in:
- MSc Engineering Systems and Management
- MSc Computing and Information Science
- MSc Materials Science and Engineering
- MSc Mechanical Engineering
- MSc Water and Environmental Engineering
- MSc Microsystems Engineering
- MSc Electrical Power Engineering
- MSc Chemical Engineering
For more information please visit our website http://www.masdar.ac.ae
For more information contact:
Name: Bader Al Zarei
Communications Manager
Public Affairs Department
Email: balzarei@masdar.ac.ae
Phone: +971 02 8109372
About The American University Of Sharjah
Founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the American University of Sharjah (AUS) has come a long way since its inception. Today, a complex of stunning buildings on a beautiful campus plays host to over 5,500 students from 82 different nations, and a highly qualified and experienced full-time faculty of more than 350 dedicated individuals.
The vision and support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the commitment of its faculty and staff, the adherence to standards of academic excellence, all have contributed immensely to the enviable reputation that AUS has come to enjoy throughout the Gulf in such a short span of time. With a rich multinational campus environment, AUS has since the beginning aimed at fostering and encouraging cross-cultural contacts.
Located in University City, Sharjah, AUS is a not-for-profit, independent, coeducational institution of higher education formed on the American model. However, it is thoroughly grounded in Arab culture.
AUS offers 25 majors and 52 minors at the undergraduate level, and 13 master’s degrees through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Architecture, Art and Design, and School of Business and Management.
American University of Sharjah is licensed in the United States by the Department of Education of the State of Delaware. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215 662 5606). AUS is also licensed by the UAE Ministry of Education, and all undergraduate and graduate programs are recognized by the ministry and have been awarded either accreditation or accreditation-eligible status. All six of the bachelor's degree programs in the AUS College of Engineering are accredited by ABET, Inc. of the United States. The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the United States. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) as well as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degrees offered by the School of Business and Management are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Typical of the American system of higher education, AUS also places great stress on the development of the non-academic aspect of a student’s university life. Students are encouraged to participate in all manner of extra-curricular activities, form clubs and societies, stage events, work for the university student newspaper and literary magazine, and join the various sports and athletic teams on campus.
The AUS library is one of the most impressive buildings on campus. With an area of over 10,000 square meters, the beautifully-designed, state-of-the-art, three-story library is the first of its kind in the region. Since the inception, the AUS library was envisaged as a leading center for research and knowledge, further strengthening the university’s role as a premier institution of higher learning in the Middle East.
With the vast array of on-campus facilities on offer, the cumulative teaching expertise of a highly qualified and dedicated faculty, and the strict adherence to standards of academic excellence, it is no wonder that AUS has earned such acclaim throughout the region in such a short span of time since it first opened its doors in 1997.
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