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The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) recently hosted the twenty-seventh meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee formed by both UAEU and Sultan Qaboos University from Oman. The meeting was held in the crescent building on UAEU’s new campus in Al Ain. The 14 committee members were joined by Her Excellency Professor Faeqa Helal, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administrative Affairs (Secretary General) and Dr. Ghaleb Alhadrami, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, representing UAEU; as well as His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Suliman Al Salmi, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and Dr. Hussain Al Kharousi, Dean of Admissions and Registration, from the Omani university.

This meeting is part of the drive for leadership and excellence in higher education and scientific research that UAEU is keen to promote. This is partially achieved through strategic partnerships with universities in other Gulf countries. The aim of such partnerships is to promote joint scientific endeavors and to disseminate scientific knowledge.

The Secretary General welcomed the Omani delegation and conveyed greetings from his Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of UAEU. He wished the committee well in its furtherance of scientific research. This research serves many diverse fields in higher education, as well as opening up opportunities for student exchange programs and the promotion of scientific knowledge. Dr. Hamad Al Salmi conveyed his pride that Sultan Qaboos University and UAEU have forged such a valuable partnership in order to further enhance research and the pursuit of scientific knowledge in the Gulf region.

The meeting focused on joint research projects, the exchange of administrators for training purposes and ways to improve the student exchange experience. This, it was hoped, would strengthen cognitive skills and the exchange of information between the two universities, as well as taking advantage of expertise and skills in the areas of student nutrition, services for the disabled and the mechanisms by which international accreditation can be achieved.