H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, UAEU Chancellor, chaired the first meeting of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) for the 2017-2018 academic year on Tuesday 26 September on Saadiyat Island.

The council consists of H.E. Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre; H.E. Younis Haji Al Khouri, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Finance; H.E. Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention; H.E. Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency; H.E. Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Al Karam, Director General of Dubai Government’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); H.E. Homaid Abdulla Al Shimmari, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and Chief Human Capital & Corporate Officer at Mubadala Investment Company; H.E. Dr. Mohammed Ali Al Shariani; H.E. Prof. Mohammed Albaili, UAEU Vice Chancellor; Dr. Asma Abu Bakr Al Menhali, College of Science UAEU; Dr. Mohamed Sulaiman Al Hoqani, College of Medicine and Health Science UAEU; Shamma Juma Al Falasi, College of Humanities and Social Sciences UAEU; Dr. Mohammed Meqdad Al Suwaidi, College of Business and Economics UAEU.        

The meeting addressed various subjects listed in the agenda with the aim of enhancing the strategic direction of UAEU in accordance with the directions of the country’s leadership, implementing the national agenda of UAE 2021 and focusing on developing the education system of the nation as a whole.

The meeting also served as the setting for the appointment and approval of the Dean of the University College and the Deputy Dean of the Graduate Studies College. The council approved the establishment of the Central Fund of Graduate Studies’ Research and Programs to promote graduate research, recruit students of distinction and develop new graduate programs that meet the evolving needs of the UAE.

The council also discussed the proposal of ‘UAEU: The University of the Future’ as part of the UAE Centennial 2071 vision. This government initiative is based on four pillars, the first of which is education ­­thus UAEU is reviewing and developing all of its academic programs to ensure they are in alignment with government guidance to focus on the future, preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.