The Expo Centre Sharjah signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Sharjah, within the context of strengthening the mutual cooperation and reinforcing the efforts aiming to support and contribute to a scientific research Project.

The MoU was signed at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Expo Centre Sharjah and HE Dr. Hamid Majul Al Nuaimi, Director of the University of Sharjah.

Also Present at the signing ceremony were Mohamed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the SCCI, HE Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, HE Dr. Salah Tahir Al-Haj, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, Sharjah University, Dr.Qassim Nasir, Chairman of the Scientific Publishing Unit and Dr. Manar Abu Talib, Assistant Dean College of Science.

The MoU aims at enhancing the mutual cooperation in the exchange of the institutional experiences with a view to bolstering the academic work.

The MoU also states that Expo Centre Sharjah would provide its facility, infrastructure, and technology for the university students to conduct systematic research of facial motion capture and to store the key features in an electronic database through the use of artificial intelligence for people’s identification purposes.

Scaling Up the Quality of Educational Process

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais expressed his appreciation for the efforts exercised by the University of Sharjah in preparing its distinguished graduates, noting the Centre’s keenness on providing the opportunity to train and qualify university students for the labor market.

Al Owais emphasized the necessity of constant cooperation between the two sides so that the UAE’s students and youth would be an integral part of the entire initiatives and events run by the Expo Centre.

He pointed out that the University of Sharjah is one of the largest universities locally and regionally, in addition to being a comprehensive university for all academic disciplines, in accordance with the wise vision of its founder and President His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, pointing to the great attention paid by HH Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi to the education sector, and his great support to provide all requirements, tools, infrastructure and scientific staff to improve the quality of the educational process.

“Expo Centre Sharjah is always keen on adopting the latest and best scientific methods, in addition to exploiting the academic qualification, encouraging the scientific research and exchanging information and experiences,” Al Owais noted.

He shed more light on the importance of research in the process of decision-making, with an aim of scaling up Sharjah economy which is seen as one of the most diversified economies in the region, adding that the deliberate and right decision helps enhance the sustainable development process in the Emirate of Sharjah and its stature as a leading investment destination.

Preparation of Distinctive Competencies

In turn, HE Saif Mohamed Al Midfa stressed the importance of this MoU in terms of enhancing cooperation with educational institutions and integrating theoretical materials into practical application.

Al Midfa highlighted the Expo Centre’s keenness on providing all the support for the university students to prepare the distinguished professional competencies and to cooperate in organizing conferences and academic forums through the advanced capabilities of the Expo Center.

“Expo Centre pays great attention to scientific research and higher education through organizing and sponsoring enormous academic events, most notably, the newly introduced segment “EduTech”, a part of the International Education Show, which is held under the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). This show is one of the major events that serves the Higher Education sector in the Middle East, with the participation of over 100 universities from around the globe,” Al Midfa added.

“Based on this MoU, Expo Centre Sharjah will ensure the full financial sponsorship of the research project that will be carried out by the students of the University of Sharjah. This comes as part of the Centre’s belief that education is an essential pillar for the advancement and prosperity of nations, and that education is a fundamental step in building a prosperous future for next generations,” said Al Midfa.

His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, expressed his joy in signing this Memorandum of Understanding with Expo Centre Sharjah, stressing the significance of this MoU for the elements it proposes that strengthen cooperation with the University. This MoU, he continued, will also contribute to developing the local community and serving its needs. The Chancellor followed by giving a brief about the University of Sharjah as one of the largest international universities in terms of the numbers of students enrolled and programs it offers, and added that the University is advancing in a thoroughly planned and technological trajectory following the vision set by its Founder and President His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The University of Sharjah, he concluded, is continuously working towards serving the community and developing the various local entities and organizations by signing of Memorandums of Understandings with them.

The importance of this agreement stems from the fact that it enhances horizons of cooperation in training and education fields, in addition to raising the level of scientific research and developing the professional competencies. Also, it comes within the most important tools of the national development to keep pace with Sharjah’s modern renaissance, in accordance with the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.