DUBAI, 14th May, 2017 (WAM) -- Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, DSOA, the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis, DSO, today announced the graduation of the first batch of students from the Master of City Science programme, a first of a kind degree in the MENA region at the DSO based Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai, RIT Dubai.
The graduation ceremony will take place end of May 2017 at the RIT Dubai campus within Dubai Silicon Oasis in the presence of representatives from DSOA, Smart Dubai Office, and the Government of Dubai entities whose employees are among the graduates. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohammed Alzarooni, Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, said, "DSOA is proud to collaborate with RIT Dubai on this programme that aligns with the vision of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. We are delighted to conclude the inaugural run of the Master of City Science programme, the first of its kind in the MENA region that targets students and professionals keen to leverage opportunities in smart city development and planning. Offering a convenient alternative to studying abroad, the programme enables graduates to directly implement their theoretical learnings in the real world."Dr. Aisha bin Bishr, Director-General of Smart Dubai, said, "As leaders of Dubais smart transformation, we envision a city whose people continually learn, innovate, and engage in society. We are dedicated to shifting mind-sets and developing skills to empower a new generation of city leaders across all sectors. Collaboration is essential to achieving our ambitious mandate, and we applaud the efforts of DSOA and RIT Dubai in bringing the first smart city masters programme to Dubai." Dr .Yousef Al-Assaf, President of RIT Dubai, said, "RIT Dubai aligns its educational offering with the innovative vision of Dubai and the wider UAE. We deeply appreciate the support we have received from the Smart Dubai Office, DSOA, the UAE Ministry of Education Higher Education Affairs, and several other prominent stakeholders in launching our latest masters programme. The graduation of our first cohort of students from the programme is indeed a proud moment for everyone involved. We congratulate the graduates and wish them the very best in their journey of shaping the sustainable cities of the future."Developed by RIT New York to help planners design and build smart, efficient, sustainable, and community-based cities, the curriculum comprises a total of 33 credit hours. Taught at both Dubai and New York campuses, the 12-month programme follows an executive learning model, where participants can continue their day jobs while studying and integrate their learning into their daily work.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.
