Thursday, March 19, 2015: On April 18th 2015 BUiD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SEDRA. The MoU was signed by Prof. Abdullah Alshamsi, BUiD Vice Chancellor and Ms. Reem Al Fahim, CEO of SEDRA. Staff from both organisations attended the signing ceremony at the Emirate Centre for Strategic studies and Research, at the fringe of the Gulf Education Centre endorsed by the GCC.

The purpose of the MoU is to foster collaboration between the two organisations to promote full and effective inclusion of people with disabilities by amongst others conducting:  training workshops on inclusion and  dedicated research projects that will ultimately enhance community awareness and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families.

Prof. Eman Gaad ,Dean of the Faculty of Education at BUiD and a leading  advocate for inclusion, said: " The University is pleased to sign such a collaboration with SEDRA which enables us to contribute to providing Emiratis with the necessary skills needed to empower and enable people with disabilities "

Ms Reem Al Fahim, CEO of SEDRA commented:"SEDRA is grateful for the support we have received from BUiD since our establishment. Formalizing our partnership today means that BUiD Master and Doctoral students in the special and inclusive education programs can work with us to undertake fundamental research, collect data and analyze new developments in the field, ensuring that the UAE has in-depth knowledge of our own population's needs and specific circumstances. This will allow SEDRA to design appropriate responses and assure that decision makers, teachers, administrators, parents and employers have access to best global practices of inclusion of people with disabilities. Together, each one of us can play a positive role in supporting our national agenda of making the UAE a disability-friendly and inclusive country" 

The two organisations share a common focus on the area of Special Education and the empowering of people through the right education. It is expected that the MoU will have a wider positive impact on improving life of people with disabilities through their effective empowerment.

BUiD is the Middle East's leading not for-profit research-based postgraduate university, facilitating world-class education, training and research. It provides an important and growing community and resource for young professionals, leading academics, corporate managers and aspiring leaders of all description. For the Special and Inclusive Education area, it offers an overview of learning difficulties, innovative curriculum development and looks at current policies on inclusion and all issues related to education. BUiD is very active including support for CSR initiatives and its Master in Education Programme supports and shape the developments needs of the Education in the UAE.

SEDRA, as a centre for excellence for all matters related to the inclusion of people with disabilities is committed to facilitating inclusion through 5 key areas designed to integrate people with disabilities into: schools, workplace, and the community. It also offers professional development, specialized courses, workshops and master classes to teachers, school and home assistants, parents, employers and others working with people with disabilities.

It is noteworthy that SEDRA will participate in the world Down Syndrome Day which is taking place at the United Nations in New York on March 21st 2015 where Prof. Eman Gaad will present a paper on the Role of the Family in Supporting People with Down syndrome, on behalf of the UAE Down Syndrome Association.

With their collaborative efforts, BUiD and SEDRA are better able to shape and respond to the requirements and needs of people with disabilities.

Being signed on the fringe of The Gulf Education Conference hosted by Abu Dhabi, endorsed by the GCC and supported by the Association of Arab Research Universities (AARU); the MoU reflects BUiD and SEDRA's wider range of commitments locally, regionally and globally.

About The British University in Dubai
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) was established in 2003 to be the Middle East's leading research-based postgraduate university, facilitating world-class education, training and research. It provides an important and growing community and resource for young professionals, leading academics, corporate managers and aspiring leaders of all description.

BUiD located in Dubai International Academic City, a truly local university, is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and internationally (NARIC) recognised for its top quality education, which is on par with British standards thanks to its association with UK-based universities including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, Cardiff University, and the University of Glasgow.

BUiD offers full and part-time research based Masters Degree programmes, PG Diplomas and Certificates; the regions first accredited Doctorate in Education and the PhD in Project Management, Ph D in Architecture & Sustainable Built Environment, and PhD in Computer Science. Masters programmes and Post Graduate Diplomas in: Education, Finance and Banking, Human Resource Management, Informatics (Knowledge and Data Management), IT Management, Project Management, Construction Management, Systems Engineering, Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, Sustainable Design of the Built Environment , Intelligent Building Design and Automation, Business administration(MBA),Structural Engineering , and Recently Engineering Management.

The non-profit university has attracted academic experts to develop regionally tailored programmes, in which they extend and challenge the boundaries of knowledge, understanding and research.

BUiD works in collaboration with leading organization and institutions including Atkins, Emirates Green Building Council, , the federal Ministry of Education, government and associated bodies Human Resource Forums agencies for Academic  and professional development across the UAE's public and private sectors.

The founders of the University are the Al Maktoum Foundation, the Dubai Development and Investment Authority, Rolls-Royce, the British Business Group and the National Bank of Dubai. The University is governed by a Council under the chancellorship of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

About SEDRA
SEDRA: (Services for Educational Development, Research and Awareness for Inclusion) is an initiative founded by H.H. Sheikha Aljazia Bint Saif Al Nahyan in support of and response to governmental polices on the inclusion of people with disabilities. Our mission is to facilitate full and effective inclusion of people with disabilities into all facets of society.  Our focus is two-fold:

1) Assist the UAE and Abu Dhabi governments in all aspects of the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the UAE in March 2010; and

2) Serve as a center for excellence in training, research and technical assistance in the education,  social inclusion and employment of persons with disabilities , ensuring their full and effective inclusion in all areas of life in the Emirates.  

© Press Release 2015