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Call for academia, industry co-operation

The American University of Sharjah ( AUS ) has called upon the industrial and manufacturing sectors to partner with its College of Engineering (CEN) in research and development efforts to provide solutions to the challenges faced by the marketplace.

Dr Peter Heath, AUS Chancellor, said the university was currently working on developing a technology, research and innovation park. He was speaking during the annual CEN National Advisory Council meeting held in the AUS campus on Thursday in which 38 industry representatives from the fields of construction, computer science, petroleum, telecommunications, energy and electronics took part.

"In the near future, we expect to provide outstanding facilities and an attractive and vibrant environment for the companies that join this park. We also expect that it will become an active centre for innovation and the generation of new ideas and technologies that serve the needs of the UAE and the region," he said.

The event also provided a glimpse into CEN's future plans to introduce a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management degree, and ongoing feasibility studies to establish a centre of excellence and doctoral programmes.

Also, the department is studying the logistics and legislations involved for the creation of an AUS incubator - a non-thesis option for master's students who want to grow in certain fields and build specific engineering skills. It also plans to hold the first Middle East Conference on Biomedical Engineering Symposium on Sustainability in collaboration with Cambridge University.

Dr Heath said AUS was committed to forging strong partnerships with core sectors of industry and commerce. "To a great extent, we already have such partnerships... Yet, meaningful partnerships rely on continuing open communication and strong bonds of common interest between the university and the external environment. The National Advisory Council is one way to strengthen such bonds and to increase such interaction," he said.

Heath added that the CEN National Advisory Council meeting provides a forum for a "frank" exchange of information and opinions. "We want to know what the needs of your individual industries are now and what they will be in the coming years. We want feedback about how prepared and competent you find our graduates and how appropriate our academic programmes are, so that we can improve and better fit industry needs.

"We seek to talk to you about the ways that we can increase fruitful interaction between your companies and our faculty and students by providing greater opportunities for internships, joint research projects and faculty consulting," he said.

Dr Yousef Al Assaf, Dean of CEN, called on industries to consider the AUS and its CEN "as a unit that is part of your companies and organisations".

"Think of us as your department of research and development," he said and stressed the increasing need for integration between academic institutions and industry.

Al Assaf also gave a presentation highlighting the achievement of CEN, the research its students and faculty were working on, and the future plans of the college.

Organisations present at the annual event included the Office of the Ruler of Sharjah, Sharjah Water and Electricity Authority, Dana Gas, Aldar Properties, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, Dubal and Emic among others.

Student projects
Thirty student projects were presented as part of an annual competition held during the event, which were evaluated by industry professionals.

"The competition is aimed at encouraging students to conduct good research that addresses real industrial problems with innovative solutions," said Dr Yousef Al Assaf, Dean of CEN.

By Eman Al Baik

© Emirates Business 24/7 2010