Tuesday, Jun 05, 2012
Al Ain Research efforts by individual students at UAE University (UAEU) will be streamlined into broader groups to produce more effective solutions to the key issues in the field of energy, environment, and medicines, pledged the newly appointed Provost of the niversity.
“The scientific groups will be developed on the main lines of research topics to become the base for specialised scientific centres for water resources, energy, biotechnology, strategic studies, molecular medicines, genetics, information technology, and economic development, Professor Mohammad Yousuf Hasan Baniyas, the incumbent provost of the UAEU told Gulf News.
Dr Baniyas who assumed his new duties from June 3, outlined his five-point agenda to develop the oldest university in the emirates
He said the UAEU has a capable scientific faculty for research.
“We are proud of them, as they are involved in reputable scientific research,” he said. The university has earned a reputation and world ranking as a research oriented institution of higher education in the recent past. “We will continue to build on it,” he added.
The research activity, he said, is mostly individual and his vision is to streamline it for more quality results by putting researching from different disciplines in specialised groups. This will make the research results more aligned with the UAE’s strategic goals and suitable for execution, he said.
Professor Baniyas plan also includes enhancing the core educational programmes injecting more practical skills and training to the graduates, decentralisation in the academic decision making and responsibilities, enhancing the quality of educational courses, and making the admission process smoother with the introduction of specified standard requirements.
“I will devote all my time, effort and knowledge to serve the university and its goals so it occupies a prominent place among others. I’ll be pleased to work with Dr Khanbashi and the university community to develop plans to help elevate the academic, scientific and administrative aspects,” said the incumbent provost.
The UAEU students, he said, are well prepared and qualified but they are lacking the practical skills and training in being more employable. All the academic programmes are intensive in nature and focused on the scientific aspects. “Our students need to develop their practical skills such as leadership, communication skills, and the use of new technologies to meet the labour market demands, said Professor Baniyas.
He said he will also be working on the decentralisation of the academic decision making. The deans of different faculties will be given more powers to take decision and shoulder responsibilities in terms of goals and result achievements.
The university has qualified faculty and staff and they need to coordinate and work as a unified team. “The deans and unit directors shall be the focus of academic decision making and the role of the provost office will be supportive to their resolutions,” he noted.
Education is the core business of the university but the students’ social life is also a vital aspect in achieving the goals, he said. “I’ll also put the students’ social activities on check to make them supportive to the educational programmes,” he said.
The UAEU, he said, has sufficient budget and not suffering from financial problems. “The UAEU is a huge university and its requirements changes at times but it’s clear that it has no financial difficulties,” he assured.
Professor Baniyas will be replacing Professor Wyatt R. Hume, the Australian-born academic, who has recently vacated the position. He said the former provost has served the university and play a role in making it a research-oriented institution. He was the one who initiated PhD programmes, said Professor Baniyas while appreciating his services.P
rofessor Baniyas has a broad range of experience. He earning full professor status in 2006 and served as the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Director of Graduate Studies programs, and Associate Dean for Admissions, Student and Alumni Affairs. He has currently been serves as the Vice Provost of Medical Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and is also a member of the University Academic Council.
He has built his academic career after receiving his PhD in pharmacology and therapeutics from the University of Wales. His training includes residency and fellowships of the American College of Forensic Examiners and the American College of Clinical Pharmacology. He holds board certifications from the American Academy of Pain Management, the American Board of Forensic Examiners, the American Psychotherapy Association and the American Board of Applied Toxicology. Professor Baniyas has also been serving as an advisor for national and international organizations on drug safety.
The UAEU
It was established in 1976 by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the country’s first national university. It has nine faculties including humanities and social sciences, engineering, food and agriculture, information technology, business and economics, sciences, law, and medicines and health sciences.
The university has some 12,500 students, majority of them females, enrolled for the current (2011-2012) academic year. It started its PhD programme in January 2010. The university was placed among the 10 top research universities of the Islamic world according to a study by the Ankara based Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRTCIC).
By Aftab Kazmi Bureau Chief
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
