Collaboration Aims to Develop Home-Grown Emirati Professionals to Stimulate Growth of UAE's ICT Sector

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 11 June, 2012 - Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, and the ICT Fund, an initiative of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), today jointly announced a scholarship program for 30 outstanding students to study ICT at the institute.

A first-of-its-kind fund in the Arab world, the ICT Fund aims to achieve a global leadership position for UAE's ICT sector through fostering innovation. The scholarship will cover tuition fees, textbook allowance, application and enrollment fees, fees for preparatory programs and administrative services, housing fees and monthly stipend.

The announcement was made at a press conference organized by the ICT Fund and Masdar Institute in Dubai. The agreement was signed by Dr. Abdul Qader Al Khayat, Chairman, Board of Trustees of ICT Fund, and Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of the Masdar Institute. 

Dr. Eesa Bastaki, CEO of the ICT Fund, Hamza Kazim, Vice-President for Operations & Finance of Masdar Institute, and Dr. Lamya Nawaf Fawwaz, Executive Director of Public Affairs of Masdar Institute, were also present at the press conference.

Students availing the scholarship will have to pledge that they will join any relevant positions in the ICT sector in the UAE upon graduation. The scholarship will be available only to full-time students who maintain the minimum GPA required by the TRA and Masdar Institute.

The agreement is part of TRA's collaboration with Masdar Institute to focus on human capital development efforts in the UAE. According to the agreement, Masdar Institute will select the students who meet the TRA's requirements and supervise them during their studies in accordance with the set criteria.

Dr. Eesa Bastaki said: "We focus on three core areas - education, research and development, and incubators - to stimulate the ICT sector's growth. Masdar Institute continues to play a crucial role in developing Emirati human capital, especially in advanced technology areas. We are confident the scholarship program will effectively create the best professionals from among the high-caliber students at the research-based institution."

In line with the agreement, Masdar Institute will additionally clarify the objectives and requirements of the TRA scholarship program to potential candidates and enrolled students. In effect, the collaboration aims to provide the ICT sector in the UAE with skilled Emirati professionals, and help graduating national students to find work in the UAE's ICT sector.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of the Masdar Institute, said: "Masdar Institute is mandated to develop and nurture students of high academic standing as part of its contribution to the UAE's human capital development concurring with the directive by the country's leadership. The agreement with TRA for the scholarship program will ensure students, on their part, contribute to the growth of the UAE's ICT sector. We will continue our contribution as an academic institution in developing the country's knowledge base through relevant and meaningful collaborations."

Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.

About Masdar Institute
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of importance to the region.

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.

An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic institutions in collaborative activities.

Masdar Institute offers degrees in:

  • MSc Engineering Systems and Management

  • MSc Computing and Information Science

  • MSc Materials Science and Engineering

  • MSc Mechanical Engineering

  • MSc Water and Environmental Engineering

  • MSc Microsystems Engineering

  • MSc Electrical Power Engineering

  • MSc Chemical Engineering

Please visit our website http://www.masdar.ac.ae/

About Telecommunications Regulatory Authority 
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been established according to the UAE Federal Law by Decree No. 3 of 2003 - Telecom Law. TRA is responsible for the management of every aspect of the telecommunications and information technology industries in the UAE. Despite its relatively short life-span, TRA has exceeded expectations by achieving its projected goals in record time.

The organizational objectives of TRA are derived from the UAE Telecommunications Law, its Executive Order and the UAE National Telecommunications Policy. These objectives include: ensuring adequacy of telecommunications services throughout the UAE; achieving enhancement of services, both in terms of quality and variety; ensuring quality of service and adherence to terms of licenses by licensees; encouraging telecommunications and IT services within the UAE; promoting and enhancing the telecommunications sector within the UAE; resolving disputes between the licensed operators; establishing and implementing a regulatory and policy framework; promoting new technologies; ensuring that the UAE becomes the regional ICT hub; developing the country's human capital; and encouraging research and development.

TRA, and as determined by its mandate, is entrusted with a wide range of responsibilities related to the Telecommunications and Information Technology Sector, both within and outside the UAE. According to the UAE Federal Telecom Law No. (3) For the Year 2003 and its amendments,  TRA is to exercise its functions and powers and under this Law and its Executive Order to:

•Ensure that the telecommunications services provided throughout the state, are sufficient to satisfy the public demands of those who wish to make use of such services

•Enhance the level of service provided by the telecommunications sector in order to promote the interests of such services

•Ensure that licensees meet quality standards of performance and adhere to the terms and conditions of the licenses granted to them

•Encourage, promote, and develop the telecommunications and information technology industries in the state

•Promote and enhance the telecommunications system in the state as indicated by the development and the establishment of industry related training institutions and through the availability of the latest apparatus, equipment, and facilities provided by telecommunications technologies.

About ICT Fund
The ICT Fund has a determined mission to provide targeted funding and advisory services to companies, organisations and individuals to empower them to develop the innovation and knowledge capital of the UAE ICT sector with their research, education and entrepreneurship.

The Fund strives to promote a culture of entrepreneurship in the UAE ICT sector and improve linkage between industry and academia to ultimately promote the involvement of UAE nationals in the realm of scientific and technology research to foster self-reliance of the UAE in technology creation and development.

The Fund is driven by a strong vision to make the ICT sector the leading sector in the Middle East through enabling and fostering progressive innovation in the field. At ICT Fund, we believe that a global leadership position for the UAE ICT sector can be attained by investing in innovative ideas that contribute to the intellectual growth of the sector, yielding measurable results.

For more information contact:
Name: Bader Al Zarei
Communications Manager
Public Affairs Department
Email: balzarei@masdar.ac.ae
Phone: +971 02 8109372

© Press Release 2012