Abu Dhabi University opens registration for its Undergraduate Research Competition

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi University (ADU), an internationally recognized academic institution for quality education and applied research, has announced that registration is now open for the seventh edition of its Undergraduate Research Competition (URC), which will be held under the patronage of His Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education. The URC will be open to undergraduate students across the UAE and other GCC countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. The competition aims to expand critical thinking abilities amongst undergraduate students by encouraging an innovative mindset and tackling topics of interest, providing them with first-hand experience of scholarly exploration and scientific research.

Inspired by ADU’s core strategic goals, the competition reflects the university’s prioritization of research, in order to prepare students for their post-graduate careers. Using creative solutions, ADU aims to promote scientific research and innovation within the student body, in line with the UAE’s ambition to become a global hub for science and entrepreneurship.

Elaborating on the contest, Professor Ashraf Khalil, Director of Research at ADU noted: “As an institution that believes in providing students with the best academic experience, and in line with its students first approach, Abu Dhabi University strives to provide top quality resources to its students to prepare them for careers beyond the four walls of a classroom. Over the course of the last six editions of the URC, we have witnessed an increase in the participation of our ambitious students and their interest in pursuing scientific research. Our competition has now become one of the largest and most important annual undergraduate events in the UAE, and we have no doubt that this year’s seventh edition will continue to elevate students to new academic heights.”

This year’s contest will introduce a new category for ‘innovation’ designed to put students’ creativity to the test. The category is dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship, digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI), representing the key cornerstones of the UAE's economic plan. Participants are encouraged to practice essential skills that are required in order to succeed in the job market, as the UAE shifts towards a technology-focused and knowledge-based economy.

The students’ presentations will be judged by a Scientific Committee with the involvement of experts from academia as well as the industries represented by the categories, with winners to be announced during the closing session of the competition. The registration deadline is January 30, and the competition will commence on April 29. Students are advised to visit the university’s website for more information about the contest. In addition to a Certification of Recognition, winning teams will also receive incentive prizes worth over AED 100,000.

For more information on the submission criteria or to register, participants can visit https://www.adu.ac.ae/urc.

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About Abu Dhabi University (ADU)

Abu Dhabi University is a private, multi-campus University committed to meeting the education, skills and knowledge needs in the United Arab Emirates and neighboring countries through qualifications and standards that are respected across the world.

Although young, the University is recognized as a world-class institution committed to excellence in teaching, student experience, research and corporate education. We are regularly featured in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) rankings as among the best higher education institutions in the region. We hold prestigious international accreditations for the institution as a whole, for particular fields of provision and for specific programs. We were the first private higher education institution in the UAE and the GCC region to earn international accreditation from the Californian Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). ADU’s College of Business holds international accreditations from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the prestigious EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). Only 1% of business schools worldwide have this double accreditation. In addition, its College of Engineering has earned accreditation from the world-renowned Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). It houses the only architecture program to hold accreditation by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

According to the QS World Universities Rankings, ADU ranks in the top 701-750 universities worldwide, the top 150 leading institutions under 50 years, the top 27 universities in the Arab World, and the top 6 in the UAE. Being rated 3rd globally for international faculty and 10th for international students, we consider diversity to be among our key strengths.

Established in 2003, Abu Dhabi University has over 7,500 students from over 80 nationalities across its four campuses and sponsored programs. Structured into Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Law and the University College, we offer undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, law, education, business and management, engineering and sciences, including to Etihad pilots, trainees and personnel of the UAE military. Alongside the well-established campuses in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, we have launched a new campus in Dubai Knowledge Park and recently opened a teaching facility in the Al Dhafra Region of the Abu Dhabi Emirate. In addition, a brand-new state-of-the-art campus is planned to open in Al Ain in September 2019.

Media Contacts

Weber Shandwick for Abu Dhabi University

Mohammed Al Azzam / malazzam@webershandwick.com / +971 2 449 4457

Abu Dhabi University

Noor AlMasri, Senior Marketing Operations Manager / noor.almasri@adu.ac.ae / +971 506195700

© Press Release 2018