Sharjah24 - WAM: David Hurley, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, has visited the UAE University (UAEU) campus in Al Ain together with Australia’s Ambassador to the UAE, Heidi Venamore PSM.
The delegation learnt about the history and mission of the UAEU, its teaching and research infrastructure, its research institutes, and its current portfolio of research and development activities. The visit aimed at bosting cooperation between the UAEU and Australian universities and research institutions. General Hurley and Venamore were received at the UAEU campus by Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to H.H. The President of the UAE and Chancellor of the UAEU, together with Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Ghaleb Al Hadrami Al Breiki, Acting Provost, Professor Mohammed Hassan Al Qasimi, and Associate Provost for Research, Professor Ahmad Murad.
During a tour of the campus, the delegation were also welcomed by the entire team working at the National Space Science and Technology Centre – a joint venture between UAEU, the UAE Space Agency, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Professor Murad explained that in March 2022 the UAEU’s National Water and Energy Centre will collaborate with the Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to host an international conference, ‘Water Resources Management and Sustainability: Solutions for Arid Regions’.
He added, "The event recognises both the fruitful academic collaboration between the UAEU and our Australian colleagues, and the current and common challenges experienced by the UAE and Australia with respect to developing, managing, and conserving the scarce water resources. The conference will advance techniques and practices to achieve water sustainability." Professor Murad told the delegation that the UAEU’s collaborative research programmes with over 100 different research Australian institutes have led to 511 coauthored publications in the last 6 years. He also spoke of 12 on-going research projects between UAEU and several Australian Universities.
He told the delegation that "the UAEU intends to expand our research collaboration with prestigious Australian universities and research institutes."
The Chancellor thanked the delegation for their visit to the campus, saying, "It is our honour to join you in celebrating Australia’s National Day and the valuable contribution of Australia and its citizens to the entire UAE community. We are especially grateful that your visit enables us to affirm the international bonds of friendship, intellectual enquiry, and innovative endeavour that are shared between UAEU and Australia’s higher education sector."
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