Sultan bin Ahmed approves strategic plan for UOS

At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness welcomed the council members, appreciating their efforts in elevating the university's status and contributing to its progress and development. He highlighted the cooperation, dedication, and commitment of the university's administration and faculty, which are fundamental to the achievements of the university and its ongoing academic development, providing a comprehensive educational experience to graduate specialised professionals capable of leading and uplifting the community.
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Graduation Approvals and Strategic Initiatives

The council approved the graduation of 1,542 students who have completed their graduation requirements in the summer 2023/2024 and fall 2024/2025 semesters, including 54 in PHD programmes, 244 in master's programmes, 8 in postgraduate diploma programmes, and 1,236 in various bachelor's programs.

The council also endorsed recommendations from subcommittees, which included reports from the financial, academic, compliance and internal audit, localisation, and risk management committees, along with approving the external auditor's report on the university's budget. Additionally, the council reviewed the financial follow-up report and approved the proposed budget for the "National Scientists" localisation programme for the period from 2024 to 2030, along with the necessary policies and procedures to implement the programme, and the structure of the National Scientists Council, including the academic dean position for the programme.

The council approved the establishment of the "Sharjah Smart Center for Judicial and Legal Research" in collaboration with the Sharjah Judiciary Council. This initiative aims to enhance research and innovation in legal fields, utilise digitisation and artificial intelligence, and promote interdisciplinary programmes to develop innovative solutions and improve judicial practices.

Additionally, the council endorsed the university's strategic plan for 2024–2030, focusing on increasing localisation of administrative and academic positions, boosting the number of master's and doctoral degree holders, and attracting outstanding individuals to become scholars and researchers. The plan also includes a new strategy called "National Scientists," aimed at identifying distinguished students among citizens holding bachelor's degrees, with a goal of having over 250 scientists in various scientific fields by 2030.
Furthermore, the council approved the transition of the "Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery" programme to "Doctor of Medicine," allowing students with certain bachelor’s degrees who meet admission criteria to enroll in the medical programme. The council also approved the introduction of four new academic programmes: Master of Science in Digital Transformation, Master's in Advanced Nursing Practice, Master's in Real Estate Management, and Master's in Strategic Communications for Tourism.
Moreover, the council approved the promotion of 16 faculty members, with 9 promoted to the rank of Professor and 7 to Associate Professor. The council reviewed a report from Professor Hamid Majoul Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, detailing the university's performance and achievements in previous academic years, highlighting that the university has successfully met most performance indicators from the 2019-2024 plan, as the university has launched its upcoming strategic plan for 2024–2030, focusing on four main pillars.

Research Achievements and Future Plans

The report included research performance, showcasing the exceptional achievements of the University of Sharjah community. The university maintained its position as the top institution in the country for scientific publications and citations in global databases, enhancing opportunities and channels for research collaboration with the industrial sector. It focused on impactful and applied research to make a difference in the community of Sharjah and the UAE as a whole.

The report noted that national and international accreditation for academic programmes has been obtained in line with strategic plans. UOS offers the largest number of academic programmes in the country, with 75% of these programmes receiving international accreditation from prestigious accrediting bodies. Currently, the university offers 143 programmes, including 81 graduate programmes for PHD and master's degrees, covering a wide range of disciplines, particularly those required by development plans and business sector needs, as well as those aligned with advancements in modern science and technology.

Additionally, the report from the Chancellor of the University of Sharjah highlighted the university's active role in supporting the strategic plans of the state and initiatives from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, such as achieving educational competencies and skills, student exchange, and the ministry's new approach to evaluating universities based on outcome measurements. It also included achievements and plans for developing and updating infrastructure, learning resources, information technology, laboratories, classrooms, student services, and more, alongside cooperation agreements with universities and institutions locally, regionally, and globally.
The meeting of the university's Board of Trustees was attended by Dr. Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Head of the Legal Department for the Government of Sharjah; Saeed Sultan Al Ghaith Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority; Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority; Mohammed Abdullah, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank; Professor Hamid Majoul Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah and President of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy; Dr. Obaid bin Butti Al Mehairi, former Executive Dean of the Arabic Language and UAE Studies at the Higher Colleges of Technology; and Dr. Khawla Abdul Rahman Al Mulla, former Chairwoman of the Family Affairs Authority.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Jack Vermunt, President of the University of Ottawa in Canada; Dr. Alexander Kulichkov, President of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Russia; Dr. Mohammed Hamdi bin Abd Al-Shakur, Director of Universiti Malaya in Malaysia; Dr. Paul O'Brien, Vice President of McMaster University in Canada; Dr. Martin Bestaru, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Scientific Projects at the University of Leicester and Director of the Leicester Institute for Space and Earth Observation in the UK; Dr. Kamal Youssef Al-Toumi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Co-Director of the Pure Water and Clean Energy Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States; and Dr. Osama Al-Khatib, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and Director of the Stanford Robotics Center at Stanford University in the United States.