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KU and Global Energy Association Sign Agreement to Cooperate in Energy-Related Areas

Khalifa University and the Global Energy Association, a non-governmental organization focused on developing industry research and promoting energy cooperation, have signed a memorandum to strengthen their partnership in energy-related areas.

The ‘Partnership and Cooperation Memorandum’ was signed by Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and Ignatov Aleksandr Iurevich, President, Global Energy Association, on the sidelines of the 24th World Energy Congress held recently at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). Officials from both partners including Dr Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice President for Research and Development, Khalifa University, and others were present on the occasion.

Under the partnership, the two organizations will continue building academic and research ties between the UAE and Russia across all energy-related areas. These ties include the joint promotion of Global Energy Association award programs, as well as organizing of conferences and workshops focusing mostly on research and innovation.

The Global Energy Association’s Global Energy Prize is an international award, which recognizes outstanding scientific innovations and solutions in energy research and its concurrent environmental challenges.  Presented each year, the award winners collectively receive a cash prize of RUB39 million (around US$600,000). Previous winners include prominent scientists such as Arthur Rosenfeld from the US (for his pioneering work in energy-efficient buildings), Akira Yoshino from Japan (for the invention of lithium ion batteries), and Thorsteinn Ingi Sigfusson from Iceland (for developing hydrogen into a viable alternative power source in Iceland).

The Association manages the Global Energy Prize, organizes the eponymous summit, and implements the Global Energy Youth Program.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
25 September 2019
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Khalifa Innovation Center Kicks-Off Cohort of 16-Week Incubation Training Program for 2019

10 Emirati Innovators Lead Commercialization of Patents through Startups

Khalifa Innovation Center (KIC), which is hosted by Khalifa University , has announced the kick-off of its cohort of the 16-week Incubation Training Program. Founded by Khalifa Fund, Tawazun, Mubadala Investments Company, Sandooq Al Watan and Khalifa University, KIC supports commercialization of local high-technology innovations, nurturing them into successful startups.

Started recently, 10 high-tech startups seed-funded by KIC, selected out of the 141 applications from across UAE universities and research centers, started receiving commercialization-focused training and support with specific focus on business, product and marketing development. Khalifa University faculty are involved in five of the total 10 startups that are part of the KIC Incubation Program.

As part of the commercialization program, the participants will receive one-on-one mentorship, access to core industry experts, Khalifa University’s lab facilities, founding partners’ network, as well as special purpose vehicle (SPV) and innovation license company registration through Abu Dhabi Global Marketplace (ADGM).

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “Entrepreneurship thrives only through innovation and we are delighted to be part of the Khalifa Innovation Center’s Incubation Training Program that will help Emirati startups. Joining with our partners, we are keen to ensure these budding entrepreneurs and their technology startups will flourish and become major enterprises in their area of expertise, contributing to the UAE and the global community. We believe the Incubation Training Program will immensely benefit these young entrepreneurs.”

Mohamed Al Qadhi, Acting CEO, KIC, said: “Khalifa Innovation Center bridges the gap and enables inventors and positive researchers to create viable commercial businesses that have economic returns and generate employment opportunities in the UAE. Unlike other incubators or accelerators, KIC focuses on deep-tech startups and scouts for the best inventions that have commercial value across the UAE.”

The KIC startups from Khalifa University selected for the program include Jinomix which provides comprehensive DNA and genetic mapping, the Khalifa University-Strata Manufacturing initiative to make bicycles from aerospace carbon prepegs, and the Medical Advanced Researched Projects (MARP) which offers testing of antenatal fetal welfare.

In addition, SPL Co which offers software modernization and migration services, and Networksync – two projects from Khalifa University’s Emirates ICT Innovation Center (EBTIC) – have been funded by Khalifa Innovation Center.

KIC acts as an incubator for start-ups and research innovation by young Emirati entrepreneurs and inventors. The Center aims to provide the space, funding and mentorship needed in order for the recipients to grow their businesses, and create the next the generation of leaders in the technology industry.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
29 September 2019

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KU Startups Deliver Pitches at GeoTech Demo Day

Two Khalifa University startups being incubated by the GeoTech Innovation Program, Farmin and Ayn Astra, delivered business pitches at GeoTech Innovation Program Demo Day on Wednesday, 11 September at Krypto Labs in Masdar City.

The GeoTech Innovation Program is a joint initiative by the UAE Space Agency and Krypto Labs to accelerate the growth of business startups and transform their innovative ideas into commercially viable, scalable, and market-ready products, fostering innovation and knowledge-based activity in the UAE space industry. Many investors and experts in space tech joined GeoTech Innovation Program Demo Day and learned about the smart solutions being developed by KU companies Farmin and Ayn Astra in the field of satellite data processing.

Ayn Astra offers a land deformation monitoring platform that uses satellite data and advanced processing algorithms to map ground deformation patterns. The startup is founded by Adham Alkhaja, PhD student in Aerospace Engineering Department, Dr. Prasanth Marpu, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and two KU alumni Dr. Nikolaos Lisosis and Dr. Prajowal Manandhar.

Ayn Astra uses data from optical and radar satellites, in situ measurements and land cover mapping to deliver continuous ground surface deformation monitoring solutions. This allows customers to efficiently plan and manage infrastructure and housing development projects. The startup aims to expand its operations by providing a wide range of satellite-based services such as monitoring the health of palm trees and tracking the movement of sand dunes.

Farmin is a smart agriculture platform that combines satellite imagery with AI to continuously map entire farm fields to maximize farm production. Founding members include KU’s Dr. Ali AbdulKareem, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Dr. ZiAng Zhang from Rice University.

The system analyzes multi-spectral satellite data that measures water levels, soil nutrients and diseases in the ground, and displays where the strong and weak yield spots are located. Then an in-house developed AI technology recommends an action enabling early intervention to be taken. The system helps to maximize farm production, save costs by cutting down on water and fertilizer consumption, and combat climate change by promoting sustainable agriculture.

The GeoTech Innovation Program Demo Day gave Farmin an opportunity to showcase the interface they developed, the working features, the problems it can solve and the numerous potential future applications.

“Farmin can help government oversee and forecast the agricultural production of an entire region, enabling them to strategically plan into the future,” shared Dr. AbdulKareem.

The Demo Day also helped match the startups with potential partners and interested end-users, providing them with an opportunity to seek further funding to complete the development of their satellite-based products.

Ayn Astra is seeking to raise funds in order to acquire and process large amounts of archived satellite data to develop a historical record of deformation over wide swathes of land, including residential, industrial, civil infrastructure and farms. The startup then aims to continuously monitor expansive areas to look for future deformation trends.

Currently, Farmin requires lengthy pre-processing of data and can only do it in very small areas. Additional funding will help increase the scale and efficiency of the unique agriculture tool.

The startups reflect KU’s commitment to bridging the gap between lab and market and bringing innovations most critical to key UAE sectors to market where they will benefit society and further advance the development of the country’s knowledge economy.

Erica Solomon
Senior Editor
01 October 2019

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Khalifa University Awards First-Ever Honorary Doctorate to First Emirati Astronaut Hazza Al-Mansouri

Photo Credit: NASA

Honorary Doctorate Awarded to Astronaut Hazza Al-Mansoori in Recognition of His Historic Achievement and Highlights its Role in Supporting the UAE’s Space Sector

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today awarded its first-ever honorary doctorate since its inception, to Hazza Al Mansoori, the first Arab astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the first Emirati astronaut.

His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman of Khalifa University Board of Trustees, said that the honorary doctorate to Hazza Al Mansouri is an expression of the pride of the UAE, represented by the country’s leadership, institutions, people and sectors, and more especially the higher education sector.

His Highness added that Hazza Al Mansoori’s journey to space was inspirational to the university students as it acts as a motivation to the UAE students to fulfill their ambitions, no matter what the difficulties are. As a leading university in the field of aerospace research, honoring UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansoori by awarding the first honorary doctorate is part of the university’s mission to encourage the UAE youth to take up science for higher studies and professional careers, he pointed out.

Khalifa University is the first university in the UAE to graduate the first batch of aerospace engineers. It currently offers bachelors, Master’s and doctoral programs in aerospace engineering. Moreover, the university houses the Aerospace Research and Innovation Center (ARIC) and has established the first advanced space laboratory in the region, one of the most advanced in the world. The university’s Master’s students have built MySat-1, the first CubeSat to be developed in a university lab in the UAE. The CubeSat launched into space from the ISS, the first of four to be launched into space by end of 2020. Khalifa University also plans to establish an advanced space lab to help analyze the data that will be sent from Mars.

Khalifa University has strategic partnerships with the Emirates Space Agency, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (YahSat) to support the UAE’s promising space sector, contributing to the UAE’s ambitious plans for astronautics and the launch of the Mars Probe next year.

UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansoori returned a few days ago from a historic week-long space visit to the ISS, on board the Soyuz MS15 spacecraft, where he conducted a series of scientific tests to experiment with fluid dynamics in space in order to verify the behavior of liquids under microgravity. The space visit was a realization of a dream by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, which was turned into a vision by the UAE’s leadership. It also opened the doors for the UAE to join the club of other countries that have space programs.

Momen Khaiti
Senior Editor
6 October 2019

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Khalifa University to Host Graduation Ceremony for Class of 2019 Students on 20 October

The University Celebrates the Graduation of More Than 400 Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD Students

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Khalifa University of Science and Technology will host the Class of 2019 graduation ceremony on 20 October.

The event at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi will honor the University’s success of 408 students from various undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs in science, engineering and arts. In addition, four graduates from Fall 2018 semester will also be receiving their degrees during the ceremony.

In all, 20 students will receive their PhD degrees, while 87 will receive their Master’s at the graduation ceremony. A total of 301 students will be receiving their bachelor’s degrees in science, engineering and arts, making the overall numbers to 408. Out of this, 149 are male students and 259 female. The UAE national students total 316 while the number of international students was 92.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2019 will be an occasion for these students to mark their successful academic performance as they prepare to launch into the professional lives. We believe they will equally shine in their workplaces, thus achieving not only personal advancement in their careers, but also bring honor to our university that keeps ahead of other institutions in developing human and intellectual capital.”

Khalifa University will be celebrating the success of the Class of 2019 graduates at a time when the university’s new College of Medicine and Health Sciences has just commenced Fall 2019 classes for the first cohort of newly enrolled medical students. More major milestones have also come the Khalifa University way in recent months, especially in intellectual capital. The university currently has more than 140 issued patents, and has declared over 400 invention disclosures, thus firmly placing itself in the league of academic institutions renowned for scientific innovation and research excellence.

At present, Khalifa University’s faculty of 382 represent 49 nationalities, while the student body of 3,461 represent 51 countries.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
13 October 2019

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Khalifa University Tops in UAE, Second in MENA Region and among Top 200 Globally in THE World University Subject Rankings 2020 for Engineering and Technology

Current Ranking Covers Chemical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Khalifa University of Science and Technology is ranked first in the UAE, second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and among the top 200 globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Engineering and Technology.

The University is placed within the 176-200 band out of 1,008 universities assessed in the 2020 THE listing for subjects.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “The Khalifa University’s status in the current listing once again strongly illustrates some of our core strengths that keep us in the forefront, as the most sought-after academic institution for engineering and technology. We have already established our leading role in innovation by the sheer magnitude of our research outcome. We believe this ranking firmly portrays our special expertise in various subject areas that offer students productive avenues to transform into true professionals as they chart their future course.”

The ‘THE World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Engineering and Technology’ includes a range of narrower subject areas covering General Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.

The subject tables employ the same range of 13 performance indicators used in the overall World University Rankings 2020, brought together with scores provided under five categories. However, the overall methodology is recalibrated for each subject, with the weightings changed to suit the individual fields.

The weightings for the engineering and technology ranking are: Teaching (30%), Research (30%), Citations (27.5%), International outlook (7.5%) and Industry income (5%).

For engineering and technology, an institution must either have at least 4% of its academic staff or at least 40 academic staff in the ‘engineering and technology’ discipline, to be considered for the subject ranking by THE.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
17 October 2019

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HH Sheikh Theyab Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Witnesses Khalifa University’s Class of 2019 Graduation Ceremony

A Total of 408 Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD Graduates Receive Degrees

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, His Highness Sheikh Theyab Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince’s Court, today attended the graduation ceremony of Khalifa University of Science and Technology’s Class of 2019, which included 408 bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students. In addition, four graduates from Fall 2018 semester also received their degrees during the ceremony.

The ceremony at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi was also attended by His Excellency Eng. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education and Vice-Chairman of the Khalifa University Board of Trustees, and His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State, Group Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Chairman, Masdar.

Other members of Khalifa University Board of Trustees present at the ceremony included HE Ali Rashid Qanas Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Department of Government Support and Acting Director, Human Resources, Abu Dhabi Government, HE Abdulmunim Al Kindy, Director, Exploration, Development and Production Directorate, ADNOC, and HE Abdulaziz Abdulla Alhajri, Director, Refining and Petrochemicals Directorate, ADNOC.

In addition, HE Saif Mohamed Alhajeri, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development and Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.E. Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, and H.E. Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Department of Energy and Member of the Executive Council, were present at the ceremony. Members of the University’s faculty and staff, the graduates and members of their families also attended the event.

The ceremony celebrated graduation of a total of 408 students, 20 of which were PhD students, 87 Master’s and 301 Bachelors of Science, Engineering and Art programs.

During the ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Theyab conferred the degrees, congratulating the students on their graduation and wishing them success for the future.

His Highness Shaikh Theyab stressed that the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have helped Khalifa University achieve prestigious ranking both regionally and internationally through its distinguished academic programs and advanced research projects. He also pointed out that efforts towards achieving future milestones would further cement the University’s position among the top institutions in the world.

In his speech, Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President, Khalifa University, expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his wise and visionary leadership, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his role in ushering in a transformative leap not only in Khalifa University but also in the country’s academic and research sectors in general.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “Khalifa University today has achieved significant milestones including 126 issued patents, with 343 pending patent applications and more than 400 invention disclosures. Such a remarkable intellectual capital output in scientific fields reflects not only the steady progress the university has made in the recent years, but also the commitment of our faculty and students in obtaining new solutions in key technology sectors that are vital to the UAE’s economic transformation.”

Dr. Al Hammadi added: “As we move up in our contributions to the IP ecosystem, we are also exploring and widening the scope of our international collaborations, especially in Asia and Europe. Researchers at Khalifa University have published about 70% of the total papers in the most important 25% of scientific journals internationally. This in return has contributed to the leading status of Khalifa University as top in the UAE, while being included in the prestigious Shanghai-based Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

He concluded: “I offer my congratulations to the cohort of Class of 2019 graduates. With their newly acquired knowledge and expertise, I believe they will play a truly critical role, contributing to the economic progress of the UAE, as well as in regions across the world.”

His Highness Sheikh Theyab also presented Khalifa University’s first-ever honorary PhD degree to Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Arab and Emirati astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Khalifa University has consistently contributed to the aerospace sector, especially by graduating the first-ever batch of students in Aerospace Engineering. Khalifa University students have also designed and developed MySat-1 which was launched into space in February 2019, while the launch of MySat-2 is scheduled for the near future.

During the ceremony, Amna Ahli, Biomedical Engineering graduate, and a current student of the Khalifa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, offered the graduate address.

The second cohort of 2019 graduates included 149 male students, and 259 females. The number of UAE Nationals totaled 316, while international students numbered 92.

Khalifa University ranked first in the UAE, second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and within the top 200 globally in the most recent Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Engineering and Technology, which covered more than 1,000 Universities from 70 countries. The University is also ranked first in the fields of ‘research’ and ‘industry income’ – strong indications of its research status. Moreover, the university is ranked 28th among Asian universities in the THE Asia Universities ranking, while remaining among the top 31% of the 1011 global institutions assessed by the 2019 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
20 October 2019

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KU to Highlight Highly Diverse Academic Programs and Research Innovations in Engineering, Medicine and Science at NAJAH 2019

Khalifa University’s Scholarship Options Cover Undergraduate and Post-Graduate Programs Including Newly Launched Medical Degree

Khalifa University of Science and Technology will showcase select student-led research innovations as well as its holistic and highly diverse academic and scholarship offerings at NAJAH 2019, the UAE’s leading higher education event.

The 13th edition of NAJAH will be held from 30 October-1 November 2019 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). The Khalifa University stand (K10) will offer extensive information on all its programs, especially the College of Medical and Health Sciences that has commenced classes from Fall 2019.

A few samples from the Body World’s museum, the globally-reputed most-visited traveling exhibition of dissected and ‘plastinated’ human bodies, animals, and other anatomical structures, invented in 1977 by the German anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, were also on display at the stand. The region’s first-ever exposition at Khalifa University Main Campus remains open for another five months to welcome students and families. Entry is free.

Khalifa University will highlight the Program in Artificial Intelligence and a number of research innovations including the Al Kharraf palm tree climber, the eco-friendly battery-powered ‘Die Wheel’ vehicle, an automated solar PV cleaning system and a sustainable mechanical pressure converter for desalination. The university currently offers 12 bachelors, 16 Master’s and two PhD programs that incorporate 12 concentrations.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “NAJAH 2019 offers the perfect platform to showcase some of our student-led innovative research projects that provide solutions to real-world problems. As a top-ranked academic institution locally, regionally and globally, Khalifa University offers one of the most suitable academic environments for students seeking to expand their knowledge. With highly diverse and advanced academic and research offerings, as well as scholarship programs for eligible students, Khalifa University enables talented students to excel academically and professionally. We believe this event will help raise awareness about not only the top-ranked Khalifa University about also the learning opportunities available across the UAE.”

Along with its partners, Khalifa University offers a number of undergraduate scholarships for both UAE national and international students. Full scholarships covering tuition fees are provided to UAE national students, while eligible UAE national students may also receive monthly stipends. Similarly, comprehensive scholarships for graduate students cover all educational expenses while in some cases recipients may have the potential to earn a monthly stipend.

Some of the graduate scholarships offered at Khalifa University include the Buhooth Scholarship, KU MED Scholarships, Graduate Research / Teaching Assistant (GRTA) scholarships, Waived-Fees Scholarship that helps employed UAE Nationals undertake graduate studies on a part-time basis and scholarship providing full coverage of tuition fees, and Research Center Sponsorships as well as the China Scholarship Council-Khalifa University Joint PhD Scholarship.

Additionally, in order to develop competent teachers, the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with Khalifa University, is offering Future Teachers scholarships in the BSc in Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Chemistry programs. This scholarship is available for Emirati students and Arab residents in the UAE. Other undergraduate scholarships include Scholarship for UAE Nationals, ADNOC Scholarship Program, TRA Scholarship ‘Betha’, UAE Nuclear Energy Scholarship, and the National Electronic Security Authority (NESA)-Tamayuz Scholarship Program.

With three colleges – College of Arts and Science, College and Engineering and the College of Medical and Health Sciences – Khalifa University is uniquely positioned as a higher education institution that offers multiple streams of learning. The university currently has 18 dedicated research centers that seek innovations in areas including artificial intelligence, space systems and technologies, sustainability, clean energy and energy storage, water and environmental engineering, petroleum exploration and distribution, and aerospace.

NAJAH 2019 comes at a time when Khalifa University continues to achieve key successes, including worldwide academic rankings. The university is ranked within the 176-200 band in the most recent Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Engineering and Technology. Moreover, the university also ranked 28th among Asian universities, while remaining among the top 31% of the 1,011 global institutions assessed by the 2019 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

Representatives from more than 150 local and international universities from 20 countries around the world will be present at NAJAH 2019 that welcomes more than 17,000 high school students (aged 16-18), parents, and graduate students seeking postgraduate studies and schools.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
28 October 2019

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Khalifa University and Mubadala Collaborate On Projects For New College Of Medicine And Health Sciences

MOU Focuses on Medical Training, Research and Innovation, and Supports Establishment of Abu Dhabi as Knowledge Hub

Khalifa University and Mubadala Investment Company, through its healthcare arm, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on projects related to the university’s new medical college, thereby supporting one of the key Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 objectives of establishing the emirate as a significant knowledge hub in the region.

Khalifa University’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) opened its doors to students enrolled for the UAE’s first post-graduate Doctor of Medicine program in Fall 2019. The program is open to all nationalities.

Abdulla Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Head of Mubadala Healthcare, said: “By partnering with highly regarded academic institutions that are elevating medical education, we can help to develop an ecosystem of world-class healthcare education, medical research and innovation that positions Abu Dhabi as a leader in the medical field.”

“In terms of the agreement, we will work with Khalifa University’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences to identify opportunities covering Mubadala Healthcare’s medical staff and facilities and CMHS’s students and faculty members.”

According to the MOU signed at Cleveland, the two partners will identify potential synergies and areas for collaboration within healthcare, including knowledge transfer and development, optimizing the use of facilities, practical training and nurturing talent, as well as promoting innovation and research.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of Khalifa University, said: “The College of Health and Medicine Science has expanded our existing academic offerings as part of our contribution to strengthening the country’s healthcare ecosystem, thereby helping to support Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030 objectives. It will be through cooperation with entities such as Mubadala Healthcare’s wide range of trusted medical facilities that we look forward to establish our medical college as a leading institution for medical education, research and innovation.”

Khalifa University’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences is the first allopathic Liaison Committee on Medical Education-comparable (LCME), post-baccalaureate medical college, which prepares its students for residency programs in the US and Canada. The Doctor of Medicine program is the first of many planned CMHS education programs and will be offered in five strands – biomedical science, clinical medicine, medicine and society, physicianship, and research, technology and innovation.

Al Shamsi added: “The MOU allows both parties to explore opportunities where each group’s staff as well as the university students can advance knowledge through sharing state-of-the-art healthcare and research facilities.”

Mubadala Healthcare facilities include Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint, Amana Healthcare, National Reference Laboratories, Capital Health Screening Centre, and Abu Dhabi Telemedicine.

News Writer
7 November 2019

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Khalifa University Ranked Top in UAE by US News & World Report’s 2020 Best Global Universities Rankings

University Also Comes Among Best Global Universities in Asia with Stellar Rankings for ‘Regional Research Reputation’

Khalifa University is ranked top in the UAE in the 2020 edition of the Best Global Universities rankings, according to the US News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, thus confirming another international recognition for the research-intensive institution.

In the most comprehensive assessment of research universities worldwide, the new edition of the US News & World Report evaluates over 1,500 institutions or universities in 81 countries on academic research and reputation.

Khalifa University has achieved the top spot in the UAE, ahead of other universities in the country. The university has specifically scored well in the ‘Regional research reputation’ category, which reflects the aggregation of the most recent five years of results of the Academic Reputation Survey for the best universities for research in the region. The university also came #22 in the ‘International Collaboration’ category, which indicates the proportion of the institution’s total papers that contain international co-authors – another measure of quality.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “The excellent regional and international recognition in the US News & World Report’s 2020 Best Global Universities Rankings strongly reaffirms our status as a leading research-intensive higher education institution that excels in quality. Such rankings also reflect Khalifa University’s faculty expertise and research collaborations with top global, regional and local organizations that contribute to scientific exploration in strategic fields. We believe the current ranking will further inspire us to widen the scope of our research areas as we establish ourselves as an institution for qualitative academic research.”

In Subject rankings, the US News & World Report’s 2020 Best Global Universities Rankings placed Khalifa University #114 in ‘Engineering’ in general, and #123 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

In general, Khalifa University was placed 651st globally in the list of over 1,500 world class universities.

Based on Web of Science data and InCites metrics provided by the Web of Science Group, the Best Global Universities methodology weighs factors that measure a university’s global and regional research reputation and academic research performance. For the overall rankings, this includes bibliometric indicators such as publications, citations and international collaboration. Each subject ranking has its own methodology based on academic research performance and reputation in that specific area.

Recently, Khalifa University was ranked first in the UAE, second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and among the top 200 globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Engineering and Technology.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
7 November 2019

 

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Khalifa University Showcasing Research Innovations in Strategic Oil and Gas Sector at ADIPEC 2019

Also Hosting SPE ADIPEC University Program, to Welcome 19 Teams from Middle East and North Africa Region

Khalifa University of Science and Technology is showcasing research innovations in the strategic oil and gas sector, presenting research papers and leading dedicated knowledge-sharing sessions at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2019.

The 35th edition of ADIPEC, one of the world’s largest, most important and influential oil and gas events, is being organized from 11-14 November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

The Khalifa University stand (No: 9412) is displaying projects including an external non-contact smart monitoring system for inspecting oil pipelines, while the faculty and researchers will present five papers about their scientific contributions in the discovery of new technologies in petroleum exploration, production and distribution. In addition, Khalifa University will host the SPE ADIPEC University Program, welcoming a total of 19 teams from universities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of Khalifa University, said: “The oil and gas sector remains strategically vital for the UAE and therefore requires closer monitoring and inspection to ensure longevity of the industry assets. With our cutting-edge research, our faculty experts continue to train students and guide them into focusing on developing new technology solutions in both downstream and upstream areas. The projects presented at our stand and the papers to be presented by our research strongly illustrate the extent and depth of our involvement in this industry, as we continue to lead with pioneering innovations that benefit industry and government sector stakeholders.”

The Khalifa University research papers will cover scientific explorations focusing on black powder that helps in ensuring smooth supply and distribution in oil pipelines, design of improved oil recovery from tight carbonate reservoirs in UAE oil fields, and drill-in fluid and wellbore cleanup fluid that facilitate full capacity production in an oil well while minimizing corrosion of downhole tools.

Another research paper will focus on Autonomous Robotic Inspection System (ARIS) – a cost-effective inspection tool for non-contact external detection of defects in highly vulnerable aging oil supply pipelines. A paper on photovoltaic (PV) array shades, which can reduce thermal load on the labor working at extreme weather conditions, especially at oil rigs during long working hours, will also be presented.

Khalifa University researchers are also working on a data-driven workflow, combining deep learning, rock imaging and modeling, which offers great potential in accurately estimating the properties of oil reservoir for reservoir management and enhanced oil recovery strategy.

For the SPE ADIPEC University Program, Khalifa University will host a total of 19 teams from the MENA region. The program aims to benefit the best undergraduate geosciences and engineering students from the MENA region, offering them an insight into the industry and an opportunity to interact with a number of major industry employers through field trips as well as an onsite visits.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
10 November 2019

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Ankabut Launches AnaApp, First of a Kind Cloud-Based Application Virtualization Platform

AnaApp Serves as Repository for an Entire University Software Catalog Benefiting Researchers and Academic Sector Stakeholders

Ankabut, the Emirates Advanced National Research and Education Network, an initiative of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, announced the official launch of AnaApp (Applications Anywhere, Anytime, Any Device), a first-of-a-kind application virtualization platform that serves as a repository for a university’s entire software catalog, benefiting researchers and academic sector stakeholders in particular and others in general.

Ankabut, in cooperation with Software2, incorporated a large array of added applications in AnaApp which is already fully operational, currently serving Khalifa University in the UAE and more are expected to sign up in the coming weeks. Stakeholders in the research and academic communities can access or work on the software on-demand while in the cloud or download their applications to their devices regardless of the operating system for easy access and for completing core and non-core tasks.

AnaApp also offers access to scores of academic-related and professional programs including MATLAB, SolidWorks, ANSYS, and Adobe.

Fahem Al-Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer, Ankabut, said: “We are delighted to announce the official launch of AnaApp, the first-of-a-kind cloud-based application virtualization platform that has already become fully operational, offering academic institutions and universities multiple benefits. It can be remotely accessed, thus providing researchers and academics the easy mobility and the ease of working from any location. As a pioneer in offering reliable and secure connectivity in the Arab world, Ankabut is proud to add AnaApp to its existing range of services, while looking forward to increasing our dedicated offerings in the near future.”

In the cloud domain, Ankabut currently operates and connects more than 30 different universities in the UAE while more are expected to become part of the network in the coming months. In the managed services area, Ankabut provides support to all IT aspects such as network monitoring, security, backup, and disaster recovery service. It also facilitates seamless connectivity so that classes held anywhere in the world can be aired in real time in the UAE.

Ankabut also provides dedicated, unconstrained network connectivity for eligible research and educational institutions throughout the country. At the same time, Ankabut’s Disaster Recovery guarantees quality performance and protection without interruption that provides privileges including customized solutions, security, and core business focus, reduced downtime and 24/7 operations.

Additionally, Ankabut provides a unified Learning Management System across the UAE to enable educators to drive student development through innovative advanced digital classroom abilities, while introducing a conducive and structured information exchange environment for integrating students, parents, teachers and the administration of schools, colleges or universities.

The first network to be IPv6-enabled in the Middle East region, Ankabut delivers four major technology services categories to provide over 20 education technology services for developing a collaborative approach to research and education in the UAE and the region. Managed by Khalifa University, the Ankabut is jointly funded by the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) through the ICT Fund and Khalifa University.

Clarence Michael
News Writers
14 November 2019