H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, today held talks with Alan G. Merten, President of the George Mason University, and an accompanying delegation who called on him at the Al Dhait Palace.
Sheikh Saud welcomed the President of GMU and expressed his appreciation of the academic initiatives undertaken by the Virginia- based University to provide quality higher education opportunities to students in the region at the George Mason University- Ras Al Khaimah Campus (GMU- RAK).
Sheikh Saud said that Government of Ras Al Khaimah attached prime importance to investment in education and would continue its efforts to expand the educational choices available in the UAE by making the emirate a hub for quality higher education. He added that the Government would also make available scholarship programmes to support GMU- RAK students.
GMU- RAK, established in 2005 under the initiative of Ras Al Khaimah Education Company (EDRAK) is the first full branch campus of an American university in the UAE and currently offers six undergraduate degree programmes.
Alan G. Merten said that the University intends to expand the scope of operations at GMU- RAK campus by venturing to undertake research that would be relevant to the region and by opening avenues for continuing education.
“Instead of just being a teaching institution, we want faculty who are doing research that relates to the public and private sector. In this context we are going to select some areas to do research, like public policy or science and technology, that has relevance to the country and the society,” he said.
He said that GMU- RAK has been trying to offer programmes that exactly address the needs of the economy and the social structure. “We are pleased with the fact that we have been able to connect ourselves to the economy and couple the needs of the economy with what we are going to provide in the UAE,” he added.
Alan Merten said that in addition to its focus on bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D programmes, GMU- RAK is planning to get deeply involved in the area of continuing education, which he said was lacking in the emirates and in its universities.
Dr Tayeb Kamali Vice Chancellor, Higher Colleges of Technology and Member of Board of Governors of GMU- RAK Campus, Essam Al Tamimi, Vice Chairman of EDRAK, Jamal Al Jassmi, Managing Director, EDRAK and Zaid Adib Ansari, Acting Vice President of GMU- RAK were present at the meeting.
