Under the title of innovation, Higher Education and Australian Trade Commission discuss the Australian Forum 2015 organizat

The Scientific Research Department of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research held a meeting with the representatives of the Australian Trade Commission, at the Ministry's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday, January 20th, 2015. The Ministry was represented by Dr. Husam Sultan Al Ulama, Director of the Scientific Research Department, and Dr. Ahmed Alosi, Research Program Manager, and the Australian Trade Commission - Dubai was represented by Mr. Barc Starr, Director of the Education Program in the Middle East and North Africa, and Mr. Said Metwally, Consultant and Trade Commissioner at the Australian Embassy in the UAE.

The meeting was held to discuss the partnership in organizing the upcoming Australian Forum for cooperation with the UAE, which is planned to be held on April 12th, 2015 in Dubai, and on April 13th in Abu Dhabi, under the title: "Innovation". The Forum consists of several topics, including the academic axis, which focus on general health topics related to the best practices in planning and strategic policies on the subject of research and innovation in the areas of health prevention, noting that the Ministry, represented by the Scientific Research Department, has cooperated in the organization of the previous two sessions in 2013 and 2014 through coordination with the federal and licensed private higher education institutions in the State, and this cooperation will continue for the purpose of completing the program of the Forum.

Dr. Al Ulama stressed on the importance of this meeting for the organization of the Forum, which will present the Australian experience in a number of sectors including education and research, and which contribute to the development of research and academic capability of the UAE institutions in the relevant fields.

It is noteworthy that His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Hon Andrew Robb, Australian Minister of Trade and Investment, signed last year a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the development of policies with regard to higher education, vocational education, training, research, and opportunities for the citizens of each country to study in the country of the other party. The MOU came to strengthen the bilateral relations between "Australia" and "UAE" in the field of higher education, vocational education, training, and research, and in recognition of the importance of the role of these areas in consolidating and strengthening the links between the two governments.