Hussain Al Hammadi meets with delegation from Arab Open University

Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, has met with a delegation from the Arab Open University, led by Dr. Mona Makram Ebeid, Member of the Board of Trustees of the University, and Dr. Hany Fikry, Director-General of Culture Group and Under-Secretary of the University in the UAE, during a meeting in Abu Dhabi.

The two sides discussed the university’s process of accreditation in the UAE and Al Hammadi welcomed the establishment of its campus in the country.

Al Hammadi highlighted his opinion that media education should be in the Arabic language, to prepare a future generation of Arab journalists and media professionals who can combine their interests in scientific development and the media while preserving Arab identity and culture.

Dr. Ebeid thanked Al Hammadi on behalf of the university, for the warm welcome and hospitality while praising the co-operation between relevant educational authorities in issuing academic licenses, as well as highlighting the role of Dr. Badr Aboul Ela, Chairman of Academic Accreditation in the UAE.

Dr. Fikry presented the university’s proposed Masters and PhD programmes, and both parties discussed their available specialisations, especially in media studies.

The delegation expressed their admiration for the UAE’s achievements in education and the ministry's strategic vision, which has placed the UAE among the world’s most advanced countries, in terms of the quality of education.

Dr. Ebeid also delivered a welcome speech during the primary inauguration ceremony of several Master’s degree students, who applied in the UAE to study at the university.

She then explained that the Arab Open University is making considerable efforts to support Arab students and provide them with an academic system that can compete with major international universities, through its presence in eight Arab countries - Egypt, Saudi Arabic, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE. The university will soon have a presence in other countries, such as Iraq and Palestine, she added.

Dr. Ebeid highlighted the fact that the University was established in 2000, according to the recommendations of the "Exceptional Conference of Ministers in Charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research" that was held in Beirut in September 2000, which stressed the importance of the Arab Open University concept and approved its full support to fulfil their desired goals.

She declared that the University will begin providing services to students in the UAE, through its official agent, Culture Group.