Abu Dhabi: Federal decrees naming three distinguished individuals as heads of federal universities were issued today by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The decrees appointed Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as Chancellor of UAE University. Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State, was named President of Zayed University, while Mohammad Hassan Omran Al Shamsi was designated Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology with the rank of minister.
Commenting on the issuance of three federal decrees, the UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum appreciated the huge efforts exerted by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, in leading and consolidating higher education in the UAE.
He noted that this impacted positively on the achievements attained by higher education, citing the graduation of waves of distinguished batches that meet the state’s requirements, in addition to attracting prestigious major universities to open in the UAE.
Shaikh Mohammad also lauded the efforts of Shaikh Nahyan in establishing standards and criteria for university education in the UAE over the last years — a move he said that has earned the country prestigious academic status at the regional and international level.
He wished success to the new presidents of universities in their new jobs so as to continue upgrading university education according to world-class standards.
In addition to his role as minister, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak also chairs a number of leading organisations, including luxury flight services company Royal Jet. He has also served as the former head of the National Media Council, as well as the Minister of Public Works in the past.
Dr Maitha Al Shamsi has served as an assistant provost for research at UAE University and is also involved at present in a number of local, regional and educational institutions. She holds a PhD in sociology, and is also the adviser to the president of the Family Development Foundation in the UAE as well as a member of the consulting committee of the Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre.
Mohammad Hassan Omran Al Shamsi currently serves as the managing director of the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, and he is also a former chairman of the Board of Etisalat.