Dubai: The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai plans to launch undergraduate programmes in engineering, business and computing by September 2010. The announcement came at the conclusion of a three-day visit by board members of RIT Dubai to New York.
Dr Mustafa A.G. Abu Shagur, president of RIT Dubai, said: “RIT Dubai currently offers postgraduate studies and advanced certificate courses in selected fields. We are now looking at expanding our portfolio and adding undergraduate programmes to our curriculum by next year … .”
Headed by Shaikh Khalid Bin Zayed Bin Saqer Al Nahyan as chairman, the RIT Dubai delegation met senior officials from RIT New York as part of regular board meetings. The progress of the Dubai campus was reviewed.
Members of the delegation included Dr Mohammad Al Zarouni, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Eesa Kazem, Chairman of the Dubai Financial Market, Dr Jeremy Haefner, RIT provost, James Watters, senior vice-president of finance and administration for RIT, Nabeel Habayeb, CEO of General Electric- Middle East and Asia.
Continuous development
Shaikh Khalid said: “Our meeting today stems from our commitment towards the creation of a knowledge-based economy and to support continuous development. During our meeting we focused on the importance of keeping pace with the latest educational programmes that support the requirements of the educational sector in Dubai.”
Dr Mohammad Al Zarouni said: “We discussed future opportunities and challenges… . It [the meeting] also presented us with the chance to explore and understand the technology, research and educational programmes of RIT New York and study further strategies for cooperation.”
The delegation later toured the RIT New York campus and was shown around the research and development facilities, as well as the nanotechnology, solar energy and micro-electronics faculties.
