Dr Al Jassim's vision for the young

Every weekend, the vice-president of Zayed University, Dr Sulaiman Moosa Al Jassim, looks forward to returning to his home, nestled among the hills and greenery of Fujairah. He looks forward to spending two days with his family.

As a child, he lived with his grandmother and extended family in a remote village that had no paved roads or electricity.

The dynamics of a typical UAE home – where the young respect the elders, everyone values family time and happiness is made up of simple pleasures of life – is what he believes laid the foundation for his character and personality.

He says his real education began at home. It inspired in him a will to do something meaningful in life.

Dr Al Jassim began his education in Sharjah, moved to Cairo for university education and eventually completed his doctorate in the UK.

That is why, to him, nothing is more relevant and powerful than education. He has many family businesses, but it is education and the thought of playing a central role in building the nation through schools and colleges that appeals to him the most.

For 16 years he ran the affairs of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and now, for the last two years he has taken the reins of Zayed University.

That means once the weekend is over, he drives back to the city to run the affairs of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses of Zayed University with its 3,000-strong student body. So far 1,760 students have graduated and 544 will graduate this year.

He assumed office in 2006 and has run both campuses in
a style that straddles the contemporary and traditional, which is in tandem with the vision of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who established the university with a dream of education for all nationals and the creation of an enlightened workforce of the citizens for his country.

"His Highness said, ‘The wealth of a country is not to be measured by the money it has, but by its people'," recalls Dr Al Jassim, convinced that it is education that will create the true momentum for progress in the country.
He thinks the UAE's multicultural ethos has nurtured an international outlook for the youth who can take the country places with the right educational empowerment.

I

I love music. It's a love that I inculcated by listening to radio. I remember tuning in on the day the announcement of the Federation of the Emirates was made. Around the same time I saw the new flag of the nation. It filled me with immense pride. I enjoy classical music, reading and travelling.

I have witnessed history. I saw events that lead to the unification of the UAE and the founding of our nation. I grew up before the sudden development of the country began.

I am very proud of my country's achievements and I am lucky to be able to compare its development before the discovery of oil and after rapid expansion. When I was growing up, there were few roads, electricity wasn't available everywhere and
the structure for education was developing.

I'm a well-anchored family man. I have five children – four daughters and one son. All are university graduates except the youngest who is studying at Zayed University.

I love to spend time with my grandchildren, especially on weekends. I also enjoy get-togethers with extended family members.

I am a good listener. I have great respect for different cultures. I also respect different religions, beliefs as well as different and new ideas our faculty and staff bring to the university.

I can learn a lot about people by listening to what they have to say. I don't make snap judgments but prefer to bring my experience into play when I am making decisions. In working with people at the university, I look for leadership qualities, honesty, creativity and, most important of all, people who will do the job and complete it on time.

Me

Me and my experience of leading such a powerful vehicle of education.

I have had a long and rewarding relationship with education. First with my studies, then for 16 years at the HCT and for the last two years at the Zayed University. At every stage, the learning curve has been sharp.

My first position in higher education after I received my PhD was at HCT.

There I learnt how to deal with people, administrators, events and crises. I worked with a good team and feel much was accomplished during my tenure.

When I moved to Zayed University in 2006, I met intelligent and highly motivated academic experts of different nationalities and cultures.

Me and my dreams

I dream that our government and citizens of the UAE will make education a priority. It is essential to spend on education.

When we look at Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, it is evident that they have built their success on the cornerstone of education. For the UAE, I hope to see even more graduates from higher education in the workplace and more students pursuing graduate degrees wherever possible.

Me and my hopes

My hope is that Zayed University will become the leading university in the UAE and in the region. Also I believe it isn't enough to receive a diploma; students must also learn skills and get practical experience to help them make a smooth transition from college to the workplace.

Me and my relationship with academics and education

I have a strong partnership with colleagues in top administrative positions in the other institutions of higher education in the UAE. I take their advice, listen to them and we work together as a team.

Myself

What would be the best model of education for a country like the UAE on the threshold of such a powerful renaissance?

The best models to follow are those in the UK and the US. There are a good number of systems from which we
can learn valuable lessons.

We are in an excellent position to be able to choose from the best.

Today, more and more girls in the country are going for competent and competitive degrees. How do you see them fulfilling the roles of homemakers and nation makers?

I don't see any conflict between these two roles. In our culture, women have always taken on a good deal of responsibility while their husbands and brothers worked (farms, animal husbandry, fishing or pearl diving).

By providing higher education opportunities for women, we can help reduce the manpower issues because women are willing and capable of assuming many positions of authority.

I would like to see more women employed in areas like IT, education and business. I would also like to see them become leaders in ministries and the Federal National Council.

What reforms have you made at Zayed University?

I want to continue to add to the good work done by my predecessor. In addition, I want to move ahead in many important areas. For example, the university has now opened up undergraduate education opportunities for men; we have a new campus in Dubai and are planning a new and larger campus in Abu Dhabi.

A Research Centre has been established and we are opening up new degrees at the Masters level as well as seeking endowments for the university.

How does culture and technology affect the UAE education system?

Culture has always been part of education and it is even more important now where the information of other cultures is transmitted so easily and frequently by means of the internet and films.

No country should lose sight of its culture and history and it is up to the individuals in the education system to make sure that this element is not left out.

Regarding technology, I do not see any conflict in the use of technology in the education process. In fact, it has enriched the teaching process.

What are your views on the youth of the UAE and what direction should they take in order to move the nation forward?

We currently have a large number of students between 15-30 years. We rely on our country's youth to work hard to help develop our nation.

You must be a role model for your own family. What is your advice to them?

I tell my children to get a good education and respect everybody's culture, values, beliefs and religions.
I constantly challenge myself to do better. This is the message I pass on to my children.

Is there any specific model of education that you think can accelerate the growth and development of the younger generation?

I believe that an outcome-based, learner-centred programme provides students with the best chance to obtain an education that is useful and practical today.