Al Ain: The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research yesterday called for the establishment of financial endowments at UAE University to raise funds at the institution's 31st annual convocation.
Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan presented a number of strategies for the new academic year in the presence of new university faculty members and staff.
He said the university's mission has always been "student-centred", emphasising the development of knowledge and national growth.
The Chancellor of UAE University listed seven strategies that he considered vital in the education process.
Raising additional funds is one of the main issues on the university agenda.
"The university must look into establishing a financial endowment ... and consider establishing endowed chairs in all colleges and departments," said Shaikh Nahyan.
"These chairs will be filled by distinguished professors who would advance the goals of the university... raising additional funds depends on our ability to communicate to community leaders the need for these funds." Updating the university's strategic plan to cover the next five years will also be the basis for determining the university's future budgets.
Linking budgets
"The Federal Government has made a decision recently to link budgets and funding levels to strategic plans. [Strategies] must reflect a good environmental scan, not only of conditions in the country, but in the region and the world as well," he said.
"Our quest for quality must be validated by pursuing international accreditation and by the exalted reputation of the university's faculty and staff," said Shaikh Nahyan.
He added that improving the employability of graduates through career development centres and enhancing the operational efficiency of the university is also a must.
"The success of our university is dependant on our ability to understand where we are and to articulate a clear vision for the future," he said.
