University, Internet City discuss technology ventures

Senior Officials of Zayed University yesterday discussed with an official from Dubai Internet City ways to develop the partnership between the university and the Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority.

Ahmed bin Byat, CEO of Dubai Internet City, visited the university yesterday, his first official visit after their partnership agreement between Zayed University and the Free Zone.

The agreement was signed on April by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Free Zone Authority, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University. In the agreement, they pledged to work together to:

* Develop educational and training programmes in information technology;
* Develop continuing education and professional development training programmes for employees in technology and e-commerce fields;
* Carry out applied scientific research that will further the development of e-commerce and e-learning;
* And jointly benefit from shared use of the technical and human resources accessible to the two institutions.

Dr. Dell Felder, university Provost, and Dr. Larry Lee, dean of the university's college of information systems, discussed with bin Bayat the implementation of two programmes already underway as part of the partnership.

One programme is an Executive MBA degree in managing e-business. It will begin offering courses to its first group of students in mid-January. The other programme concerns the Institute for Technological Innovation which is developing training and research and development programmes in information technology.

Both programmes are based at the Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone. Felder said the first two programmes had begun what would be a continuing relationship with the Internet City, Media City and other entities in the Free Zone.

Lee outlined the university's vision for a "cyber university" that would deliver baccalaureate and graduate education through the Internet. "We are also exploring the possibilities of offering an online master of science degree in information technology in partnership with Virginia Tech University in the U.S. as another e-learning opportunity," he said.