IBM has set up its Technical Exploration Center (TEC) at University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), the company said in a statement.

The move is part of a collaborative effort between the university and IBM Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan, it added.

The Center will organise a series of practical and focused industry workshops for IT professionals, starting later this month, aimed at developing the IT industry in the UAE through enhanced interaction between professional experience and academic knowledge.

The IBM Technical Exploration Centers, which are established all over the world, provide clients with the opportunity to get access to advanced ICT facilities and gain “hands-on” experience with IBM solutions, technologies and products.

“The TEC opens opportunities for developing IT industry in the UAE through collaboration between IBM and UOWD, drawing on both professional experience and academic knowledge and it will facilitate direct transfer of knowledge from universities to the broader business community,” said Dr Lejla Vrazalic, chair of the College of Business at the UOWD.

“From UOWD’s perspective, the TEC creates professional development opportunities for students and faculty who can attend the industry workshops, together with the IT professionals. More importantly, it will boost the university-industry exchange of ideas and project development,” she said.

“IBM maintains its commitment to the education sector and is constantly offering programs that will develop the skills among students in the region and enhance education to achieve a more competitive workforce,” said Bashar Kilani, manager of IBM Software Business, Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan.

“IBM TEC provides a learning environment which is ideal for the delivery of formal technical enablement offerings as well as ad-hoc personal skill development and practice”.

“The IBM Academic Initiative helps faculty and researchers at higher education institutions worldwide use and implement the latest technology into their curriculum and research. Moreover, students can have access to leading edge, open standards-based technology, educational resources, and IBM’s hardware, middleware and tools. Programmes that fall under IBM Academic Initiative share a common denominator of providing value to both academia and industry,” Kilani said. 

The TEC will host regular workshops targeting different industries on the Wollongong campus, with special invitations extended to UOWD faculty and students to participate at no cost. – TradeArabia News Service