George Mason University president Dr Alan Merten visited the George Mason University-Ras Al Khaimah Campus (GMU-RAK).

He was welcomed by Crown Prince and deputy ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, who expressed his appreciation of the academic initiatives undertaken by the Virginia-based university to provide quality higher education to students in the Gulf region.

Shaikh Saud said that the government of Ras Al Khaimah attached prime importance to investment in education and would continue its efforts to expand the educational choices available in the UAE by making the emirate a hub for quality higher education.

He added that the government would also make available scholarship programmes to support GMU-RAK students.

The GMU-RAK campus, established in 2005 under the initiative of Ras Al Khaimah Education Company (EDRAK), is the first full branch campus of an American university in the UAE and currently offers six undergraduate degree programmes in business administration, electronics and communications engineering, economics, applied computer science, biology and tourism and events management.

Dr Merten said that the university intends to expand the scope of operations at the GMU-RAK campus by venturing to undertake research programmes relevant to the region.

“Instead of just being a teaching institution, we want faculty who are conducting research that relates to the public and private sector. In this context we are going to select some areas to do research, such as public policy or science and technology, that has relevance to the country and the society,” said Merten.

He said that GMU-RAK has been trying to offer programmes that address the needs of the economy and the social structure.

”We are pleased with the fact that we have been able to connect to the economy and couple the needs of the economy with what we are going to provide in the UAE,” he added.

Vice-chancellor, higher colleges of technology and member of board of governors of the GMU-RAK campus Dr Tayeb Kamali, vice-chairman of EDRAK Essam Al Tamimi, managing director of EDRAK Jamal Al Jassmi and acting vice-president of GMU-RAK Zaid Adib Ansari were present at the meeting. – TradeArabia News Service