Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the world’s first graduate academic institution dedicated to the research of alternative energy, environmental technologies and sustainability, has commenced classes  for the inaugural batch of graduate students.

Lectures began for the 92 students who were selected from more than 1,200 applicants from 82 countries worldwide.

The new students, who hail from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and the Middle East, representing 22 different nations, are part of Masdar Institute’s two-year Master’s program, which offers five multidisciplinary specialised areas geared towards the research and development of alternative energy and sustainability.

The UAE has contributed the highest number of students, with 13 per cent of the total, and almost 30 per cent  of the student body is women.

Masdar Institute was established as part of the Government of Abu Dhabi’s vision and commitment to a long-term, sustainable knowledge economy.

The non-profit, private research-driven institute has been developed in cooperation with one of the world’s most respected universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

“We are tasked with responding to one of the most important challenges facing our planet – the need to develop sustainable energy solutions that ensure economic growth and prosperity for all nations, without damaging the environment,” stated Dr John Perkins, provost of Masdar Institute.

World-class faculty of over 20 leading academics from 11 countries has been recruited from internationally renowned universities.

Over the next five years the Institute is anticipated to grow year-on-year to a student body of at least 600 and a faculty of 100, and Doctoral-level degrees will be introduced by 2011.

“With the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency to be located at Masdar City as well, there could be no better place to study, research or develop a career in alternative energy, environmental technologies and sustainability,” added Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar.

Full financial scholarships have been awarded to all who met the very high entry standards – these scholarships include all tuition fees, housing and a cost of living allowance.-TradeArabia News Service