Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company Masdar has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) to establish schools and institutes of higher education at Masdar City.

As per the memorandum of understanding, Masdar will work closely with ADEC and third-party partners to develop areas of Masdar City that have the potential to be turned into schools. Meanwhile, ADEC will advise companies registered at Masdar City on the requirements that need to be met under Abu Dhabi’s private schools regulations and policy manual, including licensing requirements and conditions.

Speaking on the agreement, ADEC director general Dr Ali Rashed Al Nuaimi said: “This MoU supports the establishment of educational institutions that meet the high standards set forth by our nation to graduate a competent, reliable, and competitive workforce of youth. Introducing new schools and higher education institutes represents the growing need for a diversified world class economy that encourages young people to experiment, create and lead.”

Masdar CEO Mohammed Al Ramahi added: “The agreement provides a framework that will support Masdar City’s efforts to build an environment that promotes knowledge exchange and learning at all levels. In this way, Masdar City can advance one of our core aims of helping to cultivate the next-generation of leaders.”

As part of its commitment to delivering a modern knowledge economy, Masdar City will host a new campus of Emirates College of Technology, the Abu Dhabi-based private higher education institution. A new GEMS Education school is also among the third-party projects planned, which will complement the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.

The Masdar Institute has graduated 447 students since 2011 and honoured its first PhD graduates last year. The Institute is undertaking industry- and government-sponsored research contracts and conducts its own community outreach programme, the Young Future Energy Leaders, engaging the brightest Arab youth in the subjects of alternative energy and clean technology, a company statement said. – TradeArabia News Service