The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has signed two new agreements worth over Dh42 million ($11.43 million) with Dubai University, through its financing entity ICT Fund.

The agreements are in line with the TRA’s continuing commitment to help in the growth and development of the UAE’s academic segment, especially universities and colleges.

The first agreement worth Dh35 million is aimed at establishing an engineering college in Dubai University covering key specialties like ICT engineering and electronic engineering. The second agreement is to provide 12 scholarships in addition to a scholarship from a previously signed agreement in 2015 with Dubai University through the "Betha" programme, which is one of the initiatives of the TRA to promote the role of the national education sector. A total of Dh7.1 million worth of scholarships will be offered, said a report in Wam.

The TRA has also signed an agreement to fund the information and innovation centre and build a laboratory for the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (Aurak). The funding is worth Dh3.4 million.

By funding the innovation and information center, the TRA seeks to promote and support innovation among university students, support the national higher education national sector and attract more engineering students to enroll in bachelors and masters degrees, TRA said.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA director-general, said the authority is planning to sign various agreements related with higher education during Gitex 2016. The agreements aim to achieve the TRA’s goals and enhance its social responsibility in terms of building an Emirati generation that is able to keep pace with the large global changes.

"TRA’s strategy is continuing at a steady pace to develop specialised human resources and support the higher education sector, because we believe that investing in the youth ensures the country of stable development and a leadership. This is why the TRA is investing Dh1.2 billion to provide scholarships to 1,000 Emirati students until the end of 2018," said Omar Mohammed Al Mahmoud, Acting CEO, ICT Fund.