UAE-based Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Dubai to strengthen links of cooperation with the educational institution.

The agreement aims to develop and qualify national human resources capable of working in space science technology sector, said a statement from MBRSC.

The MoU was signed by Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director general of MBRSC and Dr Eesa Bastaki, the president of University of Dubai, in the presence of a number of executive officials from the centre and the university, it said.

As per the agreement, both sides will co-ordinate to design and prepare educational, training or qualification programmes in the scientific specialties related to the space sciences technologies and satellites.

In addition to that, the centre and university will cooperate in providing students practical training opportunities, scholarships under MBRSC’s ‘Entaliq’ scholarship programme and job opportunities for outstanding students.

Al Shaibani said: “The signing of the agreement coincides with our centre's mission and strategy in building qualified national cadres in space field to support developing a unique UAE space sector.”

“Also, such partnerships will direct these institutions towards new educational programmes and disciplines that will serve both UAE national strategies and UAE National Space Program,” he added.

“We believe that MBRSC as a scientific and research centre specialised in space and advanced technology and higher education institutions have a complementary role to build capabilities and develop human resources and research activities in space science,” Al Shaibani concluded.

Bastaki said: “Space is the future and we seek to establish a generation of pioneers, engineers and intellectuals aiming for the top.”

“Our role as an educational institution is to provide knowledge, the necessary tools and equipment, and stimulate scientific research,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service