The British University in Dubai (BUiD), the region’s first research-based postgraduate university, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), a major facility for diagnosing and treating addiction, based in Abu Dhabi.

Officials from both institutions concluded a successful meeting to negotiate and finalise a working relationship.

As part of the deal, the NRC and BUiD will establish a Research and Development Center. Under the new arrangement, both parties will work on identifying and prioritising research programmes of mutual interest, said an official spokesman.

For vice-chancellor of BUiD Dr Abdullah Alshamsi the signing of the MoU represents a substantial opportunity to fulfill the university’s commitment to serving the community.

“BUiD welcomes the opportunity to develop a new partnership working towards excellence in the analysis of disease and drug addiction, both of which the evidence suggests are growing problems in the Gulf region,” said Dr Alshamsi.

The agreement ensures that BUiD will contribute to the research activities of the NRC by suggesting ways of involving itself in the use of IT for developing research into drug rehabilitation, while delegating the technical and design aspects of the work to the NRC.

“A MoU of this nature could be reached because of the dedicated activity conducted already through BUiD, marking the university out as a serious collaborator,” said chairman, National Rehabilitation Center, Adulaziz Al Raisi.

“The institution’s strong track record in finding practical applications for disciplines as diverse as Information Technology and project management leads to optimism about type of projects to be pursued jointly over the next twelve months,” he added.

Joint work between the two institutions, as agreed under the terms of the MoU, commence with immediate effect. – TradeArabia News Service