Sultan Bin Ahmed visits research institute at University of Sharjah

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah (UoS), visited, on Thursday morning, the Research Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (RIHSS) at the University of Sharjah (UoS).

The RIHSS aims to highlight the significant role of social sciences and humanities, focusing on their applications in life, social innovation, human behaviour, and community building.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed conducted a tour of the institute, exploring its diverse sections such as the Research Translation Unit, the Emirati Youth Research Fellowship Program, the Family and Child Studies Centre, and the Sharjah Centre for Public Opinion Polls.

He toured around the institute’s smart hall, which has modern equipment and space for about 40 students, making it the perfect place for interactive learning both within and outside of the institution.

The President of the University of Sharjah engaged with various members of the institute and received a brief description of its operations. The Family and Child Studies Centre is dedicated to fostering strong, unified families by implementing research findings into effective policies and practices.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Applied Sociology aims to establish itself as a leading hub for research and community service, both locally and globally.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed was familiarised with the “Emirati Youth Research Fellowship Programme,” the first of its kind for young citizens in the UAE, being a pioneering initiative in the Arab world aimed at equipping Emirati youth with valuable research experience, skill enhancement, and a platform to direct their energy towards community benefit.

He engaged with the researchers in the programme as they conveyed important experiences and skills that enhance government institutions through knowledge sharing and community collaborations.

Furthermore, the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah received an update on the initiatives of the Sharjah Centre for Public Opinion Polls (SCPOP), which focusses on gathering, analysing, and presenting data to decision-makers, offering practical insights for efficient solutions within government agencies and institutions.

He also visited the Research Translation Unit (RTU) at the RIHSS.

The RTU is dedicated to promoting the work of faculty members who publish high-quality research in Arabic, helping to make their findings accessible to readers worldwide.

During the visit, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed also met representatives from Tsinghua University, ranked tenth globally and first in China, to discuss the University’s contributions and explore collaborative research efforts between the two institutions.

He toured the institute’s multi-purpose hall, equipped with advanced smart devices, high-definition cameras, comfortable seating, and modern tools, providing an ideal study environment for the institute’s members.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed observed a video presentation highlighting essential statistics of the Research Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, featuring 170 affiliated researchers, 50 research assistants and postdoctoral researchers, along with 21 research groups.

The institute features a variety of specialised laboratories, encompassing areas such as social sciences, quantitative research, qualitative research, art and design, and crime scene analysis.

Recently, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed, attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding involving the Sharjah Communication and Technology Authority, BEEAH Group, and Khazna Data Centre.

The agreement will create data centres at various chosen locations in Sharjah, featuring the largest Tier III data centre located at the Sharjah Free Zone for Communication Technologies (ComTec) in Kalba.

The MOU was signed at BEEAH’s headquarters by Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO and Vice Chairman of BEEAH, Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centres, and Rashid Al Ali, Executive Director of the Sharjah Communication and Technology Authority.

WAM