Sharjah launches ‘Master of Science in Media Leadership’ plan

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, President of University of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between University of Sharjah (UOS) and Sharjah Media City (Shams) on Wednesday.

The agreement aims to support and enhance the "Master of Science in Media Leadership and Digital Innovation" programme, launched in collaboration with University of Sharjah, Shams, and the University of Barcelona.

Details of the agreement

The agreement was signed at the office of the President of the University of Sharjah by Prof. Hamid Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, and Rashid Abdullah Al Obad, Director of Sharjah Media City (Shams).

This agreement reflects UoS’s commitment to providing a world-class educational experience through collaboration with esteemed institutions and organisations. It also highlights Sharjah Media City’s dedication to creating a supportive environment for media professionals and entrepreneurs in the region, offering a unique opportunity to specialise in and showcase Shams' role in supporting media professionals and future leaders.

Objectives of the programme

The "Master of Science in Media Leadership and Digital Innovation" programme aims to equip enrolled students with the necessary skills to specialise in new media fields through theoretical and practical study. It seeks to foster a contemporary understanding of digital media within a multicultural global context. The programme includes training on essential media functions such as content production, management, and technical structures, as well as management dynamics and economic feasibility associated with these functions.

Collaborative efforts

Under the agreement, the College of Communication at Sharjah University will manage the academic aspects of the programme, while Shams will provide financial support for administrative aspects, visiting faculty programmes, and joint research.

The agreement also includes contributions from Sharjah Media City to enrich the curriculum with case studies relevant to the media industry, a series of lectures from experts, and the launch of a mentoring programme to support, assist, and guide students under the supervision of professional leaders in the media sector.

Additionally, students will have opportunities to participate in workshops and utilise the facilities of Sharjah Media City to conduct research, gain required experiences, and develop their practical skills.

Furthermore, Shams will provide a two-year free licence for the programme's students, extendable for an additional year, to develop their own projects within the city.

Sultan Bin Ahmed visits solar-powered water desalination plant

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi reviewed, on Wednesday, the presentation of a scientific project at the university to design and manufacture a hybrid solar-powered pilot plant to desalinate groundwater, brackish seawater and highly saline water, in cooperation with the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA).

The project, which aims to provide innovative solutions for water desalination based on the water atlas (water map) of the Emirate of Sharjah, comes within the framework of research projects and innovative sustainable solutions provided by the University of Sharjah to the challenges facing society, in cooperation with various service institutions and bodies.

His Highness the President of the University of Sharjah was briefed on the details of the project that provides solutions to the challenges of water desalination.

Supporting UAE scientific research:

The project is expected to contribute to supporting scientific research and developing industrial growth in the country. It will also benefit local communities by solving water problems, increasing fresh water supplies, and reducing the problem of water scarcity.

His Highness listened to an explanation of the research project method of work, which is added to the group of research studies presented by researchers at the University of Sharjah.

A comprehensive assessment of water quality will also be conducted using the Sharjah Sat 2 satellite and collecting water samples.

Sharjah Atlas (water map) within the project helps provide desalination experts with detailed information on the quality, type, and level of water in the Emirate of Sharjah, which helps in designing appropriate desalination systems.

The innovative part of the project focuses on developing a number of foundations on which the project is based: Sharjah Atlas, designing and manufacturing new reverse osmosis (RO) membranes that recover water at a high rate and produce low brine or return water, in addition to designing and manufacturing a solar-powered desalination plant using reverse osmosis (RO) technology with lower energy consumption and higher water production rate.