The Confidence Of 6 UAE Universities Will Improve UiTM'S Reputation

During my visit to Dubai in conjunction with the Global Good Governance 3G Awards 2022, I had the opportunity to pay courtesy calls to several institutions until the fourth day. Then the visit was continued by a delegation of UiTM Prof. Dr. Haryani Haron, Dean, Faculty of Computer Science & Mathematics (my representative), Associate Prof. Dr. Amirul Afif Muhamat, Deputy Dean, Research & Innovation, Faculty of Business and Management, and Dr. Hayati Abd Rahman, Director of Strategic Communications Division, Communications Department.

We arrived at City University College of Ajman (CUCA), where we were greeted by Mr. Imran Khan, President of CUCA. During the visit, Ms. Salma Senaran, Director of Student Recruitment, gave a briefing by introducing us to the latest facilities available at CUCA, such as Dentistry Simulation Laboratory, TV Studio, Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory, and Media Laboratory. Mr. Imran Khan was accompanied by Mr. Anas Al-Kassab, Student and International Recruitment Officer and Ms. Saadiah, Human Resources & Administration Officer. This is a follow-up visit from the MoU signed during the Dubai Expo 2020 in December 2021. Aside from academic collaboration, research, and professional certification, both parties agreed to issue the appointment of adjunct professors that will enhance the scholarly impact between UiTM and CUCA.

I would like to thank Professor Dr Naseem Abidi, the Dean of Business Studies, Professor Dr Ghasaan Issa, the Dean of Information Technology Studies, Associate Professor, Dr Deepak Kalra, the Director of Learning Resources, Dr. Beenu Mago, Assistant Professor of Computer Science Studies and Mr. Rasheed Khalid, the Head of Corporate Affairs department from SKYLINE University. Being greeted by Pepper was memorable. Uniquely, Pepper is a robot who is also a staff member of the university. UiTM and SKYLINE have generally agreed to organise mobility programmes, academic conferences, the appointment of members of the academic advisory panel, and digital technology collaboration. In addition, SKYLINE introduced UiTM to EUMMAS (European Marketing & Management Association); an organisation that connects world business and academic leaders with key activities supporting research, running of conferences, training and certification.

At Middlesex University, Dubai (MDX), I met with Dr. Cody Morris Paris, Deputy Director (Academic Research & Planning), Professor Ajit Karnik, Professor of Economics, and Dr. Sreejith Balasubramaniam. Here we were also greeted by robots and the opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art facilities such as MDX Icon Studio - a fashion studio, MDX iStudio - Film Lab, HUB19, Robotics Lab, and Gaming Room. Our discussions were to strengthen collaboration in supply chain research, economics, finance, entrepreneurship, conference and training collaborations. MDX and UiTM will also organise seminars specifically for the Master of Data Science students. Thanks to MDX for providing us with a guided tour of your university.

At Zayed University, I was represented by Prof. Dr. Haryani Haron, Dean, Faculty of Computer Science & Mathematics, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amirul Afif Muhamat, Deputy Dean, Research & Innovation, Faculty of Business and Management, and Dr. Hayati Abd Rahman, Director of Strategic Communications Division, Communications Department. They were greeted by Professor Dr Syed Malek Fakar Duane, from Information Studies and Management Technology, Dr. Munir Majdalawieh, Chairman of the Department of Information Studies and Management Technology. Appointments for joint- supervisors in student research and holding joint publications were the outcome of the discussion. Thanks to Zayed University.

On 19 May 2022, the UiTM delegation was greeted by officials from the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) comprising Professor Farrukh Mukhamedov (Mathematical Sciences), Professor Maamar Benkraouda, Dean, College of Science, and Associate Professor Dr Adama Diene, Department of Mathematical Sciences. The UiTM delegation discussed the MoU cooperation in student mobility, joint teaching and learning activities, research, and publications, and offering dual degrees in Mathematical Studies and academic appointments from both parties. Thank you! UAEU.

The UiTM delegation, led by Dr Faycal Farhi, Associate Professor, College of Communication & Media, pays a courtesy call on Professor Dr Ghaleb A. El-Refae, President of Al-Ain University. The delegation met with Dr Qutaibah Anwar Althebyan; Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Dr Zafar Husain; Dean of the College of Business, and Dr Mohammad Sharairi, also from the College of Business. The visit was then followed by a meeting with Dr Rahima Aissani, and Associate Professor Dr Riadh Jeljeli, both academic staff from the College of Communication & Media. Al-Ain University and UiTM will continue their mobility, research, and publication programmes that focus on Islamic finance. Dr Mosab Tabash, for example, has been invited to participate in research led by our lecturer, Dr Roslina Mohamad Shafi, with her colleagues, Associate Professor Dr Amirul Afif Muhammad, Dr Norhashimah Shaharudin, and Ms. Norsaliza Abu Bakar. InsyaAllah, UiTM and Al-Ain University will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) soon.

Semasa lawatan ke Dubai sempena Global Good Governance 3G Awards 2022 saya berkesempatan mengadakan kunjungan hormat ke beberapa institusi sehingga hari keempat dan kemudiannya lawatan tersebut diteruskan oleh delegasi yang bersama saya iaitu Prof. Dr. Haryani Haron, Dekan, Fakulti Sains Komputer & Matematik, Prof. Madya Dr. Amirul Afif Muhamat, Timbalan Dekan, Penyelidikan & Inovasi, Fakulti Pengurusan dan Perniagaan dan Dr. Hayati Abd Rahman, Pengarah Bahagian Komunikasi Strategik, Jabatan Komunikasi.

Kami tiba di City University College of Ajman (CUCA), di sini kami telah disambut oleh Encik Imran Khan, Presiden CUCA dan sepanjang lawatan Cik Salma Senaran, Pengarah Pengambilan Pelajar telah memberi penerangan dengan memperkenalkan kami kemudahann terkini yang terdapat di CUCA antaranya seperti Makmal Simulasi Pergigian, Studio TV, Makmal Fisiologi dan Anatomi, serta Makmal Media. Bersama beliau adalah Encik Anas Al-Kassab, Pegawai Pengambilan Pelajar dan Antarabangsa serta Cik Saadiah, Pegawai Sumber Manusia & Pentadbiran. Ini adalah lawatan susulan daripada MoU yang telah dimeterai semasa Ekspo Dubai 2020 pada Disember 2021. Selain daripada kerjasama akademik, penyelidikan dan pensijilan profesional, kedua belah pihak juga bersepakat dalam merealisasikan pelantikan profesor adjung yang akan memperhebatkan kesarjanaan di antara UiTM dan CUCA.

Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Profesor Dr Naseem Abidi, Dekan, Pengajian Perniagaan, Profesor Dr Ghasaan Issa, Dekan Pengajian Teknologi Maklumat, Profesor Madya, Dr Deepak Kalra, Pengarah Sumber Pembelajaran, Dr. Beenu Mago, Penolong Profesor Pengajian Sains Komputer dan Encik Rasheed Khalid, Ketua Jabatan Hal Ehwal Korporat dari SKYLINE University. Istimewanya, kami juga disambut oleh Pepper. Uniknya Pepper adalah robot yang juga staf universiti tersebut. UiTM dan SKYLINE secara amnya bersepakat untuk menganjurkan program mobiliti, konferensi akademik, pelantikan ahli panel penasihat akademik, kolaborasi teknologi digital dan memperkenalkan UiTM kepada EUMMAS (European Marketing & Management Association) yang merupakan organisasi yang menghubungkan pemimpin perniagan dan akademia dunia dengan aktiviti utama yang menyokong penyelidikan, menganjurkan persidangan dan latihan serta pensijilan.

Di Middlsex University, Dubai (MDX) saya mengadakan pertemuan dengan Dr. Cody Morris Paris, Timbalan Pengarah (Penyelidikan & Perancangan Akademik), Profesor Ajit Karnik, Profesor bidang Ekonomi, dan Dr. Sreejith Balasubramaniam. Di sini kami juga disambut oleh robot di samping berpeluang melawat kemudahan terkini seperti MDX Icon Studio yang merupakan studio fesyen, MDX iStudio -Makmal Filem, HUB19, Makmal Robotik, dan Bilik Permainan Digital (Gaming). Perbincangan kami adalah untuk memperkukuhkan kerjasama dalam penyelidikan rantaian bekalan, ekonomi, kewangan, dan keusahawanan selain daripada kolaborasi konferensi dan latihan. MDX dan UiTM juga akan menganjurkan seminar yang dikurasikan khusus untuk pengajian Sarjana Sains Data. Terima kasih kepada MDX di atas perkongsian dan lawatan berpandu yang diaturkan.

**Penyelia Bersama dan Kolaborasi Penerbitan**

Di Zayed University saya diwakili oleh Prof. Dr. Haryani Haron, Dekan, Fakulti Sains Komputer & Matematik, Prof. Madya Dr. Amirul Afif Muhamat, Timbalan Dekan, Penyelidikan & Inovasi, Fakulti Pengurusan dan Perniagaan dan Dr. Hayati Abd Rahman, Pengarah Bahagian Komunikasi Strategik, Jabatan Komunikasi. Mereka disambut oleh Profesor Dr Syed Malek Fakar Duani, dari Pengajian Maklumat dan Teknologi Pengurusan, Dr. Munir Majdalawieh, Pengerusi Jabatan Pengajian Maklumat dan Teknologi Pengurusan. Hasil perbincangan kedua belah pihak akan melantik penyelia bersama dalam penyelidikan pelajar dan mengadakan kolaborasi penerbitan. Terima kasih kepada Zayed University.

Pada 19 Mei 2022, delegasi UiTM disambut oleh para pegawai dari United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) yang terdiri daripada Profesor Farrukh Mukhamedov (Bidang Sains Matematik), Profesor Maamar Benkraouda, Dekan, Kolej Sains, dan Profesor Madya Dr Adama Diene, Jabatan Sains Matematik.

Delegasi UiTM telah berbincang mengenai kerjasama MoU dalam mobiliti pelajar, aktiviti pengajaran dan pembelajaran secara bersama, penyelidikan dan penerbitan, di samping penawaran Ijazah berkembar dalam bidang Matematik, serta pelantikan akademik dari kedua belah pihak. Terima Kasih! UAEU.

Di sini, Dr Faycal Farhi, Profesor Madya, Kolej Komunikasi & Media, telah membawa delegasi UiTM untuk mengadakan kunjungan hormat ke atas Profesor Dr Ghaleb A. El-Refae, Presiden Al-Ain University. Selepas itu, delegasi turut mengadakan pertemuan dengan Dr Qutaibah Anwar Althebyan, Dekan Kolej Kejuruteraan, Profesor Dr Zafar Husain, Dekan Kolej Perniagaan dan Dr Mohammad Sharairi dari kolej yang sama. Kemudian lawatan diteruskan dengan pertemuan bersama Dr Rahima Aissani dan Profesor Madya Dr Riadh Jeljeli, kedua mereka merupakan ahli akademik dari Kolej Komunikasi & Media. Al-Ain University dan UiTM akan meneruskan program mobiliti, penyelidikan dan penerbitan dengan memberi tumpuan dalam bidang Kewangan Islam. Dr Mosab Tabash contohnya telah dijemput untuk terlibat bersama dalam penyelidikan yang diketuai oleh pensyarah kita iaitu Dr Roslina Mohamad Shafi bersama rakan-rakannya iaitu Profesor Madya Dr Amirul Afif Muhamat, Dr Norhashimah Shaharudin dan Puan Norsaliza Abu Bakar. InsyaAllah, dalam tempoh terdekat UiTM dan Al-Ain University akan memeterai kerjasama MoU.