British Emirati cooperation in higher education and scientific research

Sir Vernon Ellis, Chairman of the British Council, visited the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research on Tuesday to discuss areas of cooperation in higher education and scientific research and cultural fields between the two countries. At a reception with Saif Rashid Al Mazroui, Under-Secretary for Institutional and Support Services, Sir Vernon showcased the role of the council which is considered one of the top cultural centres involved in developing entrepreneurship across the globe with its vast experience in development management and innovative abilities and capabilities programmes, and its ability to link innovative works with similar experiences in the United Kingdom and countries around the world. Talks are being held to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and its British counterpart, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, that includes areas of cooperation in education and higher education, including student exchange and cooperation in areas of accreditation and academic excellence, exchanging experiences in the area of attestation of certificates, and student exchange visits. The educational partnership between the United Kingdom and the U.A.E. goes back decades, since when both countries have sought to strengthen their ties. To this end, they have received continuous support by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research under the guidance of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, to open areas of cooperation between higher education institutions in the U.A.E. and their counterparts in other countries. British-Emirati relations in education were further strengthened after the visit of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the United Kingdom in May 2013, the durability of the relationship between Britain and the U.A.E. education systems being apparent in the growing numbers of universities that attract more Emirati students, and the opening of campuses of British universities in the U.A.E..Due to the high level of education, and the close proximity between the two systems of education, these universities consider students going to study in the United Kingdom as the best among their counterparts, because their local education is in accordance with international standards, and their being familiar with features of the British educational system, making them more able to adapt rapidly in graduate programmes.