Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice President of Zayed University and Dr. Barbara Moran, Dean of School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, U.S.A. signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the scientific and academic fields.   

In a ceremony held on this occasion at Zayed University in Dubai, in the presence of Daniel Johnson, Provost of Zayed University and a number of officials of the Two Universities. The primary purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to engage both universities in collaborative and cooperative efforts to participate in mutually beneficial activities and to offer programs of study and training projects.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim said, "Zayed University is keen to provide academic, scientific and technical programs in applying the latest academic and administrative systems in order to achieve quality and excellence in educational outcomes of young cadres to be highly qualified to communicate in both Arabic and English.  They will enjoy advanced technological skills and scientific behavioral approach which reflect their analytical and innovative abilities to offer both practical and effective solutions to address difficulties".

Dr. Al Jassim added that Zayed University has been an added asset to higher education, since its inception, under the direction and support of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research - President of Zayed University, who always directs the need to put the highest professional levels and standards of curricula and programs in all colleges and departments of the University so as they match or supersede their counterparts in prestigious universities of the world.  Zayed University's courses and programs secure the joint integration and interdependence among different areas of education, as well as  elements of Arab and Islamic knowledge, heritage and culture. Furthermore, Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim emphasized that current developments and modernization in the world have become a  strategic choice which should be taken into consideration in the educational process to keep up with the successive sequence of innovations.   Dr. Al Jassim concluded by saying that signing this Memorandum with the University of North Carolina will certainly give Zayed University a great opportunity to contribute to the development of academic and professional courses in the field of libraries and archives.

On her part, Dr. Barbara Moran, Dean of the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina, expressed her appreciation of the distinguished level of Zayed University which offers attractive learning environment for students throughout its modern academic buildings and educational programs.   In her tour around Zayed University's colleges in Dubai, Dr. Moran was impressed by the interest which the UAE leaders give to education.  Their sponsorship of various educational programs is well considered as a solid cornerstone in building qualified generations who are both able and qualified to participate in the development of their country through the latest programs for achieving this goal.

Dr. Barbara Moran emphasized the importance of scientific cooperation with Zayed University to increase the capacity of students and faculty in the information profession to keep pace with the new developments and programs which are offered in this field.

This Memorandum of Understanding focuses on increasing the capacity of Emiratis and non-Emiratis living in the United Arab Emirates to manage and work in archives and libraries, as fields of information management professions, through certificate-based training and dual degree programs.  It also focuses on providing opportunities for both universities to their graduates, students and faculty to conduct research  work in information management  and to create wide opportunities for the exchanges of faculty and students between the two institutions. Meanwhile, both Zayed University and the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina shall coordinate and develop the programs in accordance with the laws and regulations appropriate to each University, along with preserving the property rights of projects and programs.