H.E Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and President of Zayed University, inaugurated the du multimedia lab at Zayed University in Dubai, on 22 February 2012. Also in attendance was Osman Sultan – CEO of du, VIPs, and senior officials from Zayed University and du.

During the event, H.E. Sheikh Nahayan stressed upon the importance of community partnerships between universities and industry leaders, to give students invaluable experience in work-like environments prior to graduation, in line with the UAE leadership’s vision. H.E. Sheikh Nahayan also elaborated upon the uniqueness of Zayed University, and emphasized the ongoing, strengthening relationships between the institution and major societal entities.

H.E. Sheikh Nahayan valued du's role in establishing and developing the laboratory, stating it as an important endeavour that will contribute to raising the educational performance levels of Zayed University’s students.

Dedicating the du multimedia lab to the students and the nation, H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan said: “Education is a communal affair that requires integration and communication between social institutions and sectors. Nurturing the abilities of today’s students in a realistic work-like environment is vital to ensuring their easy integration into the workforce. With this multimedia lab, du has developed an essential tool to ensure that Zayed University’s College of Communication and Media Sciences students are given the very best start to their future careers.”

He pointed to the vital role played by Zayed University in the service of community institutions within scientific and educational aspects of the University programs offered to match the employment markets requirements.

The multimedia lab at Zayed University is part of du’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts to support education through practical, vocational-oriented learning for students in the UAE. In 2011, the telecom company collaborated with Zayed University to provide technical support for the College of Communication and Media Sciences by developing multimedia labs on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi campuses. As part of the opening ceremony, students at Zayed University had the chance to interview HH Sheikh Nahyan and Osman Sultan.

 “As part of our corporate social responsibility, we support and embrace the talent of young Emiratis to help them realise their full potential. This partnership underlines our strong commitment to the community and demonstrates our dedicated approach to supporting education. By developing the multimedia lab in collaboration with Zayed University, we are giving students the tools that they need to go on and be successful in their future media careers,” said Osman Sultan. “I would like to extend my thanks to H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan for officiating today’s ceremony, and to Zayed University for allowing us to collaborate in such an enriching way.” 

Now officially open, the du multimedia lab facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technical infrastructure and software, for the benefit of the University’s students and faculty. du has created a channel exclusively for Zayed University, so that students can start broadcasting programmes and interviews.

On this occasion, a competition for students was also announced. Their entries will translate du’s fifth anniversary into a 55 second video, with winners to be announced soon.