Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development and President of Zayed University (ZU), and Ali Bin Salim Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Family Development Foundation (FDF), attended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony that was held at ZU’s Abu Dhabi campus. Professor Reyadh AlMehaideb, Vice President of Zayed University, signed the MoU with Mariam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the FDF.

Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna expressed her willingness to enhance and strengthen partnership and cooperation opportunities between Zayed University and FDF and also praised the generous initiatives undertaken by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, to support and encourage students to excel in their academic performance and social responsibility services and contribute to the progress of the Emirati society.

Sheikha Lubna also affirmed the university’s keenness to connect academic and scientific researches with social and behavior issues.

“The MoU signing came in line with the guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak to build effective and distinguished partnerships with higher education institutions within the UAE. The aim of such partnerships is to fund scientific researches that are focused on social problems, create programs that support the role of Emirati families, provide consultancy services to all students to establish coherent families and therefore a strong society, and to enhance national identity amongst young generations and equip them with the skillset needed to achieve the goals of the country,” Al Kaabi said.

“The cooperation between Zayed University and FDF will happen through three channels. The first channel is the Family Counseling Program (Shawer) in cooperation with the Students Counseling Center at Zayed University. The second channel is the Youth Empowerment Program that aims to prepare young students spiritually, morally, scientifically, socially and professionally on a national scale to endow UAE’s youth with the intellectual and social immunity necessary to achieve security, stability, and prosperity in all walks of life,” Mariam Al Rumaithi said.

“Additionally, supporting and funding joint scientific researches between the two organizations will be developed and nurtured to study behavior and social issues among young students and implement effective strategies and comprehensive support plans,” she added.

Professor Reyadh AlMehaideb also emphasized that a joint committee will be working to ensure the implementation of cooperative activities in areas of priority to both parties and will also align with specialists and professors from Zayed University to activate the two programs and suggest ways to improve provided consultancy services.

“Our partnership with the foundation is part of Zayed University’s commitment to provide consultancy and support services to its students. When we provide family and relationship support services, students will be able to better manage life changes and challenges and become productive members of the community. When we strengthen families and relationships, everyone benefits,” Dr. Fatima Al Darmaki, Assistant Provost of Students Affairs, said.  

"Students' life and experience at the university is a fundamental and significant stage; the different interactions and the knowledge gained cultivate their personalities and prepare them for their social and professional lives; however, even though gaining knowledge is important, it is not the only factor that determines success in life. That is, knowledge alone is never enough to prepare a young generation el elevate the nation's prosperity and help it survive rapid economic changes," she explained.

"Therefore, in response to UAE's ambitious vision in general and the leadership vision of the Abu Dhabi government which is to specifically manifest young people's role in society and help them achieve the highest levels of success while performing their social and professional roles in the future; the FDF and Zayed University agreed to initiate the Youth Empowerment program," she added.

Also present were Dr. Marlyn Roberts, Acting Provost of Zayed University, Shamsa Al Taie, Director of Student Affairs, Saeed Al Ghafli, Director of FDF support services and other representatives from both organizations.

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