As part of the UAE’s National Innovation Strategy launched in October last year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Professor Reyadh AlMehaideb, Vice President of Zayed University, inaugurated the UAE Innovation Week 2015 in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses on Sunday.

The UAE Innovation Week, which aims to celebrate the best ideas on innovation from the spectrum of government and private sectors, as well as from the public is held from November 22 until November 28 this year.  

Supported by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the event was attended by various colleges, university clubs, faculty members, administrators, and students in order to generate and exchange creative ideas, which can be implemented to embrace innovative practices and instill the culture of creativity in the hearts of the young and future generation.

Professor AlMehaideb, Sadiq AlMulla, Chief Administrator and Finance Officer, and Dr. Maitha Al Ali Executive Director of Planning and Chief Executive Officer for innovation had a tour first in the Atrium at Dubai campus. Around 17 innovative projects were displayed on campus.

Simultaneously, Zayed University celebrated the UAE Innovation Week on Abu Dhabi campus. The celebration was attended by Dr .Marilyn Roberts, Acting Provost of Zayed University, Dr. Abdel Mohsen Onsy, Associate Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Fatima AlDarmaki, Assistant Provost for Students Affairs, and Shamsa Al Taie, Director of Students Affairs at Zayed University.

As part of the innovation competition that was held earlier at Zayed University, students were honored and awarded for their innovative and ground- breaking projects. The completion was held to highlight and strengthen the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the UAE and in efforts to improve Zayed University students’ ability to think creatively and polish their skills to achieve the UAE leaders’ vision.

“We appreciate the enthusiasm that was demonstrated by our students to provide the best innovative ideas that can be very beneficial to the UAE community, Dr. Marilyn said during the awarding ceremony.

Out of 65 exceptional ideas submitted by Zayed University students, three winners were awarded after their projects were evaluated by a panel of judges made up of professors and industry experts. Awards were granted in two categories: the best innovative project and the best creative idea.

Under the first category, Saoud Al Shimmari, Saleh Bin Hallabi, Salem Khamis and Malek Al Hammadi won the first place in the Zayed University innovation competition for their outstanding project “Spots Multimedia Club”, and they were awarded a cash prize of Dh20,000. While the second place went to Fatma Ali Mohammed on her innovative project “Kashta” and was awarded a cash prize of Dh10,000 and around Dh5000 was awarded to Saeed Jumaa Al Rumaithi on his creative project “Custom Built Computer”.

Under the second category, Noor Abdul Hamaid won the first place and a cash prize of Dh20,000 for her project “Kharareef”, a storytelling initiative drawn from the UAE’s mythology to preserve and promote the Emirati heritage and culture.

Various projects were also recognized and honored.

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