Ajman: The Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, a leading private medical university in the region has entered into a strategic agreement with the American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt, one of the top English-language, American-accredited institutions of higher education in the Middle East.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between the two universities on January 25, by Prof. Hossam Hamdy, the Chancellor of GMU and Prof. Ehab Abdel Rahman Ibrahim, the Provost of AUC. According to the MoU, both institutions will cooperate to develop and implement joint educational programmes and collaborations, in addition to facilitating exchange of faculty members and research scholars. The agreement also seeks to enable joint research activities, meetings and collaborations between GMU and AUC, in addition to regular exchanges of educational materials, methods and advancements.
Prof. Ehab Abdel Rahman said that the MoU would establish solid relations between the two universities. “This partnership would open up multifaceted cooperation with GMU. We hope to see more faculty and student exchanges and partnership programmes. I am confident that this would also serve the future needs of both the universities,” he said.
His Excellency Prof. Ashraf Mahmoud Hatem, Counsellor of the American University in Cairo said, “It was the long-standing dream of AUC to enter into medical and health education. This tie-up with GMU will not only benefit AUC, but will also prove useful to other Egyptian Universities, in the long run.”
Speaking about the agreement, Prof. Hossam Hamdy said that it was a realisation of the vision of GMU’s Board of Trustees, which seeks to increase the global footprint of the University through collaborations with globally renowned universities. “AUC is one of the most prestigious universities in the region. This is the first time we are working to develop a new college under GMU. The collaboration is immediately activated by developing the new College of Health Economics, Policy and Healthcare Management.” Expressing hope that this collaboration would create a unique model to benefit the healthcare industry he added, “Together, we are going to take this MoU forward and explore areas of further expanding cooperation. Beyond academic degrees, this collaboration would also facilitate continuing professional development in the healthcare industry.”
Prof. Ehab Abdel Rahman and H E Prof. Ashraf Mahmoud Hatem said they were very impressed by the research and training facilities at GMU. “The facilities we have seen here are truly state-of-the-art. It is unique that a private university has established such excellent and highly sophisticated facilities, emphasising the importance of research in advancing knowledge. The research facilities and the labs reflect the long-term vision of the university leadership and extend far beyond short-term profit goals. These will continue to prove their worth in the future as well,” said H E Prof. Ashraf Mahmoud Hatem.
Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Vice Provost, Academics & Dean of the College of Medicine, formally thanked the visiting delegates. The MoU signing was also witnessed by the deans of various colleges under GMU.
