The UAE, represented by the “Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research”, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with “Australia”, which is represented by its “Department of Education” and “Department of Industry”, in the field of higher education, professional education, training, and research, on Monday (14/4/2014) at the Ministry’s headquarters. His Excellency Shiekh “Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyna”, Minster of Higher Edcuation and Scientific Research signed the (MoU) on behalf of the “UAE, and his Excellency “Andrew Robb”, Australian Minister for Trade and Investment, signed on behalf of the Australian side.

The signing of the memorandum came to strengthen the bilateral relations between “Australia” and the “UAE” in the field of higher education, professional education, training, and research, and in recognition of the important role of these fields as a means of consolidating the ties between the two governments. The two parties will develop cooperation between the governmental authorities and other organizations related to the government, in order to discuss the activities of mutual interest, and facilitate and consolidate the ties in both countries through mutual events, such as meetings, conferences, seminars, exchange of students, academics and researchers as agreed between both countries, in addition to the exchange of information in fields of mutual interests, including systems and standards of higher education, professional education, training , and research adopted in both countries, accreditation systems and standards, names of awarded degrees to help interpret and evaluate the scientific degrees, diploma, and certificates, the development of policies in relation to higher education, professional education, training, and research in both governments, the opportunities for both countries’ citizens to study in the country of the second party, benchmarking the professional standards, improving and facilitating the recognition and accreditation of qualifications and making the necessary arrangements, enhancing the special arrangements to transfer courses between institutions in both countries, and identifying opportunities of developing and strengthening cooperation.

The “Australian Trade Commission” (Austrade) has lately organized, in cooperation with the “Department  of Scientific Research” of the Emirati “Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research”, the second “Future Unlimited Seminar” about cooperation in the field of higher education and scientific research, within a series of events of the program “Australia Unlimited MENA 2014”, and it aimed to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and cultural ties between “Australia” , the “MENA” region, and North Africa. The Australian Embassy in UAE was opened (15) years ago, in addition to four academic institutions in the State. It is worth mentioning that the two countries are looking forward to more growth and achievements in the coming years, and strengthening cooperation in many sectors such as the food, logistics, and water security in the urban areas, future education, and energy.