His Excellency Sheikh “Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan”, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stressed in his speech which was delivered on his behalf by Dr. “Saif Rashid Al Mazrouei”, Assistant Under Secretary of Institutional Services at the “Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research” at the “First Annual National Forum for Emirati Researchers”, the importance of the scientific research in the socio-economic development, and provision of appropriate environment for innovation and scientific creativities in all sciences and technology, and that the quality of education is a key ingredient in the rehabilitation of the young generation who can adapt to rapid developments in knowledge, science and information technology. The Minister also pointed out that the establishment of the “National Research Foundation” was to promote scientific research and innovation in the State through competitive funding programs in accordance with the best international practices in the field of scientific research and innovation.
“Al Mazrouei” said that the UAE has made quantum leaps in the field of higher education due to the unlimited support of the wise leadership, and creating Federal universities “UAE University, Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology”, in addition to the policies of “Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research” in the provision of scholarships to Emirati students to study at the best international universities, and setting the best international standards in the licensing of universities in the State and the support of scientific research, although the value of spending on scientific research reached approximately (600) million dirhams in(2013) at universities and scientific research centers that have been monitored, there is a need for continuous focus on increasing the rate of spending on scientific research in line with known global rates by the “UNESCO”.
The Forum ended on Sunday the (23rd) it was held for one day organized by the General Secretariat of the “Federal National Council” in cooperation with the “Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The first session under the title “Obstacles and Problems of Scientific Research in the State (Challenges, Opportunities, and Proposals)”, headed by Dr. “Husam Al Ulama”, while the second session is headed by Dr. “Mona Al Bahar, a member of the “Federal National Council” under the title “Taking Advantage of the Parliamentary Research Approaches in Applied Research”, working papers by the “General Secretariat” were also discussed.
The last session was held by Dr. “Mohammed Salem Al Mazrouei”, Secretary General of the Foundation, and discussed “The Forum’s project Bahhathat Al Emarat”. These three sessions were within the Forum entitled: “Horizons and Foundations of Scientific Research in UAE” the Forum is the first of its kind at the State level, which aims to discuss the challenges and obstacles facing research in the State, it included interventions from the audience demanding the establishment of a research center in the State and marketing of research that is done in the State, and delivering their results to the relevant sectors and institutions in the State through the establishment of a national committee for the follow-up of these studies, stressing the importance of the Forum as an opportunity to discuss various issues related to scientific research and development and to benefit from the outputs in the national agenda, and update the positions of higher education institutions in the State.
