The General Secretariat of the “Federal National Council” in cooperation with the “Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research”, represented by the “National Research Foundation” is organizing, on Sunday (23/3/2014), the “First Annual National Forum for Emirati Researchers” under the theme: “Horizons and Foundations of Scientific Research in UAE”, at the “Grand Hyatt Dubai”, in order to discuss the challenges and hindrances that face scientific research in the State.
His Excellency Sheikh “Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan”, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chancellor of UAE University, said that the forum is held at a crucial time, where Emiratis are racing time to achieve their ambitions and their vision for their State to be in first ranking in the global indicators, achieving prosperity and peace not only in the State, but also in all the world. Therefore, scientific research and innovation are necessary and fundamental; or rather, the only way to achieve all that in all areas. The “UAE” was ranked (19th) by “The World Economic Forum” in “The Global Competitiveness Report 2013 – 2014”, and was considered among the phase of economies which are based on innovation, that contain more than (35) advanced economies in the world.
The forum will begin with an opening speech delivered by the Secretary General of the “Federal National Council” Dr.“Mohammed Salem Al Mazroui” on behalf of the Secretary General of the (FNC). Three axes are set to be discussed during three sessions. The first is under the title “Obstacles and Problems of Scientific Research in the State (Challenges, Opportunities, and Proposals)”, headed by Dr. “Husam Al Ulama”, Director of the “National Research Foundation”, where three papers will be presented. The first paper is from Dr. “Fatima R. Al-Darmaki”, Visiting Associate Professor at the College of Sustainability Sciences and Humanities at “Zayed University”, under the title “The Problems and Future of Scientific Research in the State _ Academic Point of View”. The second paper is from Dr. “Mohammed Murad”, the Director of the Centre for Decision Support of Dubai Police”, under the title : “The Development of National Capacities in the Field of Scientific Research _ Strategic Pillars and Quantitative Indicators”. The third paper is from Professor “Reyadh Almehaideb”, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies in UAE University; under the title “The Role of Scientific Research in the Planning and Implementation of the National Agenda of the State _ Challenges and Prospects”.
As for the second session 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”. It includes the discussion of the four papers from the Council to make use of the parliamentary research approaches in applied researches, and to introduce the experience of the “Federal National Council” in implementing the parliamentary scientific approaches, and benefit from them in the council’s works, in regulatory, legislative, and diplomatic areas.
The last session handles the discussion of the project “Bahhathat Al Emarat”, and it is worth mentioning that students from “UAE University” and “Zayed University” will participate in presenting the papers.
