UAE’s Zayed University signs academic partnership MoU with Israel’s University of Haifa

UAE’s Zayed University has signed an academic partnership MoU with Israel’s University of Haifa.

The agreement signed between Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth and president of Zayed University, and Prof. Ron Robin, president of Haifa University of Israel aims to to cooperate on projects that promote research, education, outreach, and capacity building.

Under the agreement, both universities seek to exchange knowledge and academic best practices.

They also agreed to have joint-research projects, as well as organise mutually beneficial events, colloquia, seminars, and conferences.

“Our new partnership will generate opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the community; fostering benefits that extend beyond borders. As our counterparts are recognised for their excellence in various strategic fields that align well with our agenda for the next 50 years, we look forward to importing best practices in technological advancements, resource management, water and food security, as well as marine sciences; aside from quality teaching, research, and outstanding outreach in their community,” said Al Kaabi.

Meanwhile, Robin added, “In the wake of many common challenges facing humanity as we grapple with the climate crisis, this kind of academic cooperation is a way to preserve what all of us call home the planet.”

Other universities in the UAE have also previously cooperated with academic institutions in Israel following the signing of the Abraham Accords last year.

In May this year, researchers from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) successfully sequenced the genome of a 2,000-year-old, previously extinct, date palm tree at the Abu Dhabi’s Centre for Genomics and Systems Biology. This discovery was made in partnership with researchers in Israel and France.