Over 90% Scholarships Aim to Meet Capacity Building Objectives under UAE’s Vision 2030 Plan

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced its holistic academic and research offerings will have a far wider reach, becoming even more accessible to all students across the UAE, the region and globally, further strengthening the University’s status as a key contributor to the rapid transformation of the UAE’s human and intellectual capital.��

As a consistently highly-ranked academic institution with an emphasis on research, innovation and enterprise, Khalifa University continues to spearhead creativity and collaboration nurturing tomorrow’s talent leaders through various initiatives. ��ݮ��Ƶ for all students from around the world to Khalifa University is open until 30 April 2024.��

Dr. Yousof Al-Hammadi, Senior Vice-President, Academic and Student Services and Assistant Vice-President, Graduate Studies, Khalifa University, said: “Khalifa University provides the most appropriate learning environment while ensuring that its world-class academic, research and scholarship options are available and accessible to more students in the region and across the world. This is in line with the UAE leadership’s directives and the objectives of UAE Vision 2030 towards contributing to developing human and intellectual capital for the UAE. Each of Khalifa University’s initiatives is geared towards achieving the most advanced solutions through scientific research, while simultaneously offering a platform for learning to as many students as possible, across the globe. In addition, as a highly-ranked international institution, Khalifa University continuously works towards providing highly diverse regional and international internships, as well as facilitating work opportunities.”��

Students have access to dynamic internships and career opportunities across a wide spectrum of industries including the emerging space sector, metallurgical industries in aluminum and steel, and oil-and-gas and petrochemical sectors. Equipped with substantial technical skills and theoretical knowledge students are able to present research projects at major international conferences and apply a broad range of technical and non-technical transferable skills, needed for successful careers and leadership roles in industry, business and government. Many graduates also have the option to pursue postgraduate study or research, earning their MSc or PhD, being well-prepared to embark on successful careers in Intelligent Systems and application of mathematical and statistical techniques to machine learning (ML).��

Covering a broad range of disciplines in science, engineering, medicine and life sciences, the University continuously broadens the scope for world-class academics with unlimited research. Khalifa University remains top in the UAE in academic rankings and it also has the highest number of patents in the UAE.

Student-led clubs at Khalifa University promote creativity and collaboration, enriching the academic experience. These clubs cater to various interests, including arts, science, culture, and history, and provide a platform for student advocacy and leadership development.

Clarence Michael
English Editor – Specialist
3 April 2024

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KU research offers insights to creating a sustainable and economically robust business environment for policymakers.

The world’s perception of sustainability has been encapsulated as meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. This ideal, encompassing the harmony of environmental, economic, and social balances, is the backbone of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced by the United Nations in 2015. Yet, as this harmony is pursued, the looming threats of sustainability risks — which cover environmental degradation, social disparities, and economic vulnerabilities — pose significant challenges to current and future generations.

Moreover, the notion of country-level business risk, which is the probability of encountering obstacles when engaging in business within a specific nation, further adds layers to the complex quilt of challenges. As businesses today operate in an increasingly interconnected global ecosystem, understanding the interdependencies between SDGs and business risks is paramount for creating a sustainable future.

A team of researchers including Khalifa University’s Dr. Mecit Can Emre Simsekler, Associate Professor of Management Science and Engineering, has developed a model to explore dependences among SDG risks and business risks to help policymakers mitigate business risks while contributing to national sustainability goals. Dr. Simsekler collaborated with Abroon Qazi, American University of Sharjah, and M.K.S Al-Mhdawi, Teesside University, with their results published in the, a top 1% journal for sustainability and business.

Understanding country-level sustainability risks is crucial for minimizing operational disruptions and reputational damage while ensuring compliance with regulations and maintaining good investor relations.

While there have been studies around the relationship between aspects of sustainability and business risk, a comprehensive exploration of how all 17 SDG risks interplay with business risks in a networked environment is notably absent. Dr. Simsekler’s work aims to bridge this gap. By delving into the intricate web of relationships between each SDG risk and business risks, it provides a robust foundation for understanding the interdependencies and offers a roadmap for holistic decision-making.

For instance, while previous studies have underscored environmental performance as an indicator of business risk, this study’s findings illuminate the broader picture. The SDGs related to ‘quality education’, ‘no poverty’, and ‘affordable and clean energy’, representing social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability respectively, are pivotal when understanding on the connection between SDGs and business risk.

This research also serves as a call for multi-stakeholder engagement. Addressing the intertwined challenges of SDGs requires a symphony of efforts from businesses, governments, civil society organizations and academia.

A key takeaway is the need to integrate sustainability considerations into traditional risk management processes. While the conventional risk frameworks have primarily revolved around financial risks, the evolving landscape necessitates a broader view, encapsulating sustainability risks.

While this study has shed light on the complex landscape of SDG risks and business risks, several avenues remain unexplored, such as the dynamic behavior of business and SDG risks, or the detailed strategies to mitigate these intertwined risks.

Dr. Simsekler says subsequent research could delve into the nuanced relationship between SDG risks and specific dimensions of business risk like financial or reputational risks. Such granular analysis can empower businesses with actionable insights tailored to their specific industry or operational scale. Moreover, understanding these associations across different scales – organizational to global – can offer a more holistic view of the intricate landscape of SDGs and business risks.

As the world strides towards a sustainable future, recognizing, understanding, and addressing the nexus between SDGs and business risks becomes paramount. This research serves as a beacon, guiding stakeholders through the complex maze of interdependencies and offering a blueprint for a balanced and harmonious future.

Jade Sterling��
Science Writer
9 November 2023

The post The Interplay between Sustainable Development Goals and Country-Level Business Risk: A New Perspective appeared first on Khalifa University.

A four-member team of Electrical and Computer Engineering students from Khalifa University – Maryam Abbas Ahmad Hussain Sajwani, Sumaya Zaid Saeed Ali Alzubaidi, Reem Ali Khalfan Hafesh AlNuaimi and Khadeeja Khaled Hashem Mohamed Aljaberi – has been shortlisted for the second round of IEEE International Future Energy Challenge (IFEC) 2019 that will be held in Anaheim, California, on 17 March 2019.

Supervised by Dr. Balanthi Abdul R. Beig, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and supported by technical staff, the Khalifa University team named ‘K-Drive’, became one of the 16 teams qualified for the second round out of more than 50 entries across the world. The Khalifa University team is also the only one from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to be selected for the second phase of the challenge.

The challenge ‘electric drive for bicycles’ (E-Drive for a Bicycle), consists of the design and prototype of a battery-three phase output drive including the motor control and user interface design.

The design team ‘K-Drive’ is currently gearing up to present their progress at the workshop in Anaheim, which will be held in parallel with the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) 2019. The successful teams will be entering the final round of competition which will be held from 22-25 May 2019 at the University of Wisconsin. The Grand Prize winner will walk away with US$10,000, while there will be three additional awards of US$5,000, US$3,000 and US$1,000 for various categories.

The four ECE students are extremely delighted to learn about their selection. Sajwani said: “We were overjoyed and it has now given us an added boost. We will give our best so as to qualify for the final stage.”

The students attributed their first stage success to their faculty adviser Dr. Balanthi Beig, as well as the technical support and constant motivation from the ECE Lab engineers Suma Ramamurthy Rao, Saikrishna Kanukollu and Malik Abdul Haleem.

Sajwani added: “Last semester our focus was on modelling the system and understanding various factors that we need to consider in order to get the optimal output. This semester, we have taken those concepts, revised them and started building the system. We have divided our tasks based on two major categories – hardware and software. In hardware, we have been working on the PCB (printed circuit board) and its connections to the overall systems whereas, in software we are more focused towards programming the main controller to execute tasks.”

She added, “For the next stage, it’s very crucial that we obtain the best PCB design so that we can showcase our findings and results.”

IFEC, an international student competition for innovation, conservation, and effective use of electrical energy, is open to college and university student teams from recognized undergraduate engineering programs. The competition is sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power Electronics Society (PELS), Power & Energy Society (PES), Industry Application Society (IAS) and Power Sources Manufacturers Association (PSMA).

Clarence Michael

News Writer

14 February 2019

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K-Drive Once Again Becomes Only Team from MENA Region to be Shortlisted among Top 10 Finalists

Khalifa University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) students Maryam Abbas Sajwani, Reem AlNuaimi, Khadeeja Khaled Hashem Mohamed Aljaberi, and Sumaya AlZubaidi of the ‘K-Drive’ design team have entered the final round of the IEEE International Future Energy Challenge (IFEC) 2019 competition that will be held during the last week of July 2019 at the University of Wisconsin, US.

The Khalifa University team has once again become the only one from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to be among the top 10 selected for the finals. An international student competition for innovation, conservation, and effective use of electrical energy, the IFEC is open to college and university student teams from recognized undergraduate engineering programs.

The K-Drive team crossed the second stage when it was shortlisted out of a total of 16 teams, after confidently presenting the progress report about their prototype to the judges’ panel during the IEEE-IFEC 2019 workshop at Anaheim, US. The challenge ‘electric drive for bicycles’ (E-Drive for a Bicycle), consists of designing and developing the prototype of a battery-three phase output drive, including the motor control and user interface design.

Sajwani said: “We are extremely happy to be the one of the 10 teams to be shortlisted for the final phase of the IFEC competition. We were quite surprised when we received this amazing news about our selection, as the level of expertise and technical designs of the others teams were equal to ours.”

Faculty adviser Associate Professor Dr. Balanthi Beig said: “Our senior design team’s work is on par with the other teams and our students confidently answered all technical questions clearly.”

Aljaberi, who could not be present with the team at Anaheim, congratulated other members, and said: “Working on this project has been a great experience. This competition is challenging us in a very fruitful way and is putting our engineering knowledge and skills to the test. We are truly motivated and excited about the final phase.” Aljaberi intends to join the team for the finals at Wisconsin.

Sajwani added: “Currently, our main focus is testing of our overall system. We have been vigorously testing multiple parameters individually and coupling it with other aspects to see the response of the system. We believe we would be able to resolve any issue within the actual competition timeline.”

The students attributed their second stage success to Dr. Beig, and technical support from the ECE Lab engineers Suma Ramamurthy Rao, Saikrishna Kanukollu and Malik Abdul Haleem. The top 10 teams apart from Khalifa University include Delhi Technological University, DHBW-Stuttgart, Drexel University, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, National Ilan University, Tsinghua University, University of Belgrade, Utah State University and Virginia Tech.

The IEEE-IFEC 2019 competition is sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power Electronics Society (PELS), Power & Energy Society (PES), Industry Application Society (IAS) and Power Sources Manufacturers Association (PSMA).

News Writer

11 April 2019

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Certificates of Completion Presented to the Outgoing Cohort

��More than 40 members of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) 2018 outreach program were honored by Khalifa University of Science and Technology for successfully completing their year-long commitments at a gala ceremony.

Certificates of completion were presented to the YFEL members at the ceremony, organized at the Khalifa University Main Campus during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2019. Members of the Khalifa University Board of Trustees including Abdulaziz Abdulla Alhajri, Director of the Refining and Petrochemicals Directorate, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Dr. Nawal Khalifa Al Hosany, Deputy Director General, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, were present on the occasion. KU’s senior management, including Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Services, Dr. Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice-President, Research and Development, and Dr. Bayan Sharif, Acting Provost, Dean of Engineering, also attended the ceremony, along with representatives from YFEL program sponsors such as BASF as well as other dignitaries and guests. Also present were the 2019 YFEL members.

Of the 2018 YFEL members completing their year-long program, 25 were non-UAE nationals, representing 14 countries, and 11 were Emirati.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “Khalifa University is proud to include YFEL among our outreach programs. YFEL helps to broaden the impact of our educational and research missions by attracting top students and young professionals within the UAE and around the world. During their 2018 YFEL year, these members have not only learnt innovative and inter-disciplinary science and engineering from our faculty, but also the UAE’s vision of sustainable energy leadership, which they can take back and expand upon as future energy leaders. They have traveled the world, visited innovators and leaders in industry, and seen the impact of sustainable technology and practices in a variety of applications. I believe they will apply what they have learnt through this experience and benefit the community in general.”

Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi said: “Congratulations to the 2018 YFEL members who have successfully completed their arduous year-long journey towards shaping themselves as future energy leaders. These talented emerging leaders are now fully equipped to tackle challenges and contribute effectively to further advancing sustainability in various sectors. I also welcome the 2019 YFEL members and firmly believe that they too will emulate and even exceed the benchmark already set by the previous members of the YFEL outreach program.”

During the ceremony, a video presentation highlighted the achievements of the 2018 YFEL outreach initiative, which included their completion of educational courses in three categories – technology, policy, and leadership.

The film also showcased a 10-member YFEL delegation, which learned first-hand how Germany’s three major industry leaders – BASF, Siemens and Bilfinger – are driving innovative solutions including digitalization for sustainable global development. Their visit focused on applied sustainability solutions relevant to the UAE and the restorative and regenerative‘circular economy’, which builds economic, natural and social capital.

During the year, the 2018 YFEL members produced a number of novel project concepts.The ‘You are the Future’ project helped UAE high school students choose the right career while offering mentorship, while the ‘Power Bag’ project incorporated a simple solar powered portable charger for refugees that can be placed on backpacks to store solar energy to charge electronic devices.

The 2018 YFEL members also attended several conferences in the UAE and abroad, like the World Future Energy Summit 2018, where their ideas were presented and discussed. Two YFEL members also participated as panelists in the 10th Green Leadership Series hosted by the Dubai Science Park.

Sharing his perspectives, YFEL member Hamdan Sarhan Al Zaabi said:“Participating in the 2018 YFEL program proved to be one of my best experiences. We had the opportunity to meet global energy leaders during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, participated in several workshops and courses which focused on energy, leadership and sustainability during the year. I firmly believe the YFEL program helps steer the young professionals and students on the right path into becoming tomorrow’s energy leaders.”

Another YFEL member Shatha Nabil Abdulkarim Mubarak Alfalasi said: “The year-long journey was a memorable experience during which I shared knowledge, innovative ideas, skills, and culture were exchanged with other ambitious youth. Moreover, if there is anything that made me be inspired the most, it sure was the ‘butterfly effect’ which was the theme of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018. It taught me that small things can have big impact and they signify a path that can be followed.”

Clarence Michael
News Writer
17 January 2019

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