5
INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
On January 17, 2017, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and ruler of Sharjah and president of American University of Sharjah (AUS), met with Kai Mykkänen, the minister for foreign trade and development of Finland, at the Al-Badya palace in Sharjah. I was personally invited to attend the meeting, the purpose of which was to discuss the future development plans of the university and the establishment of the Research, Technology, and Innovation Park by AUS Enterprises (AUSE) adjacent to University City and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AUSE and the Council of Oulu Region (Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland). The five-year agreement was signed to facilitate mutual cooperation in the fields of research and development; improvement of innovation in education, trade, science and technology, business; and industrial development in Sharjah and the Oulu region with both party administrations sharing experiences.
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of AUSE, said, “His Highness the ruler of Sharjah discussed with the visiting minister several ways of collaboration that would enable Sharjah and Finland to benefit from each other’s expertise and knowledge, whether it be in research and development or business and commerce. Some of the ideas that were discussed were potential partnerships between private sector entities in the fields of technology and entrepreneurship and the potential establishment of a Finland innovation center at the Research, Technology, and Innovation Park.”
I must say that this great effort taken by both parties could foster a significant and positive change to traditional education through innovation.
