UAE looking forward to more industrialized future

Recent news surrounding the building of a new aircraft centre in the Emirates, and plans for nuclear power, are just a few examples of the country's impressive industrialization goals.

Prof Robert Whalley, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at The British University in Dubai (BUiD) - the Middle East's leading research-based postgraduate university and the only one of its kind in the Emirate to offer Master degrees in Systems Engineering - believes that in order to achieve these goals, professionals require the right training to spearhead future projects, particularly within the manufacturing, process and transportation industries.

"BUiD has identified, and is addressing, the UAE's undersupply of qualified systems engineers," said Whalley.

"Analysis, simulation and knowledge of the automatic control of processes becomes increasingly important when dealing with large scale systems. Therefore, the study of systems engineering is essential when employing complex computer controlled engineering systems, plant and machinery," he added.

Haifa Busamra, who works at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and currently completing her Master degree at BUiD, believes that her studies in systems engineering will further enhance her technical skills toward professionalism in areas where there are vast demand from the industrial utilities and manufacturers.

"My goal is to boost further my field experience with higher academic education in technical design which will enable me to serve my country better in the sector where there is a real demand such as the engineering field,"

said Busamra.

Ahmed Al Hammadi, another part-time systems engineering student at BUiD, who works with the Abu Dhabi government, is determined to use his studies to further his abilities and help the UAE reach its goal in becoming a world leader in manufacturing.

"There is need for more engineers with the right skills for the region's economy to grow. More professionals with specialized education and industry experience will help the UAE reach its goal to become an internationally-recognized trading and manufacturing destination," said Al Hammadi.

BUiD is the only local university to offer a masters degree in systems engineering. The course focuses on the analysis, design, diagnostics and control of industrial, electro-mechanical systems using modern computer-based procedures.

The Systems Engineering programme has been designed by the staff of the Faculty of Engineering. This course of study has been accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and approved by the School of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Civil Engineering, and the University of Manchester.

The MSc degree awarded on completion of the Systems Engineering programme will be conferred by The British University in Dubai together with the University of Manchester.