European Photonics Industry Consortium to cooperate with AUST

The delegation was headed by Dr. Thomas Pearsall, General Secretary of EPIC, who was accompanied by Prof. Dr. Michael Heuken, Vice President of Aixtron, Professor of Electronics in Aachen University in Germany, and Board Member of EPIC, and Dr. Dieter Fuchs, General Manager of Fraunhofer Representative Office (Middle East).

The delegation was received on behalf of the University by Dr. Ahmed Ankit, Vice President for External Relations and Cultural Affairs, Professor Fahar Hayati, Dean of the College of Engineering, and Mr. Michael Schwarz, AUST European universities Coordinator.

During a welcome session, Dr. Ankit thanked the delegation for their interest in cooperating with AUST. He said that HE Dr. Saeed Abdullah Salman, AUST Supreme President, is eager to establish relationships with international institutions, especially those based in Germany, in the fields of research and curriculum development. AUST, he stated, is 'interested in developing research in engineering with the support of institutions which have good traditions and good resources.'

Professor Hayati stressed that AUST's College of Engineering is interested in developing research in the field of photonics for the benefit of both students and faculty members. He stated that the college is looking forward to establishing concrete cooperation with EPIC, in particular where postgraduate programs are concerned.

The delegation will revisit AUST on October 1st, 2009 to deliver a presentation on photonics for students and faculty of the Department of Electrical Engineering.