Zayed University and MBC Group sign a Memorandum of Understanding

The MOU aims to establish a cooperative working partnership between Zayed University and MBC Group, in areas of common interest, such as providing training, internship opportunities for ZU students within MBC Group, and organizing a series of lectures, workshops and periodic seminars on media and journalism related topics which will be delivered by experienced and renowned MBC journalists and presenters.

The signing ceremony was held in H.E Sheikh Nahayan's palace in the presence of Dr.Sulaiman Al Jassim Vice President of Zayed University, Dr. Daniel Johnson Provost of Zayed University, Abdul-Rahman al-Rashed General Manager of the Al-Arabiya News Channel, Television host George Kirdahi and several officials.

Under the new partnership, MBC Group shall provide an annual opportunity to actively source and assign two Zayed University students from the College of Communications and Media Sciences, to join reporters in the field covering international assignments, which will allow the students to benefit immensely and enhance their journalistic skills.

Commenting on the partnership, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, President of Zayed University stressed the importance of the cooperation between the university and the MBC Group, as it aims to stimulate talented media and journalism students, through linking the academic courses they study at the university with media practices throughout the field.

His Excellency pointed out that under the agreement, the College of Communication and Media Sciences shall facilitate workshops and brainstorming opportunities between its students and MBC, to discuss youth related and other general entertainment and news programming ideas, formats and projects that are being adopted by MBC Group. This will allow the group to connect with students to get to know their ideas and opinions with regard to youth programs offered by MBC.

His Excellency added that Zayed University will also provide MBC Group with opportunities to interview faculty members within their programs, in addition to providing work opportunities Zayed University graduates to work in the media and journalism field.

His Excellency explained that this partnership translates the university's keenness to establish close scientific and cultural relations with community institutions and businesses of different fields, pointing out that the university is linked with a wide range of partnerships with institutions and government bodies, which are consistent in their strategies to strengthen the role of the higher education sector in the UAE.

For his part, Sheikh Waleed Bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MBC Group stressed the need to grow and build knowledge economies in the Arab world, and to further invest in developing and shaping our human capital in the production of media content that is recreational and educational, seeing that today and in the future the media and entertainment industries have great potential; and from the perspective of a socio-economic contribution, this will help advance the economies forward, thereby creating more job opportunities for young men and women.

Al Ibrahim further commented: "This MOU aims at refining the skills and talents of the younger generation and students at Zayed University, while providing networking opportunities through education and training that will be conducted by MBC Group media professionals, experts and journalists, utilizing the Group's various platforms and technologies.

This MOU also seeks to enable students to acquire the necessary skills and expertise in dealing with the latest digital and technological advancements, while also acquiring knowledge of the TV production and multi-media industry, thus enhancing the transitional phase from University to the working place, and reflecting the appropriateness of school curricula with the needs of the market and its requirements; in return, this will provide the students with the value-added edge of professionalism and highly competitive qualifications, making them fit to compete in the labor market and finally excel in it".

Commending the efforts of the MBC Group, Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim Vice President of Zayed University said: "This agreement will allow our students to benefit from the experience of renowned MBC journalists and presenters, especially that since it's inception the MBC has assumed a leading role and a prominent global position and has enriched the lives of millions of viewers through communicating and interacting with them".

After the signing ceremony, His Excellency Sheikh Waleed Bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim looked over the model of Zayed University's new campus in Abu Dhabi, which won the coveted Industry Choice Award, chosen by visitors to Cityscape Global, in addition to a gallery of photos showcasing capstone projects of students from the College of Communication and Media Sciences at Zayed University.