Al Hosn University announces VP

Supported by the Abu Dhabi Holding Company, the university will offer internationally recognised degrees in through three faculties: Engineering; Business; and Arts and Social Science.

Professor Saghir has joined the Al Hosn University following six years at Canada's Ryerson University in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department.

A prominent researcher, Professor Saghir's microgravity experiment was last week launched into space on a Russian Soyuz. His research will provide further understanding of the characteristics of oil deep underground by analyzing the effects of oil in weightlessness. These results will enable petroleum companies to more accurately evaluate their reservoirs, and may also be put to use in material sciences and areas such as protein growth.

"I thrive on a challenge and a few years ago, space research was a challenge but I am now looking to a new challenge - setting up a university from scratch," Professor Saghir said.

"I aim to create a university of educational excellence through the top quality faculty members I have hired from around the world."

Professor Saghir spent five years at the United Arab Emirates University. While in this role, he received the Sheik Nahyan Bin Mubarak Award for best research project in the Faculty of Engineering.

He is bringing local knowledge and expertise to the position of Vice President at Al Hosn University.

During his career, Professor Saghir has received more than 1.3 million Canadian dollars in research support from numerous organisations such as the Canadian Ministry of External Affairs, the UAE Research Council and the Ministry of Energy Science and Technology in Canada.

Previously, Professor Saghir worked for the Canadian Space Agency on the Microgravity Science Program providing scientific advice on the planning and execution of project. In 2000, he received the Premier Research of Excellence Award from the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology in Canada.

Professor Saghir has chaired numerous international conferences, including the International Astronautical Federation Congress and the Space Technology and Application International Forum conference in New Mexico. He is a member of a number of professional organisations, including the Association of Professional Engineers, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Grant selection committee and a fellow member of the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineering.