Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January, 2021:  Abu Dhabi University’s (ADU) College of Health Sciences (CHS), and the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), wherein the two parties will work together closely on a variety of academic events and research-based projects, in addition to opportunities for knowledge-exchange among the students and employees.

The MoU was signed by Professor Waqar Ahmad, ADU’s Chancellor, Professor Wassim Y. Almawi, the Dean of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), and Mr. Abdul Hamid Oubeisi, CEO, National Reference Laboratory (NRL). Also present was Dr Laila Abdel Wareth, Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy CEO at NRL. 

Professor Wassim Y. Almawi, the Dean of the College of Health Sciences (CHS) stated: “It gives us great pleasure to enter a strategic collaboration with NRL. At ADU, we continuously seek to provide our students with internship and career opportunities, thereby increasing the high employment rate among students as part of the holistic learning experience. This new chapter will provide both students and faculty from CHS and NRL the opportunity to exchange valuable insights, participate in important workshops, training programs, and more, as well as provide NRL employees with the chance to enroll in ADU’s prestigious undergraduate and postgraduate programs. We look forward to this fruitful collaboration as the steppingstone for future partnerships with NRL.”

Mr Abdul Hamid Oubeisi, CEO of NRL said: “We at NRL are equally excited to support ADU in its academic and research missions. By partnering with highly regarded academic institutions that are elevating medical education, we will play our part in developing an ecosystem of premium healthcare education, medical research and innovation that helps position the United Arab Emirates as a leader in the global healthcare industry.” 

Dr Laila Abdel Wareth, Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy CEO at NRL, added: “Collaborating with ADU gives our scientific team the opportunity to give back to the healthcare community, provide more opportunities for ADU students and invest in the scientists of tomorrow. By working together and sharing our knowledge we can help establish the United Arab Emirates as a hub for innovation in healthcare, whilst contributing to quality healthcare education in the region.”     
The MoU will enable CHS’s and NRL’s scientific team who acts as faculty to co-organize workshops and seminars, participate in training programs and more. As part of the agreement, ADU will provide NRL with exclusive access to ADU’s facilities for lectures and workshops, in addition to a tuition fee discount up to 20% for NRL employees who wish to enroll in any of ADU’s programs at any of its branches. 

The College of Health Sciences is ADU’s most recently opened College, which focuses on providing high-quality education in public health, environmental health and safety, nutrition, and biomedical sciences. CHS also strives to provide advanced research opportunities for students and proactively engage with, and contribute to, local and international communities.