UAE, August 3rd, 2016 –The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has revealed that Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST) has been granted academic membership into the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for issues that concern information and communication technologies. The move is hailed as a key step forward that complement AUST’s scientific and academic roadmap towards development while also helping national efforts in consolidating the UAE’s credentials in the ITU.
Earlier, the TRA encouraged AUST to join the ranks of other academic members of the ITU, a move that reflects the TRA’s policy and the UAE’s vision to support and convince all academic institutions, universities and colleges to be part of the ITU with the aim of making good use of several advantages offered by the union and benefit from its membership to the hilt, especially in the light of the rapid development witnessed by the world in digital technology.
The ITU membership will help the university in enhancing its academic levels through being acquainted with the latest developments, techniques and practices in the domain of the telecommunications and information technology industry and keeping up with the emergence of technological advancements in this sector. In addition to capitalizing from studies and mega world projects carried out by the ITU, which includes a large number of designed technical researches, that are conducted by committees, experienced and specialized working teams in various areas either in radio communications or standardization or development.
TRA lauded the great step taken by Ajman University of Science & Technology and its efforts to develop a scientific and academic roadmap that looks towards improving the capabilities and competencies of local human resources as well as assuming its academic role in enabling students to lead the future and developing a generation that is able to match with major developments in the telecommunications and information technology sector. AUST’s efforts is expected to play a key role in bolstering the status of the UAE and its leadership at the global level, while also highlighting the academic sector as a main partner in supporting the process of development and evolution.
In addition, the TRA also expressed its keenness in strengthening ties with all educational and academic institutions in the UAE—urging other schools and universities to join the ITU and benefit from researches and specialized studies, particularly in the field of telecommunications and information technology, in an attempt to pave the way for students who are specialized in this area and to benefit from training courses and activities organized by the Union. The ITU organizes a wide range of workshops that are facilitated by international experts and are aimed at implementing the recommendations of the telecommunications sector to fortify the country’s credentials at the regional and international events and help in fully developing the digital economy network in the UAE.
By AUST’s ITU membership, university students now will be able to take advantage of key opportunities offered by the ITU, especially with regards to training courses in the domain of radio communications and the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), as well as the direct communication with international experts and researchers from more than 100 universities and research centers that are also members of the ITU.
The cooperation will serve the university at all levels and open new horizons that could contribute to developing the university’s academic level; keeping pace with the changes in the digital technology world and qualifying talented and skilled students in leading the future and building the community.
AUST’s entry into the union follows after the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) announcement of academic membership in the ITU earlier this year, making good use of its membership to enhance its academic’s path and foster global partnerships that can back its vision in the field of applied education as well as focusing on specializations that meet with the labor market’s requirements and the state’s development plans.
Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi has also received an invitation to join the ITU, which was issued in recognition of the quality of its research outputs. Houlin Zhao, Secretary General, ITU recently visited the university in March and toured the university’s Innovation Center, ‘Eptic.’ During the tour, he met with researchers who briefed him on projects to improve the fiber optic network, big data and the security of cloud computing networks. The ITU official also visited a research center for processing and analyzing visual signals and the Khalifa University Robotics Institute (KURI) in addition to meeting with students and researchers who briefed him on their research projects.
About the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was established to help further develop the telecommunications and information technology industries and support efforts aimed towards creating a knowledge-based economy in the country. The authority focuses on strengthening the development of the telecommunications and information technology sector, which are important drivers for social and economic growth and one of the main pillars of UAE Vision 2021.
TRA is responsible for supporting the telecommunications and information technology sector through the enforcement of a regulatory framework that stimulates healthy competition; maintains the rights of the beneficiaries; improves readiness of e-services; encourages investment, innovation and development and develops human capital. For more information, please visit: www.tra.gov.ae.
