Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum inaugurated the first foreign campus of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) at Dubai International Academic City (Diac) on Thursday. This is the first international campus in IIM Ahmedabad.
UAE acting Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Dr. Abdulman Abdulmanan Al Awar and Union Education Minister of India Dharmendra Pradhan were also present at the inauguration ceremony. Pradhan was on a two -day UAE trip.
Sheikh Hamdan said that IIM Ahmedabad’s opening of campus in Dubai is a symbol of India and UAE’s deep relations and growing partnership. He said that the energy and ambition of the youth is the future of Dubai and it is our priority to take them forward by giving them modern knowledge and skills.
In his address, Dharmendra Pradhan said that the establishment of Dubai Campus, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, is a major step towards taking India’s education globally. He said that this campus will bring India’s best education to the world. The Dubai Campus of IIM Ahmedabad will start educational activities by the end of this month. A one-year full-time MBA program for working professionals and entrepreneurs will be launched here.
Education Minister Pradhan thanked the UAE government for supporting Indian institutions and said that the economic capacity of India’s talent and UAE would further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. He also discussed with representatives of Indian universities such as Manipal, Symbiosis, BITS Pilani and Amity University and emphasized the need to take research from “paper to product”. In addition, he interacted with the Principals of 109 Indian schools of UAE (some virtual associated) and announced that 12 schools would set up Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL).
On the first day of the visit, Pradhan inaugurated the Atal Incubation Center (AIC) at IIT Delhi, Abu Dhabi Campus. This is the first foreign AIC of an Indian institution. Also launched B.Tech and PhD Program (Chemical Engineering, Energy and Sustainability) in IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi.
