Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence on Thursday inaugurated the 1st-ever overseas campus of India’s premier business school, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), in Dubai. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE graced the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion Pradhan said that it is a great honor to have the IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus inaugurated by the Crown Prince of Dubai. This is another big leap towards globalisation of India’s education as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dubai Provides Ideal Launchpad for ‘Indian in Spirit, Global in Outlook’ with IIM Ahmedabad Campus
Pradhan said that IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus will take the best of India to the world. Dubai, today, has provided the perfect launchpad to the ethos of ‘Indian in spirit, global in outlook’ by hosting the IIM Ahmedabad international campus. He expressed his gratitude to HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for adding a glorious leaf to India-UAE knowledge collaboration.
The Minister also had a meeting with H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE. Pradhan thanked H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar for his appreciation of the contributions by Indian educational institutions in Dubai, particularly towards advancing mutual priorities and fostering global connectivity, as well as for the support extended towards establishing more top-quality Indian institutions in the UAE.
Pradhan stated that India is a global hotspot of talent and the UAE a global economic hotspot. He mentioned that both India and the UAE remain committed to strengthening people-to-people contact and cementing their age-old and strong ties.
Minister also visited the Manipal University campus in Dubai
Later, Pradhan also visited the Manipal University campus in Dubai, where he had a roundtable discussion with principals of Indian higher education institutions including Symbiosis, BITS Pilani, MIT, Amity, and others.
Pradhan learnt about UAE’s academic approaches and plans for the future. The Minister outlined the need for moving the research value chain from the publication of research papers to productization and marketisation. He also mentioned that there were productive deliberations on strengthening Brand India on the global education, innovation and entrepreneurship map.
12 Atal Tinkering Labs to be set up in CBSE schools in GCC countries
Pradhan also interacted with the principals of 109 Indian Curriculum schools in the UAE. Principals of CBSE schools in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and all global CBSE schools joined virtually. On the occasion, Pradhan announced the setting up of the 12 Atal Tinkering Labs in CBSE schools in GCC countries to ignite scientific inquiry and entrepreneurship among students through hands-on STEM projects.
Pradhan planted a sapling of the Ghaf tree
At a symbolic event organised at the Indian Consulate in Dubai, Pradhan planted a sapling of the Ghaf tree, the national tree of the UAE, under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0” campaign. Pradhan said that it is a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE, The Ghaf tree at the Consulate will also stand as an evergreen testament of India-UAE friendship.
