Ajman University shows sensory-friendly spaces for children with autism
The annual event, organised by the Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies, brought together faculty members, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and distinguished representatives from government and private sectors to explore how applied research can support the UAE's long-term strategic ambitions.
Held at Ajman Saray Hotel, the event showcased interdisciplinary student research projects addressing real-world challenges in areas such as urban planning, public health, technology, design, and behavioral science.
Among the many impactful contributions, students from the College of Engineering and IT explored sustainable freshwater collection systems through condensation technologies.
From the College of Architecture, Art, and Design, one project examined how walkable urban design can enhance livability, while another proposed sensory-friendly spaces for children with autism.
Marketing and management students analysed green consumer behaviour in the UAE, while projects from the College of Law addressed privacy rights and legal frameworks in digital environments.
Medical students explored health access and clinical practices, while researchers in Pharmacy and Health Sciences examined environmental risk factors and pharmaceutical advancements.
The College of Dentistry presented innovations in oral care, while students in Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mass Communication tackled behavioural trends, social perceptions, and media narratives. These projects collectively reflect the breadth and depth of Ajman University's research ecosystem, grounded in relevance, rigour, and national impact.
Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor of Ajman University, stated, 'Research is one of the key pillars of our mission and the cornerstone of our vision to nurture a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. By organising this event, we have reaffirmed our commitment to fostering creative researchers capable of linking theory with practice and producing knowledge with real social impact.'
He further said, 'As a non-profit institution, all our resources are utilised to strengthen the research environment, develop academic infrastructure, and forge impactful scientific partnerships aligned with national development goals. Moreover, we align all our research programmes with the objectives of the 'UAE Vision 2071' as well as the national agenda for innovation, future technologies, and sustainability.'
The event also honoured outstanding student and faculty contributions, fostering a research culture that links theory with practice and encourages collaboration across disciplines.
Through presentations, feedback from experts, and networking with industry professionals, students had the opportunity to refine their research and enhance their readiness to contribute meaningfully to economic and social development.
The event demonstrated how Ajman University is advancing broader national goals for youth empowerment and intellectual capital investment, while redirecting resources toward innovation, education, and research.
WAM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
11-07-2025
- Zawya
Ajman University: Sole Middle East Recipient of Prestigious ICANN Grant to develop global internet security system
Ajman, UAE – Ajman University has secured a prestigious international grant from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) worth USD 410,300.00, in the inaugural cycle of the ICANN Grant Program. This competitive international award, secured through the dedicated efforts of Prof. Rao Naveed Bin Rais from the College of Engineering and Information Technology, will support the development of a groundbreaking system to archive and analyze global data related to the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) — a vital cybersecurity protocol that safeguards the integrity of Internet infrastructure. The project aims to build a 24/7 operational platform that analyzes historical DNSSEC data, identifies vulnerabilities, and highlights gaps in its global implementation. This first-of-its-kind system will offer diagnostic tools with visual analysis, helping enhance DNSSEC adoption worldwide. Ajman University is the only institution in the Middle East to receive this grant, and one of just 23 selected entities out of 247 global applicants. Out of 23 entities, only 3 are selected from Asia including Ajman University. Moreover, AU is also among the only five universities worldwide to receive the award — including three from Europe, one from Latin America, and Ajman University as the sole representative from Asia. This milestone reinforces Ajman University's global standing, particularly as it enabled the University to obtain U.S.-equivalent charitable organization status — a prerequisite for applying to this grant. This designation aligns with AU's identity as a non-profit academic institution and paves the way for securing additional international funding opportunities that support its academic and community missions. Being the only awardee from both the Middle East and the only university from the Asia highlights the University's ability to compete at the highest levels in fields such as cybersecurity and Internet governance. The grant-funded project represents a significant addition to the University's research and technological infrastructure. It involves the development of a passive, integrated system to collect and analyze DNSSEC data — the first of its kind globally — and is expected to boost AU's international visibility as global Internet community begins using the platform. The project will also include the establishment of a high-tech hardware lab on campus, further strengthening AU's capacity for applied research and innovation in digital infrastructure. The initiative promises to create research and training opportunities for AU graduates, while providing current students and researchers access to valuable datasets for research and development purposes — supporting their growth in analytical and technical skills. The project addresses a major global challenge related to the implementation of DNSSEC, a protocol strongly advocated by global Internet bodies like ICANN and IETF for securing the DNS ecosystem. In the adoption of DNSSEC protocol, one of the main obstacles has been the lack of visibility into global adoption and implementation gaps. Through the newly developed system, Ajman University seeks to bridge that gap by monitoring and analyzing DNSSEC adoption across Internet domain names worldwide. This project reflects Ajman University's strong commitment to leveraging scientific research in service of global challenges and underscores its active role in building secure and sustainable digital infrastructure that benefits academic and technical communities both locally and globally. About Ajman University Established in 1988 as the first private university in the GCC, Ajman University (AU) is a non-profit institution committed to delivering world-class education and empowering future leaders. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, global engagement, and societal impact, AU continues to shape a diverse and inclusive learning environment that nurtures innovation and integrity. Ajman University earned full accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in 2024, becoming the first private and non-profit university in the UAE and the Arab world to achieve this prestigious distinction. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, AU ranks #440 globally and #6 in the UAE, with a global ranking of #241 for Employer Reputation and #3 in the UAE. AU also holds the #1 position in the UAE and #4 globally for the percentage of international students. With a growing network of over 40,000 alumni across the world, AU continues to prepare graduates who are career-ready, globally aware, and committed to shaping a better future for their communities and beyond.
Zawya
04-07-2025
- Zawya
Study Validates Impact of International Teams in Africa's Outbreak Response
A new study carried out by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) confirms the critical role international health teams have played in strengthening outbreak response across the African continent. The study also highlights the need for more strategic and locally tailored support models to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness. Presented and validated during a high-level virtual workshop held from 23 to 24 June 2025, the study offers one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of international technical deployments and their impact on national outbreak preparedness and response systems in African Union (AU) Member States between 2020 and 2023. The findings show that international teams provided crucial short-term surge capacity across several public health domains, including surveillance, laboratory systems, epidemiology, infection prevention and control, clinical care, and risk communication. Notably, nearly half of all deployments supported two or more of these areas, underscoring their value in addressing multifaceted outbreak challenges. Beyond emergency response, the study details how international teams supported countries through the provision of equipment and infrastructure, the development of operational systems and protocols, the transfer of skills through training, the enhancement of coordination structures, and rapid deployment of human resources during critical capacity gaps. 'These deployments have delivered vital expertise, resources, and rapid response capacity at crucial moments,' said Dr Radjabu Bigirimana, Programme Lead for Africa CDC's African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC). 'However, they also raise important questions about sustainability, coordination, and how we strengthen long-term national preparedness systems.' While national stakeholders widely appreciated the contributions of international teams, the study also captured reflections from international partners on the importance of aligning deployments with local needs, existing national capacities, and longer-term health security goals. Effectiveness, the study found, often depended on the expertise of deployed personnel and their integration into existing national response systems. 'This workshop reinforces the need for global partnerships to evolve—where international deployments are not just reactive measures, but deliberate investments in national systems, tailored to local realities and long-term goals,' said Dr Edmund Newman, Director of the UK-PHRST. 'Evidence-informed learning must guide how we improve emergency public health deployments,' added Dr Femi Nzegwu, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene&Tropical Medicine and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning lead at UK-PHRST. 'The findings of the report validate experiences across Africa but also point to what must change to ensure deployments are more effective, context-specific, equitable, and empowering for Member States.' The workshop resulted in the collaborative development of a roadmap to operationalise the report's recommendations, serving as a good practice guide on how to enable sustainable solutions in outbreak management among AU Member States. In turn, the report lays a foundation for reducing long-term reliance on external surge capacity by strengthening national health systems. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Sharjah 24
04-06-2025
- Sharjah 24
AUS launches pathway to graduate studies in environmental science
The agreement, finalized in April 2025, builds on more than two decades of ties between AUS and AU, which share a long-standing institutional relationship dating back to AUS' founding. This latest partnership was spearheaded by Dr. Fatin Samara, a professor at AUS' Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, who is also currently an adjunct faculty member at the Department of Environmental Sciences at AU. Her affiliation with both institutions helped bring the partnership to life, along with support from several members of the environmental sciences faculty. 'The launch of this new partnership, during the same week as Earth Day, symbolizes our community's commitment to creating pathways for students to progress toward environmental leadership,' said Dr. Samara. 'Those who choose this pathway will be equipped with the tools, knowledge and global perspective needed to address pressing environmental challenges and build a more sustainable future.' A highly regarded institution, AU is among the top 100 US universities in the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings and ranks second in the US in The Princeton Review's Green Colleges ranking. 'CAS' leadership is delighted to see this partnership come to life. It reflects our commitment to providing CAS' students with an enriched academic experience that extends beyond borders. We are proud to collaborate with a globally respected institution like American University in Washington, DC, on this 4+1 pathway. This partnership will help accelerate the route to graduate education for our students in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability program and allow them to spend a year studying in a global center for environmental policy and research,' said Dr. Hana Sulieman, Associate Dean of CAS. Under the 4+1 model, AUS students will complete their four-year bachelor's degree at AUS and transfer to American University for one additional year of study to complete their master's degree. Eligible students may transfer up to nine credits toward the master's degree, including two graduate-level courses and their senior research project, taken during their final year at AUS. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. As part of the agreement, AUS students admitted to the program will also receive a generous 50 percent tuition scholarship, significantly lowering the cost of graduate study in the US. 'We are excited to expand our partnership with the American University of Sharjah through an accelerated pathway to a master's degree in environmental science, said Dr. Vicky Wilkins, Provost of American University. 'This program equips students with the knowledge and skills to confront the complex sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow. Together, we are shaping the next generation of leaders who will drive global environmental progress.' Students applying can choose between a thesis track focused on environmental science research and a non-thesis track in environmental policy and advocacy. Both tracks emphasize interdisciplinary learning and real-world application and integrate science with policy, economics and global sustainability issues. After graduating, students will benefit from Washington, DC's position as an international hub for environmental research, advocacy and policy and its vibrant job market, where junior roles start at $60,000 and senior roles reach over $140,000 a year according to a job search and labor market data platform. Graduates of American University's Master of Science in Environmental Science have gone on to work at organizations such as the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the World Bank, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. AU's faculty are actively involved in cutting-edge research, from food systems and climate resilience to geospatial analysis and environmental toxicology, also making it an excellent destination for AUS graduates wishing to pursue an academic or research career. The program will be available to AUS students beginning in Fall 2025.
