The Dubai Engineering Challenges 2008 conference has begun at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Dubai Men’s College campus.
Under the spotlight are the engineering challenges shaping the sustainable future of Dubai and the UAE, the organisers said in a statement.
More than 1,000 delegates consisting of industry leaders, engineering professionals, educators and engineering students are providing a stimulating forum to debate industry best practice, solutions to the impending skills shortage and ways in which innovation can overcome the unique challenges facing the region’s engineering projects.
Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Shaikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan delivered the opening address, impressing upon delegates the role that industry can play in producing world-class graduates with the skills to find solutions to tomorrow’s engineering challenges.
There is an impressive line-up of leading industry experts who will be speaking about the specific challenges that they face with their own iconic projects.
Dr Gary Mocke, Coastal & Oceans Manager at Worley Parsons Infrastructure will be explaining the effects of the rapidly changing coastlines of the Middle East and the unique engineering problems they create.
'The scale and nature of coastal developments in the UAE have increased markedly over the last five years. The reclamation of massive offshore island projects are without precedent globally,' said Dr Mocke.
The substantial challenges presented by the construction of Dubai’s $4.5 billion Metro – the most ambitious transportation project in the Middle East, will also be presented by Dan Savage, Design Manager for the above-ground stations of the Dubai Metro for Atkins & Partners Overseas.
Angus McFarlane, Technical Director of Hyder Consulting Middle East will present the technical innovation necessary to complete the tallest building in the world: The Burj Dubai tower.
Two further topics which are bound to motivate healthy debate will be ‘Women in Engineering – Challenges of the 21st Century’ to be presented by Engineer Nazek Hussain Al Sabbagh, and ‘Investing in Innovation: Bringing together Technology & Investors in The Clean Tech Space’, a presentation which will be made by another female engineer, Andrea Gysin.
“With so many unique engineering projects going on all around us both in Dubai and in the UAE as a whole, it is imperative that higher educational institutions such as the Higher Colleges of Technology produce suitably trained and highly-qualified graduates who are adequately prepared to cope with the challenges that will face them in the workplace,” said Dubai Men’s College Director Dr Philip Hicks.
“The skills needed to complete these innovative projects are in short supply and the only effective way to address that issue is through education with industry taking an important partnership role.”
Underscoring the importance of forging commercial and academic links between educational institutions and industry, Dubai Engineering Challenges 2008 is receiving widespread industry support. Key sponsors include Emaar Industries & Investments, Khansaheb Civil Engineering, ESR Technology, Otis, UNIMIX,
Hyder Consulting Middle East, Mouchel and China State Construction Engineering Corp Middle East. The conference is being held in association with the Society of Engineers - UAE, and in partnership with ITP Publishing Group for media and StudioArt for creative production.
Running in conjunction with the conference will be the inauguration of the HCT Centre of Engineering Excellence, the Dubai Engineering Challenges exhibition, and the Alfred Nobel: Networks of Innovation travelling museum. – TradeArabia News Service