The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Center of Engineering Excellence was inaugurated by Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, recently.

The new center at the Dubai Men’s College campus is one of several being set up through the higher colleges system of the UAE to serve as focal points for best practices, Sheikh Nahayan said.

“In Dubai and the UAE today, cutting edge engineering projects are distinguishing our progress,” he noted.

“Indeed, this center of engineering excellence is located among some of the most advanced, cutting edge and ambitious engineering projects in the world,” he added.

“Dubai is moving forward with clear and effective strategies for the future,” Sheikh Nahayan said.

'State of the art engineering projects demonstrate Dubai’s aspiration for innovation and achievement and its leadership in developing modern, sustainable and responsible facilities,' Sheikh Nahayan observed.

The engineering challenges shaping the sustainable future of Dubai and the UAE came into focus at Dubai Engineering Challenges 2008 conference, the first activity of the new center of excellence.

Industry experts described the engineering challenges provided by the rapidly changing coastlines of the Middle East; the construction of Dubai’s $4.5 billion Metro system; the challenge for women in engineering; the bringing together of investment and technology; and the technical innovation in constructing Burj Dubai tower.

“The intention was to bring together practising engineers and engineering students to hear about and discuss the challenges, the problems and the solutions in the rapid and exciting development of Dubai,” said Dr David Hall, chair of the conference and dean of engineering and IT at Dubai Men’s College.

“The underlying theme has been sustainability – perhaps the greatest challenge of all.”

In the past 20 years, the UAE Higher Colleges of Technology have graduated more than 2,300 engineering technology students, many of whom are involved in the transformations taking place in Dubai and the UAE.

Dubai Men’s College, home of the new center, currently has 1,800 registered students, all of whom are UAE nationals, and offers 35 technical and professional programmes. Engineering programmes include aviation, civil, electrical and mechatronics.

Running in conjunction with the conference and the inauguration of the HCT centre of engineering excellence was the Dubai Engineering Challenges exhibition and the Alfred Nobel: Networks of Innovation travelling museum.-TradeArabia News Service