UOS enhances students' skills through agreement with IAEA

The agreement enables students enrolled in the University’s nuclear engineering programme to participate in the agency’s international training and fellowship schemes, while also contributing to coordinated research projects conducted in collaboration with member states worldwide.

The UOS delegation to Vienna was led by Dr Salah Taher Al-Haj, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, and included Dr Bassam Khweileh, coordinator of the nuclear engineering programme, alongside members of the University’s nuclear energy research team, a group of nuclear engineering students, and a number of international experts and specialists.

Commenting on the agreement, Professor Dr Issam Al-Din Ibrahim Ajami, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, said the partnership aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University, who places strong emphasis on preparing graduates who are fully equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with practical professional skills that would enable them to transition directly into the labor market and contribute meaningfully to key national sectors, particularly the peaceful nuclear energy sector.

Prof. Agamy added that UOS is committed to preparing graduates who combine strong theoretical foundations with applied competencies, which is why it continues to expand hands-on training opportunities in real international research environments. Collaboration with an institution of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s stature, he said, reflects this direction. Students who gain experience in international laboratories, working alongside global experts and engaging with advanced systems and technologies, build a robust professional portfolio that complements their academic training.

He concluded, “We anticipate that this partnership would contribute to the development of a generation of Emirati engineers and researchers who are well qualified to perform effectively in technical leadership roles, thereby supporting the nation’s ongoing sustainable development in this vital sector.”

The agreement aims to open new research and training opportunities for the University’s students and faculty, and to develop joint action plans with international organisations, thereby enhancing students’ and young researchers’ skills and preparing them to lead the future of energy and scientific research in the country in accordance with the highest international standards and practices in the field of peaceful nuclear applications.

The agreement also positions the University of Sharjah as a key technical partner in hosting workshops, technical meetings, and regional and international training courses, particularly in the areas of advanced reactor technologies, artificial intelligence applications in the nuclear industry, and the use of nuclear energy in non-electrical fields such as water desalination and industrial production. It further enhances the University’s capabilities in radiation safety and nuclear emergency preparedness through the optimal utilisation of radiation laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art technologies.

Furthermore, the agreement provides a legal framework for the development of online nuclear reactor laboratories and virtual training programmes, affording nuclear engineering students at the University exceptional opportunities for practical training and fellowships at IAEA laboratories. It also enables their participation in the development of nuclear energy planning tools and nuclear and radiological emergency management systems, contributing to the preparation of a generation of national competencies capable of managing and operating nuclear projects with efficiency and professionalism, in support of the country’s sustainable development goals and its aspirations for technological advancement in this vital sector.