Khalifa University Students work with International University Students to design business proposals for major international companies

Press release

Published May 16th, 2012 - 08:06 GMT

Al Bawaba

Twenty-six Khalifa University students have concluded their participation in the X-Culture project, which saw 1,600 students from 44 universities in 29 countries around the world, work in teams to design business plans for submission to major international companies such as McDonald's, British Petroleum, Disney, HSBC, Toyota, Google Inc. and others.

The University of North Carolina awarded certificates to the students in a ceremony held at Khalifa University’s Abu Dhabi campus. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Michael Corbin, United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and by Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Khalifa University, Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla and faculty members from both Khalifa University and Zayed University.

"We congratulate the students participating in this international project,” said Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla, “The participation of our students in this project is a result of our efforts to graduate a generation of well-rounded students, who have studied in a multidisciplinary academic environment. Courses like this one will open up many unique opportunities in the future, and contribute effectively to supporting the development plans of the UAE."

“I’m proud of the positive role that American expertise, through the University of North Carolina, has played as this year’s X-Culture projects took shape,” said U.S. Ambassador Michael Corbin. “I consistently tell audiences in the UAE that the American dedication to innovation and collaboration makes working with U.S. businesses a win-win situation for the UAE. The same is true of the active role in Emirati life played by U.S higher education.”

The project was part of the “Principles of Management’ course being offered by Khalifa University. Zayed University and the American University of Sharjah also participated in the project. Khalifa University students were the only engineering students participating in this unique program.

Background Information

Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research

The newly-established Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) combines the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) and the Petroleum Institute (PI) into one world-class, research-intensive institution, seamlessly integrating research and education to produce world leaders and critical thinkers in applied science and engineering. Khalifa University endeavors to be a leader among research intensive universities of the 21st century, while catalyzing the growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s rapidly developing knowledge economy.