The College of Computing and Informatics at the University of Sharjah held its first Advisory Council meeting for the 2025/2026 academic year, gathering leaders from academia, technology, and industry to shape the future of computing education in the UAE.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Fahem bin Sultan bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Government Relations Department and Chair of the Council, along with Prof. Esameldin Agamy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah. Discussions centered on the development of computing and informatics programs, strengthening ties with technology and industry sectors, and advancing research that equips students to thrive amid rapid digital transformation.

Opening the meeting, Prof. Agamy welcomed Sheikh Fahem and the distinguished members of the council, noting their influential roles in driving the country’s economic and technological progress. He expressed gratitude for their commitment and emphasized the University’s anticipation of their insights in steering academic policies and modernizing curricula to keep pace with global technological trends and evolving market needs. He also underscored the council’s crucial role in refining academic programs to better meet labor market demands. The college, he noted, has recently expanded its offerings to include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data science, as well as the establishment of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Applications Center to enhance technological integration across the University.

Chairing the council’s main discussion, Sheikh Fahem Al Qasimi commended the college’s steady progress and the quality of its programs, which weave technology into diverse disciplines. He also addressed current challenges such as the need to boost interdisciplinary collaboration and to increase awareness among government and economic sectors of technology’s growing influence. Furthermore, he stressed the need to build stronger partnerships with the private sector to ensure the college’s graduates possess the skills required by an ever-changing job market.

During the session, Professor Abbes Amira, Dean of the College of Computing and Informatics, presented an overview of the college’s programs and interdisciplinary specializations. He highlighted the importance of integrating innovation and practical training into the educational process, reviewed program statistics and new outcome assessment systems, and detailed plans to recruit distinguished faculty and organize specialized conferences and events. The college, he explained, measures performance using clear indicators developed in cooperation with industry partners.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Salah Taher Al-Haj, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, along with the heads of academic departments. Members of the council include an array of prominent figures and experts from across sectors: Abdulla Hashem of Nets International Telecommunications Advisory Board; Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du); Dr. Gregorios Fragkos, Head of the Sharjah Cyber Security Center; Dr. Ahoud Ali Shuheil, Director General of Ajman Digital Department; Abdullah Al-Zarouni, Vice President for Technology Development and Transfer at Emirates Global Aluminium; Amin Al-Zarouni, CEO of Sahab Smart Solutions; Sabri Al-Sheikhly Al-Briki, Chief Information Technology Officer at Etisalat UAE; Himant Julka, Global Executive Director of Technology at Emirates NBD; Engineer Wael Morsi Abdelaziz, Head of Education Sector for the Gulf at Amazon Web Services; Dr. Waleed Rashid Al-Bakr, Head of Strategic Planning and Institutional Excellence at the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority; Zhou Zixuan, General Manager of Dahua Tech UAE; Professor Habib Zaidi, Head of the PET and Neuroimaging Laboratory at Geneva University Hospital; Meera Khalifa Al-Muqarrab, Director of Information Technology at the Sharjah Consultative Council; Dr. Samira Abdul Rahman Al-Mulla from the Ministry of Education; and Omar Mohamed Al-Awadhi, Founder and CEO of Technologies LLC.