The College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah held the first meeting of its Advisory Board for the academic year 2020/2021, chaired by His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al-Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the College Advisory Board. This and in the presence of His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University, along with the Vice Chancellors, College Dean Prof. Dima Jamali, and members of the College's advisory board.

The Chancellor of the University began the meeting by welcoming the members of the Advisory Board and commended their continued support for the College, then welcomed the Prof. Dima Jamali, Dean of the College of Business Administration, to the University of Sharjah family and wished her success in managing the College during the coming period. He stressed the importance of cooperation between faculty members and members of the College's advisory board with the aim of developing the educational process and ensuring outputs compatible with the requirements and challenges of the labor market.

His Excellency the Chancellor also stressed the importance of involving students in the scientific research process, encouraging graduate students to conduct targeted scientific research in cooperation with the business community, and urged students to produce research that works to serve and develop the community by studying topics of interest, and working on submitting solutions and proposals through their practical research.

Then His Excellency the Chancellor presented an overview of the University's progress in the current five-year strategic plan, which it started last year and achieved tangible progress in all elements with the aim of making the University of Sharjah an institution for teaching, learning and scientific research based on innovation and providing a distinct, inspiring and supportive environment for the educational process. This to advance the community for generations of scientists and researchers who can achieve positive change that benefits their societies and achieves sustainable development.

For his part, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al-Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the College Advisory Board, affirmed the Chamber's keenness to maintain cooperation with the University of Sharjah. The University, he added, is a scientific edifice and model following the visions and wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University. The Board's action plan, he continued, is aimed at supporting students, and working to develop their capabilities and motivate them to innovate. His Excellency stressed the Chamber's commitment to support the College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah in all areas that would advance its pioneering and academic role and enhance its ability to create a new generation of entrepreneurs who have innovative skills and distinctive entrepreneurial ideas that serve the country and society.

His Excellency Al-Owais indicated that investment in students is the best investment. Academic education must be supplemented with field experiences and realistic experiences in order to have a greater impact, which is what is evident in the Chamber's innovative initiatives that it launches to support students and enhance their capabilities at the beginning of their career path, and empower them with the necessary tools to implement their pioneering projects, whether by organizing interactive lectures and workshops or by launching the Sharjah Chamber's Award for Innovators. This Award reflects the Chamber's keenness to play its active role by stimulating the creative and innovative ideas of students in universities and Emirati academic institutions to translate them into pioneering investment projects. His Excellency Al-Owais also commended the College's new strategic plan, which would develop the educational process and create a competitive environment in the world of business administration.

For her part, Prof. Dima Jamali, Dean of the College of Business Administration, welcomed the members of the Advisory Board and introduced the new members who joined this year. She thanked the University Chancellor for his unceasing support for the College, and she also thanked the Chairman of the College Advisory Board for supporting all its initiatives. She said that the purpose of organizing this meeting is to listen to the opinions of the members of the Advisory Board to move forward in the College's progress and advance it to the highest levels. It also highlighted a detailed explanation of the College's strategy elements and the achievements it seeks in integrating the College with the business community, focusing on scientific research, workshops and a series of distinguished speakers, in addition to working on partnerships in the field of training for students and many other elements and components of development that have been approved by the members of the Board. They also discussed development proposals the Board added to the College in several areas to actively contribute to the prospects for its development, expressing their readiness to support all the College's initiatives.