The University of Sharjah (UoS) and Aafaq Islamic Finance have signed a cooperation agreement to establish a long-term partnership encompassing knowledge exchange, student support, training and employment programs, scientific research, and community-focused initiatives.

The agreement, intended to advance sustainable development and serve the community, was signed at the University by its Chancellor, H.E. Prof. Esameldin Agamy, and Othman Basit, chief executive of Aafaq Islamic Finance.

Welcoming attendees to the signing ceremony, Prof. Agamy said cooperation among higher education, industry, and the financial sector had become increasingly urgent as education evolves and universities adapt to society’s needs. Global challenges, he noted, cannot be addressed by any one sector alone. He also pointed to significant developments in financial management and finance that require academic institutions to keep pace.

Prof. Agamy emphasized the importance of practical training that exposes students to day-to-day workplace experiences. Such opportunities, he said, enrich their education, equip them with skills employers need, and help them move into employment soon after graduation. He also thanked Aafaq for its willingness to support students through scholarships and financial assistance, noting that the initiative would give eligible students greater opportunities to continue their education.

Mr. Basit said he was proud of the partnership and emphasized that supporting education and empowering young people were priorities within Aafaq’s corporate social responsibility efforts. “We are proud to collaborate with the University of Sharjah, and through this agreement we look forward to providing practical training opportunities for students, supporting educational initiatives, and strengthening the exchange of knowledge and expertise,” he said. “Amid rapid technological advances and changes in the financial sector, we believe it is important to prepare a new generation with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the demands of the future and the job market, helping serve the community and support sustainable development.”

The agreement provides for cooperation in research and studies related to Islamic finance, financing solutions, and advisory services, as well as employment and training programs and student support through scholarships and financial assistance. Under the agreement, the University will recognize Aafaq as one of its student funding partners. Aafaq employees will be eligible for university discounts on selected academic disciplines and programs, as well as programs and courses offered by the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development. They will also have opportunities to attend conferences, academic forums, and workshops relevant to the company’s activities.

Subject to its available resources, Aafaq may provide educational support to students and host a number of them for field training. It may also share expertise in banking, administration, risk management, and Islamic finance through mutually agreed-upon lectures. In addition, the company may nominate specialists from its leadership and staff to serve as guest lecturers and speakers at UoS academic events. Its experts may also participate in joint supervision or examination of theses and dissertations, committee work, and collaborative research projects.

Other areas of cooperation include training UoS students and recruiting them for available positions, establishing competitive student awards that encourage innovative solutions in economics and finance, and jointly organizing conferences and academic forums on Islamic finance and innovation in financial solutions. The agreement also covers training courses, workshops, and advisory services for Aafaq employees. Cooperation will extend to artificial intelligence, subject to applicable laws, as well as environmental and social practices, volunteering, and community engagement.

University representatives attending the signing included Prof. Nouar Tabet, Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Prof. Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies; Dr. Salah Taher Al Haj, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs; Prof. Ilhan Ozturk, Dean of the College of Business Administration; and Prof. Qutb Al Raysouni, Dean of the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies.

Aafaq was also represented by Dr. Malik Marwan Injas, Head of Internal Sharia Control, and Omaima Ayadi, Secretary to the Board of Directors.