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11 November 2008
Middle Eastern ruler honoured by University
The Ruler of Sharjah, the third largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), received an honorary degree from the University of Sheffield on 10 November 2008 in recognition of his distinguished contributions as both a statesman and scholar.
After becoming ruler in 1972, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi is widely credited with having transformed the fortunes of Sharjah and masterminded its growth into a vibrant, modern emirate with spectacular buildings, ports and highways. One of his most outstanding achievements is University City, which provides campuses for the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah. As the founder and president of the two universities, His Highness has been instrumental in guiding the universities towards excellence in teaching, research, and service to the Sharjah community and the region as a whole, through academic links with prestigious institutions across the World.
The University of Sheffield has recently co-developed a new degree course in biotechnology with the University of Sharjah. The four-year course will cover the basic elements of science with an emphasis on areas of research that have an impact on the region´s post-oil economy. The mutually-beneficial programme will involve staff from University´s Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology working closely with their counterparts in Sharjah to deliver biotechnology teaching.
Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: "His Highness is an influential leader and academic within a noble Arab tradition. His commitment to education and his ongoing support to both universities in Sharjah make him a worthy recipient of an honorary degree.
"Through our partnership with the University of Sharjah we have experienced at first hand the value Middle Eastern countries place on the personal development of their students. This has been a valuable insight and is already impacting on how we approach teaching both within the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and the wider University. We welcome our guests and look forward to developing our relationship with Sharjah and other emirates and are keen to share our experiences as we continually strive to enhance our own teaching and research."
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi responded to the honour from the University of Sheffield by saying: "Sheffield's recognition is an honour we will cherish for many years. We are fully aware of Sheffield's excellent reputation in many academic fields and we would like to thank all who made the collaboration agreement possible. We are certain this agreement will be the beginning of a long-term academic relationship between us. We look forward to the exchange of students and staff, and the implementation of creative ideas to enhance students' learning and the generation of new scientific knowledge."
In addition to his leadership and academic responsibilities, His Highness has a strong personal interest in the theatre and is an accomplished playwright. During his visit, the Sheikh watched a large cast of staff and students perform one of his own plays, Nimrod. Nimrod is a parable on unrestricted power and dramatises the rise of King Nimrod and the construction of the Tower of Babel. The play was staged at the University´s Theatre Workshop and directed by Professor Dominic Shellard, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Affairs as well as Chair of Sheffield Theatres Trust. Staff and students were dressed in the costumes from the original production in the Sharjah National Theatre.
Commenting on the experience, Professor Shellard said: "It was an enormous privilege for the University of Sheffield to stage the UK premiere of this exciting play. His Highness is a committed patron of the arts and a playwright, so it was fitting for our students to perform Nimrod. The performance was exceptional and it was a memorable honour to introduce the play to its creator in a European context. We are looking forward to taking the production to Sharjah where we will perform in the world famous Sharjah Theatre Festival next March."
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