Cooperation between "Tourism and trade development" and"American Sharjah"

Sharjah, April 9 / WAM / The American University of Sharjah and the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the position of the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE, as a regional center for tourism innovation and developing future competencies.

The memorandum was signed at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah by His Excellency Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and Dr. Todd Laursen, Director of the American University of Sharjah, in the presence of a number of senior officials from both entities and the media.

His Excellency Khalid Jassim Al Midfa said that the memorandum embodies a clear strategic direction towards consolidating the position of the Emirate of Sharjah as a leading tourism destination based on innovation, empowering national competencies, and building an advanced and sustainable tourism system, explaining that based on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, work is continuing to develop an integrated development model that combines the depth of cultural identity and anticipating the future in a way that enhances the emirate’s competitiveness and its position on the map. Global tourism.

He added that cooperation with the American University of Sharjah represents a qualitative step towards unifying efforts between the academic and governmental sectors to create a stimulating environment for innovation and knowledge development and to qualify a generation of competencies capable of leading the future of the sector. Through this integration, a system is established based on scientific research and development that supports sustainable growth and keeps pace with the aspirations of the Emirate of Sharjah towards a more competitive and sustainable future.

For his part, Dr. Laursen said that this partnership combines academic capabilities and the ambitions of the tourism sector in a way capable of achieving real value for the Emirate of Sharjah. Through this cooperation, the university contributes to preparing competencies, producing applied knowledge, and creating platforms that allow students, researchers, and representatives of the sector to interact with the future of tourism, pointing out that it is a strategic partnership that supports economic diversification, enhances the sector’s competitiveness, and reflects the important role that universities can play in supporting national development priorities.

One of the main pillars of this partnership is the design, joint organization and annual implementation of the Sharjah Tourism Innovation Hackathon, which is scheduled to be hosted by the American University of Sharjah in conjunction with the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum.

This initiative actively engages students and emerging talents in developing forward-looking solutions that address realistic opportunities and challenges that contribute to shaping the features of the tourism sector.

The memorandum seeks to support education and knowledge production in the fields of tourism destination marketing and tourism management, through meaningful and influential cooperation that contributes to the long-term development of the tourism sector in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE.

The MoU also provides a framework for further cooperation in areas consistent with the priorities of both institutions, including executive education, professional development, research collaboration, student engagement initiatives, opportunities for practical engagement in the sector, and knowledge exchange platforms.

The American University of Sharjah, through its partnerships with government agencies, the business sector, and society, continues to expand its contributions in the areas of education, research, and innovation that are of strategic importance to the UAE. Its partnership with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority reflects this commitment by providing new opportunities that link academic excellence with the needs of the sector.

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