DUBAI Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, on Saturday announced the graduation of the first batch of students from the Master of City Science program, a first-of-its-kind degree in the MENA region, at the DSO-based Rochester Institute of Technology – Dubai (RIT Dubai), a leading US university in the UAE. The graduation ceremony will take place end of May 2017 at the RIT Dubai campus in the presence of representatives from DSOA, Smart Dubai Office, and the Government of Dubai entities whose employees are among the graduates. Developed by RIT New York to help planners design and build smart, efficient, sustainable, and community-based cities, the curriculum comprises a total of 33 credit hours. Taught at both Dubai and New York campuses, the 12-month program follows an executive learning model, where participants can continue their day jobs while studying and integrate their learnings into their daily work. The curriculum combines knowledge of the interdisciplinary history of modern cities with the concepts of urban economics, city development and planning theory, urban ecology and demography, digitization, as well as applied research and problem-solving methods related to the city. Providing a holistic view of the development of smart cities, the program addresses municipal systems – including water, food, waste, transport, energy, and education – by function in addition to covering topics related to dynamic, networked, and self-regulating systems. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mohammed Alzarooni, Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, said: "DSOA is proud to collaborate with RIT Dubai on this program that aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. "We are delighted to conclude the inaugural run of the Master of City Science program, the first of its kind in the MENA region that targets students and professionals keen to leverage opportunities in smart city development and planning. Offering a convenient alternative to studying abroad, the program enables graduates to directly implement their theoretical learnings in the real world." He added: "In line with our ongoing commitment to the Smart Dubai initiative, DSOA will continue extending its support to the UAE's decision makers of the future in conjunction with the Smart Dubai Office. As part of this priority, DSOA fully sponsored the studies of 13 employees from various entities within the Government of Dubai that can benefit from this unique program." Dr Aisha bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai, said: "As leaders of Dubai's smart transformation, we envision a city whose people continually learn, innovate, and engage in society. We are dedicated to shifting mindsets and developing skills to empower a new generation of city leaders across all sectors. Collaboration is essential to achieving our ambitious mandate, and we applaud the efforts of DSOA and RIT Dubai in bringing the first smart city master's program to Dubai." Dr Yousef Al-Assaf, President of RIT Dubai, said: "RIT Dubai aligns its educational offering with the innovative vision of Dubai and the wider UAE. We deeply appreciate the support we have received from the Smart Dubai Office, DSOA, the UAE Ministry of Education Higher Education Affairs, and several other prominent stakeholders in launching our latest master's program. The graduation of our first cohort of students from the program is indeed a proud moment for everyone involved. We congratulate the graduates and wish them the very best in their journey of shaping the sustainable cities of the future."
