THE Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT-Dubai), a leading American University in Dubai, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Internet Society of the United Arab Emirates (ISOC-UAE Chapter), the local unit of a global cause-driven organization dedicated to ensuring that the internet stays open, transparent and defined, to establish a strategic partnership and enhance chapter operations within the UAE. The MoU was signed by Dr Yousuf Al Assaf, President of RIT-Dubai and Sulaiman Alansari, a founding member of the IOSC-UAE Chapter during a ceremony that was held at RIT–Dubai campus, based in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park. The signing ceremony was attended by Mohit Saraswat, a member of the IOSC-UAE Chapter, faculty members of RIT-Dubai and senior officials from both organizations. Under the MoU, RIT–Dubai will benefit from the enhanced exposure to technology for university stakeholders that ISOC-UAE Chapter will make available, in addition to training and industry interactions for faculty and students. ISOC will also provide RIT-Dubai with the access to qualified technology experts. For its part, RIT-Dubai will offer ISOC-UAE Chapter a permanent setting to promote its presence in the UAE. Commenting on the MoU, Mohit Saraswat said: “The Internet Society engages in a wide spectrum of internet issues, including policy, governance, technology, and development. ISOC establishes and promotes principles that are intended to persuade governments to make the right decisions for their citizens and for each nation's future. The ISOC-UAE Chapter in collaboration with RIT-Dubai will extend this mission locally in order to achieve sustainable growth by using the Internet and ICT as tools.” Dr Yousef Al-Assaf said: “RIT-Dubai is committed to supporting the local community. Our decision to collaborate with the ISOC-UAE Chapter validates this commitment. ISOC is a trusted global leader for internet policy, technology standards, and future development and RIT-Dubai looks forward to a successful and long-term synergy with this association.” RIT-Dubai is a branch campus of Rochester Institute of Technology in NY, one of the leading technological-focused universities in the United States. Therefore, the partnership is expected to lead to an innovative cooperation that could help more awareness about the Internet and promote IT education in the UAE in general and Dubai specifically. Sulaiman Alansari, a founding member of the ISOC-UAE Chapter, said: “We are pleased to sign this MoU today with RIT-Dubai as a strategic academic partner. The UAE Chapter, in collaboration with ISOC Global, plans to launch a series of academic support programs and seminars as well host regional conferences such as INET and IGF in Dubai next year. We are confident our collaboration with RIT-Dubai will turn such events into huge successes.” The ISOC-UAE Chapter plans to host seminars and training on critical issues such as IPV6, child security on the Internet, creative commons, capacity building and business collaboration. In addition the chapter will remain active in educating and inspiring ICT students about the profession and offering them the right networking opportunities with ICT leaders. RIT-Dubai offers unique programs such as Computing Security Degree, which was developed to respond to the increasing need for undergraduate advanced studies in the areas of computing and network security and forensics. – SG
