Dubai Healthcare City partners Queen’s to develop new university 
27 January 2015
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), the world’s largest healthcare free zone, and Queen’s University today announced their partnership to develop the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBR-UMHS) and its College of Medicine.
Queen’s will assist in the development of the MBR-UMHS and the College of Medicine, including course and curriculum development, recruitment and selection of high quality academic and professional service staff, plus student selection and admissions.
DHCC will work closely with Queen’s to devise and implement a strategy that addresses the healthcare education, training and research needs of Dubai and other regional communities.
The College of Medicine is expected to open for applications in the autumn, with the first cohort of medical students to be welcomed in September 2016.
Marwan Abedin, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Healthcare City, said: “The Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences’ objective is to advance healthcare in the UAE by developing human capacity, graduating medical professionals to the highest level of skills and expertise and fostering world-class research. The strategic partnership with Queen’s University will help deliver on our mission.”
In welcoming the partnership, Professor Patrick Johnston, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s, said: “I am both delighted and excited about today’s announcement, in which Queen’s will partner Dubai Healthcare City to develop the new University of Medicine and Health Sciences, including the College of Medicine. We see this as part of a long-term partnership and collaboration in education and research, with mutually beneficial outcomes for both partners.
“It is an extremely important project, where our longstanding experience in this field will make a major contribution, as an international partner, to deliver a project that addresses the healthcare education, training and research needs of Dubai and other regional communities.”
While in Dubai to support Northern Ireland companies at Arab Health, Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment said: “The promotion of the quality of Northern Ireland’s higher education capability is high on the agenda of the Northern Ireland Executive’s strategy and through our growing links developed by Invest Northern Ireland’s local team in Dubai, with the United Arab Emirates, I am delighted that Queen’s has been chosen as a partner for Dubai’s new University of Medicine and Health Sciences.”
Dr Amer Ahmad Sharif, Managing Director – Education, Dubai Healthcare City, said: “With the target opening in mind, we will be working closely with Queen’s University Belfast to develop a detailed project plan to achieve our goals and maintain momentum ahead of the first intake of students in September 2016. This project timeline will detail the key faculty appointments and critical stages in student recruitment and curriculum planning and delivery.”
Mr James O’Kane, Queen’s Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, and Project Lead said: “Queen’s very much welcomes the opportunity to establish a partnership with DHCC to develop and launch the new University of Medicine and Health Sciences. This partnership will be based on the provision of expert advice and guidance on a comprehensive range of academic, professional and governance matters relating to the development of the new University. It will also have a particular focus in providing advice to develop a world-class education and research programme in the College of Medicine.
Professor Graham McKeown, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s and Academic Lead said: “The agreed model supports a long-term partnership across education and research in the health sciences. As international partner, Queen’s will advise on, and facilitate, the development of capability and building of capacity, and act as an advocate for the MD programme.”
For media enquiries, please contact: Kevin Mulhern, Head of Communications and External Affairs, Queen’s University Belfast, +44 (0)28 9097 3259 (office), +44 (0)7813 015431 cell, k.mulhern@qub.ac.uk
Photo caption: Attending the ceremony were (from left): Marwan Abedin, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Healthcare City; Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Vice-Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority; Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment; Professor Patrick Johnston, President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University; and James O’Kane, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, Queen’s University’s.
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