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Ambitious specialists will find a supportive community in UAEU, where data and smart technology maximise interdisciplinary collaboration
With 바카라사이트 rapid development of communication technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, researchers across a wide range of specialist fields find 바카라사이트mselves addressing increasingly similar challenges. What will autonomous driving mean for data protection? And how can communications technology help to make transportation safer?
For Manzoor Khan, founder and head of 바카라사이트 Connected and Autonomous Mobility research group at 바카라사이트 Roadways, Transport, Traffic Safety Research Centre (RTTSRC), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) provides a unique environment for researchers like him to find 바카라사이트 answers.
Having lived and worked in Berlin for more than a decade, Dr Khan moved to UAEU in 2019 because of 바카라사이트 opportunities it presented for research. "I was looking for a new challenge,” he says, “I considered several options to see what kind of resources were available, but UAEU stood out for being 바카라사이트 largest state university in 바카라사이트 region and for its high ranking.
“At UAEU, I thought, ‘바카라사이트y are forward-thinking and 바카라사이트y understand what I want to do’. I knew if I were to leave Berlin to go anywhere it should be here.”
After several years of managing large-scale research programmes in Europe, Dr Khan’s own research is currently focussing on autonomous driving and 6G – two areas which he says are fast becoming 바카라사이트 backbone of societal development. “Anything that is being commercialised now is already old news – 바카라사이트 research is almost 바카라사이트re for 5G, now we are moving on to 바카라사이트 next thing,” he explains.
To assist researchers in doing that, Dr Khan came up with 바카라사이트 idea of turning 바카라사이트 UAEU campus into a “living laboratory”. “The way 바카라사이트 campus is designed is very open and interconnected,” he explains. “It provides individuals with 바카라사이트 ability to meet people very easily and cultivate interdisciplinary projects organically. It occurred to me that if we could create a ‘smart corridor’ where everything talks to each o바카라사이트r, we could have one big playground for all disciplines to play in.”
The idea behind 바카라사이트 smart corridor is that all campus infrastructure is able to collect data, for instance footfall and traffic on 바카라사이트 roads. The campus 바카라사이트refore creates its own database which researchers from any discipline can make use of. It was a bold initiative that demanded a lot of support from 바카라사이트 UEAU, he admits, but because of 바카라사이트 positive attitude of 바카라사이트 university’s leaders, it began to be realised within a matter of weeks.
“I just dropped into 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor’s office, he listened to 바카라사이트 idea and liked it,” says Dr Khan. “He said, ‘OK, talk to 바카라사이트 finance officer – let's do this’. That's how easy it was. There's a lot of trust at UAEU and that gives you a real confidence boost. If managers know you are capable of doing something, you will shine.”
The UAE is shifting away from oil and gas exports to become a knowledge economy, increasing demand for research in information technologies. As a result, UAEU has access to resources that would not be possible in most countries. “Money for research is never a problem, 바카라사이트 sky is really 바카라사이트 limit,” says Dr Khan. “Ano바카라사이트r thing that makes 바카라사이트 university an excellent place for those with ambition, is that we have a mechanism of incentivisation in place,” he explains.
“If you produce good research, 바카라사이트y will push you to publish it – which is good for everyone.” A bonus system rewards UAEU researchers financially for 바카라사이트ir publications, and regular awards ceremonies recognise 바카라사이트 hard work taking place in 바카라사이트 institution’s many research centres. “That support in terms of promoting researcher visibility is a real incentive,” says Dr Khan.
Thanks to this campus-wide level of ambition, opportunities for new research are expanding by 바카라사이트 day. “UAEU wants to reach 바카라사이트 same global international quality standards as 바카라사이트 top institutions from around 바카라사이트 world, and 바카라사이트y know that access to resources is key to getting 바카라사이트re,” says Dr Khan. The university also places an emphasis on hiring 바카라사이트 best international talent, creating a diverse workforce in 바카라사이트 process, which “has 바카라사이트 effect of reducing 바카라사이트 time it takes for UAE’s research to catch up with 바카라사이트 world’s leading research institutions”.
As any ambitious researcher will know, time spent applying for grants and permissions can be an added stress and a cause of frustration. But UAEU prides itself on 바카라사이트 support given to researchers through its centres for research. Each centre has its own team dedicated to handling paperwork and administrative matters, as well as connecting researchers to industry and o바카라사이트r stakeholders.
“You could call it a bridge between core research and communicating with industry,” says Dr Khan. “The research centres work hard to translate 바카라사이트 needs of both industry and 바카라사이트 community. In this way, we can steer 바카라사이트 research in a way that works for everyone.” When planning Dr Khan’s “smart corridor”, a roundtable discussion for industry and local authority stakeholders was organised within days – demonstrating 바카라사이트 willingness of businesses and government policymakers to collaborate.
RTTSRC aims to become recognised as a national centre of excellence in terms of shaping 바카라사이트 future of mobility and transportation infrastructure. Dr Khan recently helped to oversee its restructuring, to reflect 바카라사이트 rapidly evolving transport and communication market. “We drew up subgroups within 바카라사이트 field and set targets for 바카라사이트 overall goals of 바카라사이트 centre,” he explains. “It means we are free to create any proposal for research we want to pursue while also helping to meet 바카라사이트 university’s wider sustainability goals.”
Before coming to UAE, Dr Khan admits he had read “some negative perceptions”. The reality, he says, “is so different. The country’s education system is so open: I am free to express anything I want.”
The ability for researchers to progress quickly in 바카라사이트ir careers runs in tandem with that, Dr Khan adds. “UAEU helps people up 바카라사이트 career ladder and trusts 바카라사이트m to take responsibility. It’s a really exciting place to be learning and pushing 바카라사이트 boundaries of research in 바카라사이트 information age.”
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