Dubai - MENA Herald: University of Dubai is fostering new relationships with a number of local and international companies to advance information technology studies and research in Dubai, said Dr. Eesa M. Bastaki, President of University of Dubai.
Dr. Bastaki stated this while addressing an annual dinner event organised by the College of Information Technology at the University, attended by IT directors from public and private sectors as well as IT students and faculty members. Dr. Bastaki also briefed the gathering on the progress achieved by the College of Information Technology at the University.
Companies represented at the event included Meraas Group, Deyaar, Aecert, Emirate Global Aluminum, Al Safeer Group, TRA, DIB, DFSA, Al Shair Group, and HSBC.
The event was also addressed by Dr. Abdallah Ismail, Professor of Electrical Engineering and a Fulbright scholar, and Wael AbdulAl, Collaboration Technology Manager at CISCO - UAE.
Dr. Abdallah Ismail, who was the first UAE national to receive PhD in Electrical Engineering, described the historical progress of technologies and the future of automation. Highlighting the need for technology incubators at the local level, Dr. Ismail said: “Knowledge work automation is made possible by advances in three areas – computing technology, machine learning, and natural user interfaces such as speech recognition technology.
“To capture the benefits of knowledge work automation, companies and social service institutions will need to manage fundamental organizational changes.” Allaying concerns that machines will take over and control human life, Dr. Ismail said that “humans can easily deactivate any machine”.
Wael AbdulAl of CISCO spoke on the future of IT in societies, explaining how technology is changing networking and contacts in education systems, courts, governments and enterprises. AbdulAl stated that the global impact of technology will keep growing with the ongoing expansion of smart societies all over the world.