Cisco to join Zayed University’s partner challenge programme

Abu Dhabi / WAM

Zayed University on Wednesday announced that Cisco would join its pioneering Partner Challenge programme as part of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties.
The programme offers a unique opportunity for students to apply their knowledge outside the classroom, addressing real-world challenges proposed by an industry player, such as Cisco.
Working in focussed teams, each semester, students will have the opportunity to combine their academic work with professional experience, bridging theory and practice and delivering outputs that add value to the companies with which they collaborate. From this year, the programme is a core offering to all new students enrolling at Zayed University on its new interdisciplinary degree programmes.
Sherif Mousa, Acting Chief Administration and Financial Officer from Zayed University, signed the MoU, which was witnessed by Abdelilah Nejjari, Managing Director for the Gulf region at Cisco, during their participation at the 42nd edition of Gitex Global 2022, the world’s largest technology show.
Regarding the partnership, Sherif Mousa said, “The Partner Challenges are one of the key differentiators which make Zayed University’s new degree programmes so beneficial for our students and equip them for their future careers. We are immensely proud to have Cisco join the programme, and we know that our students will benefit enormously from the chance to work alongside this industry giant. These challenges give students a chance to gain an in-depth understanding of the workplace, encourage them to think for themselves, and open their eyes to the opportunities available to them when they graduate.”
Partner Challenges are
student-driven endeavours that require teamwork, time management, and commitment. The challenges involve “How might we” questions that encourage critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving.
Some examples of these questions, as applied in previous challenges, include “How might we design an environmentally sustainable home in Dubai?”; “How might we use AI to diagnose learning difficulties?” and, “How might we understand how banks can leverage technological disruption to their advantage?”.
Through Partner Challenges, businesses can engage students in projects that will benefit from the unique perspectives of young people to help shape the future of the UAE. The programme can also help companies positively engage with young Emirati talent early on in their careers and contribute towards achieving employer Emiratisation targets in future. By participating in the programme, businesses are helping develop the future leaders, thinkers and doers of the UAE.
Abdelilah Nejjari added, “We believe that to empower the next generation of problem solvers, talent development and mentorship are critical. Cisco is pleased to join the Partner Challenge programme – supporting Zayed University’s pursuit to deliver educational excellence and help its students accelerate innovation. We look forward to sharing our expertise while also exploring the students’ insights – building a more inclusive future together.”
In addition to joining the programme, as part of the MoU, Cisco will collaborate with Zayed University on the joint education programme, events, and industry workshops to further support talent development.