Quality, global engagement are top strategic priorities of Gulf Medical University
Ajman: Advancing its strategic objectives aimed at producing global medical professionals of the future, the leadership of Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, one of the leading medical universities in the region, has initiated a series of measures to enhance quality and global engagement; two of its top strategic priorities. To this end, the Board of Trustees of GMU headed by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder and President, recently appointed Prof. Sherief Khalifa, the Dean of GMU’s College of Pharmacy as the University’s Vice Chancellor for Quality and Global Engagement.
The new Vice-Chancellor will be instrumental in taking forward the University’s quality and internationalization initiatives, particularly related to the management of improvement projects as well as undertakings and collaborations of strategic importance that support the University’s strategic objectives. “The Board of Trustees is happy to announce the appointment of Prof. Sherief Khalifa as Vice Chancellor for Quality and Global Engagement, in view of Gulf Medical University’s growing strategic partnerships with 60+ universities worldwide, and the increasing numbers of national/international accreditations for various programs. Today, GMU is respected far and wide for our deep commitment to making a difference in the fields of medical education, healthcare and research,” Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder, President – Board of Trustees, Gulf Medical University.
Apart from the University’s continued focus on quality enhancement with regard to improving the teaching and training methodologies/technologies and student academic performance, the quality aspect would also seek to analyze and program outcomes and identify/prioritize areas requiring improvement. The global engagement aspect would facilitate the development of strategic partnerships and collaborations with international universities and institutions, facilitating student/faculty exchanges and exchanges and cooperation in academia and research. These are in addition to the University’s efforts to enable the students to get a global experience, and facilitating mobility throughout their student and professional lives.
Congratulating the new vice chancellor, Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of GMU said, “Medical education worldwide has transformed significantly in recent years, moving beyond classroom lectures, to technology-intensive training and hands-on learning. GMU not only uses technology, but we also produce technology to actively improve the quality of learning, giving our students a distinctive edge as they step out into the professional world. We have developed partnerships with several international universities and research institutions, which have been crucial to our students acquiring global perspective and employability. With his extensive career as an outstanding academician, I am confident that Prof. Sherief Khalifa is well placed to support GMU’s journey ahead, in our mission to produce healthcare professionals of the future.”
Prof. Sherief Khalifa has many years of experience in higher education in the Middle East region. He had joined the College of Pharmacy at Gulf Medical University in August of 2017 as Professor and Dean. He was appointed as a member of ACPE’s International Services Program for a two-year term (2018 – 2019). ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) is one of the leading international agencies in quality assurance of pharmacy education.
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Railways: FM Sitharaman allocates Rs 2.77 lakh crore for capital expenditure
New Delhi (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to the Ministry of Railways for capital expenditure in the financial year 2026–27.
The Budget allocation includes the construction of new lines and the purchase of locomotives, wagons, and coaches, among other works.
The ministry had received Rs 2,52,000 crore in FY 2025–26. The current allocation for the upcoming financial year is 10.25 per cent higher, making it the highest ever. Besides, the ministry will get Rs 15,000 crore from Extra Budgetary Resources, the document showed.
According to the Budget document, the railways’ total earnings are projected at Rs 3,85,733.33 crore, while expenditure is estimated at Rs 3,82,186.01 crore, resulting in a surplus of Rs 3,547.32 crore at the end of the financial year.
"Since the railways' earnings are too meagre to fund asset creation and support new works, it receives funds from the government. Accordingly, the ministry has been allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to undertake activities such as laying new lines, converting narrow gauge to broad gauge, and constructing double lines on single-line routes," a railway official said.
The Budget document has earmarked funds from the Rs 2,77,830 crore allocation for various construction and asset creation projects. These include Rs 36,721.55 crore for new lines, Rs 4,600 crore for gauge conversion, Rs 37,750 crore for doubling, Rs 52,108.73 crore for rolling stock (locomotives, wagons, etc.), and Rs 7,500 crore for signalling and telecom, among others.
The allocation under the signalling and telecom head is significant as the automatic train protection system, Kavach, falls under this department. The ministry has laid strong emphasis on expanding Kavach coverage across the rail network.
The document also presents the actual earnings and expenditure of the railways in 2024–25. During the year, railways earned Rs 3,35,757.09 crore and spent Rs 3,32,440.64 crore, recording a surplus of Rs 3,316.45 crore. The budgetary allocation for the year stood at Rs 2,51,946.56 crore.
"As far as FY 2025–26 is concerned, the actual figures for earnings and expenditure will be available only after the financial year ends,” an official said, adding that largely earnings and expenses are on expected lines with minor changes.
Out of the total expenditures of the railways, the biggest share goes on paying pensions to its employees.
According to Budget documents, expenditure on pensions was Rs 58844.07 crore in 2024-25, which is expected to rise to Rs 74500 crore in 2026-27.
