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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JK Congress delegation visits protesters in Katra, extends support to them over ropeway project
Jammu(PTI): A Jammu and Kashmir Congress delegation, which visited labourers protesting against the proposed ropeway project along the track to the cave shrine in Katra base camp in Reasi district, expressed grave concern over the livelihood of thousands of workers engaged in facilitating pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
The delegation members alleged that they were briefly stopped by the police en route to Jammu.
Two leaders representing labourers and shopkeepers in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district were detained on Wednesday following fresh protests at Katra. The duo was released after an hour-long detention by the police.
The delegation, led by JK Congress working president Raman Bhalla and including former ministers Choudhary Lal Singh, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and others, was restrained at Bun for about an hour from proceeding to Katra to meet the agitating labourers and shopkeepers, a Congress spokesperson said.
He added that they were allowed to proceed only after the intervention of the Jammu divisional commissioner.
JK Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra expressed strong objections to the police's actions, particularly in restraining senior Congress leaders en route to Katra to meet the labourers.
"I condemn in the strongest terms the anarchist attitude of the police. They must understand that it's the people's government this time, and such hegemonial attitudes of the administration and their insensitive approach to such issues will be confronted tooth and nail," Karra said.
However, the police denied the allegations levelled by the Congress delegation against them.
Earlier, the delegation of senior Congress leaders met the Jammu divisional commissioner and discussed the situation in Katra, particularly the arrest of some labourers and the police's use of force on labour leaders at Katra, the spokesperson said.
They lodged a protest over the police action following negotiations between the administration and the protesters, leading to the suspension of the agitation. The divisional commissioner immediately intervened and ordered the release of the arrested individuals, he said.
Later, the delegation visited Katra and met hundreds of agitating labourers who were waiting for their arrival at Shalamar Park under the leadership of Bhupinder Singh. The large gathering raised strong slogans in support of the Congress leaders for their solidarity and support, the spokesperson said.
The Congress extended its full support to the protesting labourers and shopkeepers in addressing their concerns and issues, he said.
The labourers expressed their gratitude to the Congress leaders for their support, for meeting them and for securing the release of their leaders from police custody.
Protesters' leaders Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Singh said they were peacefully agitating for their cause. After the administration intervened, it was decided to hold further dialogue on the contentious ropeway issue, as it would leave thousands of labourers jobless.
However, the police resorted to harsh action the following day, vitiating the atmosphere and beating and arresting them, they said.
Speaking on the occasion, Raman Bhalla, Lal Singh, Manohar Lal Sharma, and Ravinder Sharma assured their support for justice to the labourers and for finding an amicable solution to the issue.
They urged the protesters to continue their peaceful agitation.
The leaders expressed concern over the livelihood of thousands of workers engaged in facilitating pilgrims to the holy shrine, as well as the trade in Katra, which would be affected by the proposed project.
They called on the administration and the shrine board to address the concerns of all stakeholders before moving forward with the project to ensure there is no disruption in the smooth conduct of the yatra.
They also expressed gratitude to the divisional commissioner for his intervention and urged the administration to refrain from adopting an anti-labourer stance.
