UOW launches the Dubai Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre
The Centre will act as a beacon of excellence in data science research while promoting the capabilities of the University, NSW and Australia in education, science and technology
The Dubai government recently announced that its iconic World Expo 2020 site has been renamed Expo City Dubai and will be repurposed as a multi-use green and tech-enabled city of the future built around sustainability.
As a part of this transition, in 2022, the Australian Government gifted the University of Wollongong (UOW) the Expo Pavilion building and its state-of-the-art assets to use as a space for innovation, quality research and global collaboration.
Yesterday (9 May 2023), UOW unveiled plans for a new research centre, called the Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre, to operate from the Australian Expo Pavilion building in Dubai. The launch event gathered the local Dubai educational community and industry, and was also attended by the Governor of New South Wales Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC and His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE's Minister of Tolerance.
As announced by UOW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia M. Davidson, the Centre will act as a beacon of excellence in data science research while promoting the University’s, NSW’s and Australia’s capabilities in higher education, science and technology.
One of the Centre’s main objectives is to provide a valuable resource for UOW researchers in data sciences, allowing collaborating researchers from UOW and other NSW and Australian institutions, as well as industry partners, to undertake impactful projects. The initiative will draw on UOW’s global footprint both as a facility and a virtual node within the research, teaching and innovation ecosystem.
Professor Davidson said she was proud of the University of Wollongong leading the way in research and innovation both in Australia and globally.
“Australia’s Expo Pavilion was called Blue Sky Dreaming, taking inspiration from the cumulus cloud, a feature of the diverse Australian landscape. Similarly, our new Data Science Discovery and Innovation Centre will provide a space for multiple ideas and visions, unified by their pursuit of innovation and discovery.
“The field of data science has the potential to revolutionise many industries and improve our lives in countless ways, whether in healthcare, supply chains or cybersecurity. And the best research is delivered collaboratively and collegially, which is one of the main goals of this facility,” Professor Davidson said.
The Governor of New South Wales Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC and His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE's Minister of Tolerance, welcomed the guests of the UOW Dubai Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre.
UOW’s Dubai (UOWD) campus opened in 1993 and is one of the region’s premier teaching and research institutions. It is the only NSW-based university in the United Arab Emirates and the broader Middle East and North Africa region, leveraging 11,000 alumni and deep relationships and networks.
UOWD has been offering world-class programs in a variety of disciplines, including business, engineering, information sciences and health sciences. In recent years, it has launched programs in Big Data and Data Analysis, which are proving increasingly popular among students. The association with a research centre specialising in this discipline area will attract more students and enrich their educational experience, creating opportunities for truly global collaborations and job prospects.
“This facility and its capabilities are unique within the region. Solutions created through enquiry into data in many fields are of vital interest to governments and industries in the region and Australia. We look forward to working with other NSW-based universities to facilitate collaborative opportunities as part of this initiative,” UOWD President Professor Mohamed Salem said.
With the Dubai campus celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, UOW has continued to establish itself as a respected hub for research and innovation collaboration in the Middle East and North Africa region. The Dubai Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre will further cement UOW’s and Australia’s presence in the area, providing opportunities for students, researchers and industry to make a positive impact.
Professor Patricia M. Davidson spoke about the importance of harnessing the potential of data science research.