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ADU will host a series of initiatives and events in honor of the UAE’s fifth annual Innovation Month, with the aim to raise awareness on state-of-the-art innovations and pave the way for the young innovators of tomorrow.

The celebrations, which include an exhibition, a student competition, a science festival, and a challenge workshop, kicked off on 30 January and will run until the end of February 2020.

To capture the spirit of the month, ADU’s Innovation Center launched a competition entitled ‘ADU Innovates’, which calls on all ADU students to submit innovative ideas that could enhance the student experience. Students were invited to submit ideas in one of three categories: ‘ADU Students Excel’ focusing on improving teaching methods, classroom experience, course curriculum, and extracurricular activities; ‘Green Campus, Happy Campus’ encouraging ideas that can improve campus life in terms of sustainability, facilities, events, and community building; and ‘ADU Gives Back’ seeking ways in which ADU’s community can give back to the UAE through collaborating with high schools, government institutions, special groups, or environmental agencies.

In a similar vein, ADU is also gearing up to host an information workshop on ‘The 50-year Challenge’, billed as the nation’s largest competition to build the future of the UAE. Launched earlier this month, the challenge aims to contribute to designing a better quality of life for the UAE, presenting an open call to all citizens and residents to come up with innovative and practical solutions within four key areas – zero accidents, zero carbon emissions, zero obesity, and zero plastic. The workshop, to be held on 26 February 2020, will raise awareness of these societal challenges and seek innovative solutions.

Abu Dhabi University also participated in the Abu Dhabi Education and Knowledge Authority’s (ADEK) Science Fair and Innovator 2020 exhibition, with hundreds of student volunteers supporting the student workshops. Mohamed Ahmed Sayed Moubarez Ali, ADU’s College of Engineering student, also competed for the Best Innovation Award with his ‘Seat belt assurance device’ innovation.

Dr. Petra Turkama, Director of the Innovation Center and Assistant Professor of Management, said, “The UAE Month of Innovation is always a dynamic time for us at ADU. Innovation has long been core to our ethos as an educational institution. We wholeheartedly believe in the power of creativity to empower our students and drive success both in and outside the classroom. We urge all our students to make the most of our program this month, challenging themselves to take their creativity to new heights.”

The University will also be hosting a series of pop-up innovation events. Students and faculty wishing to participate are encouraged to follow ADU’s social media channels where details of the challenges will be shared.