His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Ballhoul , State Minister for Education Affairs received at his office His Excellency Maj.Gen. Expert Rashid Thani Rashid ALMatrooshi, Director General of Dubai Civil Defence accompanied by Lt.Col. Expert Ali Hassan Almutawa, Assist. Director for Smart Services, in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim ALMualla, Ministry Undersecretary for Academic Affairs, Undersecretary Dr. Samir ALSmahi and Eng. Amal Alighieri Minister’s Advisor.

Dr. Ballhoul has confirmed, in the beginning of the meeting, the central strategic role of the ministry of higher education, and the importance of integrating the efforts of all public and private organizations managing different economic, community and services sectors with ministry’s strategy to prepare and qualify successive generations to take their positive role in building the nation, as per the valiant leadership and Global competitiveness index in learning, education, human development sector, including updating Curriculum and educational concepts in such a way to enhance innovation and creativity environment and nurtured innovators.

Then, His Excellency Maj.Gen. Expert urged the Ministry to support Dubai Civil Defence innovative drive, in particular its ( Emirates Fire safety Award),first of its kind to be internationally launched, as an important scientific and academic assessor of the Award.

“ Our aim is to motivate , support and nurture innovative and creative students, unveiling their innovative ideas and convert into productive schemes…Civil Defence will give the winners chance to implement and promote their innovations, share some portion of the product selling price. Also, help to display these innovations in international conferences and scientific forums, since the competition is open to participants from across the globe, including universities students. Award scientific evaluation will be carried out by local and international experts. General ALMatrooshi then briefed HE.Dr. Ahmed about Dubai Civil Defence trend to qualify UAE male/female to become safety engineers, to meet the needs of rapid urbanization growth for safety engineers, to ensure governance of safety measures in all buildings is in place. Graduated fire safety engineers will be send to UK for further studies, Dubai Civil Defence will bear the cost and later recruit them”, added General Rashid.

State Minister Said:
“Most important is to have some entities to support innovative ideas and convert into applicable projects, also indicated Colleges of Technology are most appropriate places to host this new fire safety specialization”.

Then, He issued his directive to form a team work , to be chaired by H.E. Academic Affairs Undersecretary , Dr.Mohammed Ibrahim AL Mualla, to coordinate with Civil Defence representative Lt.Col. Expert Ali Hassan to study:

• Emirates Fire Safety Award, ways and how ministry of Education can be involved.
• Mechanism to introduce and invite universities students to participate in the Award.
• Setting articles of MOU between DCD and SMFHEA, including specific methods of sustainable joint cooperation.

Scientific capabilities to fire safety engineering stream to pertinent engineering streams in local universities.