The University of Dubai’s campus in Academic City became the venue for a new partnership between Filipino and Emirati institutions, as the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the University of Dubai (UD) formalized a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at deepening cultural and educational cooperation.
Spaces within the university will be made available for displaying Philippine artworks, heritage materials, and cultural content under the terms of the agreement, opening a venue for Filipino culture to reach both the campus community and a broader UAE audience. The MOU outlines a range of possible joint undertakings spanning culture, history, arts, heritage, and language, with seminars, lectures, educational immersion programs, and shared research projects among the activities the two sides may pursue. Engagement involving students, academics, and cultural practitioners sits at the center of what the agreement is designed to enable.
Consul General Enciso’s visit began with a welcome from Dr. Abigail Copiaco, who directs UD’s Computer Engineering Program and serves as an assistant professor. Her background covers instruction in Electrical, Computer, and Telecommunications Engineering, and her current work involves building an AI-driven mobile platform intended to support home-based, periodic screening for autism spectrum disorder.
The visiting delegation received a briefing from Dr. Bastaki together with Prof. Hussain Al Ahmad, Vice President for Academic Affairs, who walked them through the university’s academic offerings, institutional goals, and sustainability efforts. Among the topics covered were UD’s degree programs in business, law, information technology, and engineering, alongside a solar farm where robotic systems independently clean the panels and trim operating expenses.
Dr. Copiaco afterward guided the Consul General and the rest of the group around the campus, taking them through research laboratories, academic areas, and other learning facilities.
Both institutions anticipate that the arrangement will broaden learning prospects and support capacity-building efforts across their communities. For the Consulate General, the agreement underscores an approach to diplomacy centered on people, one that treats the welfare, progress, and visibility of Filipinos overseas as a guiding priority.
