WORKING DRAFTLast Modified 12/08/2009 14:59:34 Arabian Standard TimePrinted

Co-operating with Europe and the Mediterranean - a view from the Gulf

Dr. Steven B. WinstanleyActing COO

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Executive Summary

▪ Today’s students are heavily reliant on electronic resources, presenting a clear need for a robust infrastructure to support this trend

▪ The ANKABUT project is a high-speed dedicated research and education network connecting academic institutions in the UAE with the global research and education community

▪ Currently, there are 25 university campuses connected to ANKABUT with more campuses currently in the pipeline

▪ Ankabut is discussing with Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia to collaborate in the GCC area. Ankabut has an international connection to the Internet2 and an MOU with Dante. We are in talks with EUMEDCONNECT.

▪ Ankabut is hosting Video-Conferencing connectivity and creating a data centre to host a collection of applications tailored to the education sector.

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Agenda

UAE Education Benchmarking

International Intentions

ANKABUT Network

Conclusions

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Setting the scene

The `Google generation’ is a popular phrase that refers to a generation of young people, born after 1993, that is growing up in a world dominated by the internet.

Most students entering our colleges and universities today are younger than the microcomputer, are more comfortable working on a keyboard than writing in a spiral notebook, and are happier reading from a computer screen than from paper in hand. Constant connectivity – being in touch with friends and family at any time and from any place – is of utmostImportance*

* Jason Frand, The information mindset: Changes in students and implications for higher education, EDUCAUSE Review, March / April 2006, p.15

The situation facing educators today…

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“None of the top 10 jobs that will exist in 2010 exist today…” *

▪ Prepare students for jobs that haven’t been created…

▪ Using technologies that haven’t been invented

▪ In order to solve problems that don’t yet exist.

“…we need to equip students with those concepts that are common to all problems, all technologies, all skills...”

* former U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley

World Economic Forum Findings 2010

6 Source: World Economic Forum, 2010, http://gcr.weforum.org/gcr09/

ME: Quality of Research Institutions vs. Global Competitiveness

World Economic Forum Findings 2010

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World: Quality of Research Institutions vs. Global Competitiveness

Source: World Economic Forum, 2010, http://gcr.weforum.org/gcr09/

World Economic Forum Findings 2010

8 Source: World Economic Forum, 2010, http://gcr.weforum.org/gcr09/

ME: University-Industry Collaboration vs. Global Competitiveness

World Economic Forum Findings 2010

9 Source: World Economic Forum, 2010, http://gcr.weforum.org/gcr09/

World: University-Industry Collaboration vs. Global Competitiveness

UAE Cabinet releases: Vision 2021

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3.3 Knowledge-based and highly productive economy

Innovation, research, science and technology will form the pillars of a knowledge-based, highly productive and competitive economy, driven by entrepreneurs in a business-friendly environment where public and private sectors form effective partnershipsOutstanding information and communication infrastructure will network our businesses together and give them a leading edge as they transact and interact with the world. Individual citizens will also reap the benefits of efficient connectedness in their digital lives as they search online for knowledge and the fulfillment of intellectual curiosity.

All Emiratis will have equal opportunity and access to first-rate education that allows them to develop into well-rounded individuals, enhance their educational attainment, and achieve their true potential, contributing positively to society

The UAE will successfully encourage Emiratis to maximize their potential by remaining in school and reaching higher levels of education. School drop-outs rates will fall, university enrolment will rise, and more Emiratis will climb higher up the ladder of learning into post-graduate education.

4 First-rate education

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Agenda

Ankabut Network

International Intentions

UAE Education Benchmarking

Conclusions

Ankabut National Network

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5 Universities covering 25 Campuses

Ras Al Khaima

Sharjah

AL Ain

Dubai

Abu Dhabi

Fujairah

10 GE

1 GEIAT

HCT / Women's

HCT / Men's

HCT CENTRAL SERVICESHCT CERT

ZAYED UNIVERSITY

KUSTAR

VEDEC (Suwaihan IAT)

IAT

HCT / Women's

HCT / Men's

IAT

HCT / Women's

HCT / Men's

ZAYED UNIVERSITY

IAT

HCT / Women's

HCT / Men's

HCT / Women's

KUSTAR

IAT Aviation Academy

HCT / Women's

HCT / Men's

IAT Institute Of Nursing

UAE University

Internet 2 PeeringRouterINTERNET2

MANLANNew York

ProposedData Centre

Data Centre

+ NTP

Ankabut NOC

Ankabut International Network

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Single International Peering Point

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Agenda

International Intention

UAE Education Benchmarking

ANKABUT Network

Conclusions

GEANT: EU International Connectivity

DANTE’s Global Presence.

Main GCC Submarine Landing Points

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Alexandria

Jeddah

Fujairah

Mumbai

Expansion into the Gulf area

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• Planned TGN Gulf extension• Planned Gulf Bridge International

Where to next?

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East Africa…

Agenda

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Conclusions

International Intentions

ANKABUT Network

UAE Education Benchmarking

Conclusions

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Ankabut has expressed it’s international connectivity intentions

We are very interested in being involved on the regional level

We believe there are enormous challenges in terms of:• Political convergence• Challenges from operators• Regulation and Licencing

Ankabut would like to seek to help others in the region in with common coordinated connectivity

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