Sheraa and University of Al Dhaid forge partnership to nurture entrepreneurial talent
A strategic collaboration between the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre and the University of Al Dhaid creates a comprehensive pathway for students and graduates to transform innovative ideas into thriving, scalable ventures.
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre, Sheraa, and the University of Al Dhaid have formalised a partnership of considerable significance through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a structured framework that seamlessly connects academic innovation with practical entrepreneurial development. This collaboration represents a meaningful commitment to cultivating entrepreneurial talent and strengthening Sharjah’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
The agreement was formalised at the university’s campus by Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Sheraa, and Professor Aisha Bushelaibi, Chancellor of the University of Al Dhaid. Through this partnership, students and graduates of the institution will gain access to an extensive array of resources designed to transform their aspirations into viable commercial enterprises.
Comprehensive Support and Development Opportunities
The partnership provides University of Al Dhaid students and graduates with access to Sheraa’s membership programme, offering essential support in validating business concepts, refining commercial models, and identifying strategic market entry and expansion opportunities. Participants will be invited to engage with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, specialised startup career forums, innovation competitions, and a curated selection of Sheraa-hosted activities that facilitate meaningful industry connections.
Beyond direct support for emerging ventures, Sheraa will enrich the university’s entrepreneurship and innovation curriculum through the contribution of accomplished guest speakers, expert-led workshops, and practising industry professionals. This infusion of real-world entrepreneurial and market expertise into the academic environment ensures that theoretical knowledge is complemented by practical insight and contemporary industry perspective.
Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem
Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi observed that academic institutions have constituted an essential element of Sheraa’s endeavours to cultivate entrepreneurial capability and advance Sharjah’s startup landscape. The partnership with the University of Al Dhaid exemplifies this commitment, creating tangible opportunities for emerging talent to engage meaningfully with entrepreneurship and explore their potential as enterprise founders. By combining the university’s scholarly excellence with Sheraa’s comprehensive expertise, established programmes, and extensive networks, the collaboration aims to forge practical pathways enabling emerging talent to develop concepts, establish sustainable businesses, and access growth opportunities whilst contributing to Sharjah’s economic strength and competitive standing.
Professor Aisha Bushelaibi emphasised the partnership’s significance as an important advancement in establishing the university as an environment that cultivates innovation and entrepreneurship. The collaboration will facilitate the conversion of academic knowledge and research into solutions and ventures that serve the broader community and advance sustainable development objectives. Through engagement with Sheraa, the university seeks to empower students, graduates, and faculty members to develop ideas and innovations whilst connecting them with market requirements and emerging opportunities across priority sectors, thereby creating robust pathways for research-informed ideas to evolve into scalable and sustainable enterprises.
The two organisations will jointly host workshops, competitions, and awareness initiatives, with co-created campaigns designed to celebrate entrepreneurial achievements and illuminate emerging opportunities across strategic priority sectors throughout the emirate.
Source: WAM