From Classroom to Marketplace: University of Sharjah Transforms Student Ideas into Living Ventures
The University of Sharjah's Alumni Entrepreneurship Forum saw fifteen projects move from concept to exhibition, embodying the institution's mission to nurture innovation and economic contribution across the Emirates.
There is a particular moment when an idea ceases to be theoretical and becomes tangible, when the notion discussed in lecture halls transforms into something that can be held, demonstrated and pitched to those who might help it flourish. The University of Sharjah witnessed precisely this metamorphosis during its UAE Alumni Entrepreneurship Forum 2026, a weeklong initiative that invited students and graduates to bring their ventures from notebooks to exhibition platforms.
Organised by the University’s Alumni Association Centre as part of Entrepreneurship Week in Higher Education, the forum convened a gathering of remarkable breadth: accomplished entrepreneurs drawn from the University’s alumni, current students brimming with ambition, and representatives from government agencies and private institutions committed to supporting innovation. The initiative emerged from cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, reflecting a coordinated national commitment to embedding entrepreneurial culture within higher education.
Prof. Esameldin Agamy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, situated the forum within a larger vision. He noted that the University’s selection to host Entrepreneurship Week in Higher Education, part of the broader “UAE: Global Capital of Entrepreneurship” campaign, spoke to the confidence the institution enjoys and its role in advancing national priorities. He observed that the seamless alignment between education, research, entrepreneurship and innovation across the Emirates, from visionary leadership through government ministries to universities and the business sector, constitutes the very engine of the nation’s progress and its capacity to adapt to a shifting world.
Since its founding in 1997 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the University has been guided by an understanding of education as fundamentally about building people and serving society. That vision, Prof. Agamy emphasised, continues under the stewardship of H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah. The Chancellor observed that the forum represented something profound: graduates and students demonstrating their ability to convert knowledge and skills acquired in academic settings into living, breathing projects capable of addressing real needs.
Ibrahim Fakri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Regulation and Governance of Higher Education and Scientific Research Sector at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, reinforced these themes. He emphasised the critical importance of fostering entrepreneurial culture within higher education institutions and creating pathways that connect educational achievement with labour market needs, thereby channeling young talent toward meaningful economic contribution. The forum, he suggested, represented an essential platform for transforming creative potential into promising economic opportunity.
The centrepiece of the week was an exhibition showcasing fifteen projects developed by University of Sharjah students and alumni. Participants presented a spectrum of innovative ideas, products, solutions and services, each representing months of development and refinement. The exhibition functioned not merely as a showcase but as a marketplace of possibility, where entrepreneurs could introduce their initiatives, demonstrate their solutions and forge connections with supporting entities and institutions. These interactions were deliberately designed to nurture partnerships and expand each project’s footprint within the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Prof. Agamy captured the deeper significance of the moment when he addressed the participating entrepreneurs. “The degree you hold is not the end of the road,” he said. “It is your first contract with the future, and you have signed it through your projects. The university, represented by its Alumni Association Center, will remain your partner at every stage, both before and after graduation.”
The forum also featured a theatrical performance on entrepreneurship presented by ‘Rubu’ Qarn’ for Creating Leaders and Innovators, and included the announcement of a competition to design an alumni identity, whilst recognising the partners, supporting organisations and participants whose commitment made the week possible.
Source: WAM
What it means for Abu Dhabi
The University of Sharjah’s forum reflects a coordinated regional approach to building entrepreneurial ecosystems within higher education across the Emirates. As the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research continues to strengthen the role of universities in preparing talent equipped with knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, initiatives like this one demonstrate how educational institutions are becoming vital partners in the nation’s economic diversification and innovation strategy. The emphasis on connecting academic learning with practical application, and on building partnerships between institutions and economic sectors, speaks to the UAE’s commitment to ensuring its young people can transform ideas into ventures that contribute meaningfully to national development.
Such initiatives also underscore the broader significance of the “UAE: Global Capital of Entrepreneurship” campaign. By positioning universities as incubators of economic opportunity and by celebrating the transition from student to entrepreneur, the Emirates are investing in a future workforce capable of addressing emerging challenges and creating new prosperity. The fifteen projects displayed at the University of Sharjah’s forum represent not merely fifteen business ideas, but fifteen instances of young Emirati and international talent contributing their creativity and ambition toward the nation’s continued growth and competitiveness.