British University in Dubai and Saint-Gobain UAE sign a collaborative MoU on academic research and innovation

Dubai: The British University in Dubai (BUiD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saint-Gobain UAE to collaborate on academic research and innovation. The MoU will align the two organisations’ efforts to conduct research in the field of energy efficiency and the built environment through deep retrofitting.

The MoU was signed at BUiD campus by Professor Abdullah Alshamsi, BUiD's Vice Chancellor, and Paul Button, CEO of Saint-Gobain UAE.

The two organisations share the same interest in sustainability and their collaboration will establish an in-depth knowledge of building energy retrofit, strategies, measures and principles applicable to the UAE. This MoU is an important step to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

The British University in Dubai is a research- based university and it was one of the first universities in the UAE to offer specialised postgraduate programmes in sustainability of the built environment and energy efficient buildings.

Saint-Gobain UAE offers solutions that help to renovate and create more sustainable and energy efficient buildings, which improve the comfort and well-being of their occupants.

Through this collaboration, the two organisations will be conducting studies on four selected buildings in the UAE. The project’s main objective is to review the status of energy-retrofit and its impact on total energy consumption, carbon emissions, and indoor air quality.

Professor Abdullah Alshamsi commented: “We are very pleased with this collaboration with Saint-Gobain UAE. This MoU is a good example of university-industry partnerships and we are looking forward to a long-term collaboration. I’m sure this project will provide a good reference for the effectiveness of various deep retrofit measures in the UAE and the GCC that can be used in improving existing retrofit programmes.”

Mr. Paul Button said: “Our strategic partnership with The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is aligned with Saint-Gobain’s global focus in developing sustainable retrofitting solutions which in turn reduce a building’s energy consumption, decrease OPEX costs and improve well-being for its occupants”.

In addition, both parties agreed on joint initiatives to conduct research and exchange of knowledge in the domain of energy in the built environment and to coordinate expert seminars, conferences and workshops related to the joint research.

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The British University in Dubai

The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is a not-for-profit institution, which was established in 2003 to be the region’s leading research-based university, facilitating excellent education, training and research. It provides an important and growing community and resource for young professionals, leading academics, corporate managers and aspiring leaders of all description.

The UAE Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs licenses BUiD to award its own degrees.  BUiD’s qualifications are also recognised internationally by NARIC.  BUiD’s internal quality assurance include processes that ensure our programmes and students’ achievements are of standards on a par with those of our UK Universities Alliance partners (the University of Glasgow, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Manchester). The UK Universities Alliance collaborates with BUiD within a Concordat agreement that provides a comprehensive framework for the strategic directions and governance of the Alliance.

BUiD offers full and part-time research based Doctorate and PhD programmes, Masters and MBA programmes, and Postgraduate Diplomas, in the fields of education, business, law, engineering, finance, construction, and IT.

BUiD also offers undergraduate programmes in the fields of computer science, AI, engineering, architecture, finance, and business.

The founders of the University are the Al Maktoum Foundation, the Dubai Development and Investment Authority, Rolls-Royce, the British Business Group, and the National Bank of Dubai (now Emirates NBD) . The University is governed by a Council under the chancellorship of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

BUiD works in collaboration with leading organisations and institutions including its major contributing partner the Knowledge Fund Establishment, Atkins, the UAE Ministry of Education, and government and associated bodies across the UAE’s public and private sectors.

Saint-Gobain UAE

Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change.

Saint-Gobain operates in 70 countries and employs more than 171,000 people worldwide. It was founded in 1665 to deliver a world first – the production of glass on an industrial scale - and has continued to grow its business through adapting and innovating to provide new services, products and ways of working with customers. In 2019, the Group had sales of €42.6 billion.

Saint-Gobain in the UAE includes some of the best-known and respected companies in the construction sector including: Gyproc, Weber, KIMMCO ISOVER, Glass International, Vetrotech, Sage Glass, Solargard, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Abrasives, Adfors, and Ecophon. For more information on the Saint-Gobain group visit www.saint-gobain.com

Contact Person: Sana Pervez
Communications Manager
Sana.pervez@saint-gobain.com
04 814 3666

© Press Release 2020