Masdar Institute collaborates for eco-friendly technology
Across the highway from the Abu Dhabi International Airport, Masdar City represents the government's vision for clean energy. Spanning six square kilometres, the ultramodern masterplanned community boasts the largest grid-connected solar power plant in the Middle East. Motion sensors also replace water taps and light switches to cut the city's water and power consumption by half.
Across the highway from the Abu Dhabi International Airport, Masdar City represents the government's vision for clean energy. Spanning six square kilometres, the ultramodern masterplanned community boasts the largest grid-connected solar power plant in the Middle East. Motion sensors also replace water taps and light switches to cut the city's water and power consumption by half.
At the core of the city's engineering structure is its first locator and the world's first graduate-level university specialising in renewable energy, sustainability and advanced technology - Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. Created in complete collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2009, Masdar Institute today has been producing many of the best graduates in its segment and serves as a test bed for research and development (R&D) for locator companies in Masdar City and other organisations worldwide.
"As part of the key objectives of the Masdar initiative, which aims to advance renewable energy and sustainable technologies, Masdar Institute helps to develop the innovation ecosystem that is required to sustain, power and advance hi-tech industries," says Dr Lamya Fawwaz, executive director of public affairs and professor of practice at Masdar Institute. "This includes R&D that supports the development of commercially viable advanced energy and clean technologies, as well as collaboration with public and private organisations across the key sectors that drive social, economic and academic growth."
As its partner in everything, MIT cooperates with the university in developing the curriculum, conducting research partnerships and hiring new faculty and senior administrative staff. The two institutions share the same academic standards so that students from Masdar Institute also receive a quality certificate from MIT upon graduation.
Special research-based curriculum
The cooperation has led to the development of a special curriculum that sets Masdar Institute apart from other graduate schools. The university offers nine engineering programmes that fall within four broad departments of chemical and environmental engineering, mechanical and materials engineering, engineering systems and management, and electrical engineering and computer science.
