Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi signs an MoU with Total

25 April, 2016

In line with its strategy to enhance a strong base of its student’s development and build long term networks with entities that support its mission and vision, Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, one of the most prestigious universities in the United Arab Emirates, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Total, the fourth-largest global oil and gas company and the Member of the Association of Friends of Sorbonne Abu Dhabi since March 2015, on the university’s campus today.

The MoU was signed by Professor Eric Fouache, Vice Chancellor at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, and Mr. Hatem Nuseibeh, President of Total E&P UAE and Group Representative in the UAE of Paris based Total SA, an international energy company, in the presence of a number of senior officials from both sides.

The MoU aims to create a framework of cooperation between Sorbonne Abu Dhabi and TOTAL for the purpose of potential partnerships and facilitation of collaboration projects through increasing the level of engagement of both parties in different fields such as the scholarship, pedagogical partnership (lectures in Bachelors and Masters programmes), student internship and training (UAE Nationals and international profiles), career-related events (students-alumni) along with the Continuing education in Total Academy.

The MoU is also a step towards promoting the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi’s vision to continue a remarkable heritage of academic excellence that has been nurtured since the 12th century and its mission to enhance the French Higher Education in the region. The MoU which encloses various training programs, internships seminars, and lectures delivered by Total experts and academics, will also boost the culture of innovation among Sorbonne Abu Dhabi’s students by offering them real life experiences.

Commenting on the renewal of the MoU with Total, Professor Eric Fouache, Vice Chancellor at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, said: “We are very happy to renew our MoU with Total which is considered as one of the largest global oil and gas companies in the world. We believe that the renewal of this MoU for three more years is a necessity for both parties to exchange knowledge and benefit mutually from their areas of expertise in various fields”.

Professor Fouache added: “Cooperating with well-known companies and institutes in various fields is crucial for us to offer the best experiences to our students, who are always in the top of our priorities, on a personal and professional level. We believe that this MoU will give our students great opportunities to learn new skills, participate in a number of lectures, seminars and events as well as doing internships which is aligned with their outlooks”.

From his side, Mr. Hatem Nuseibeh, President of Total E&P UAE and Group Representative in the UAE of Paris based Total SA, said: “Total is a leader when it comes to the field of education, training and transfer of knowledge. We have set examples for students worldwide through our sponsored scholarships and regularly sent local students abroad to study in French Universities to enhance their learning experience. Our partnership is a natural extension of Total’s collaboration with Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, which we consider as the gateway for UAE National students to French educational curriculum of international value. We are looking forward to continuing our mission as contributors to enhance education of youth in the UAE and we are very excited to work with PSUAD”.

Mr. Hatem Nuseibeh added: “We have also provided several internship opportunities to students in the company who have expressed their interest to learn from the international expertise of Total. TPA in its goal for building a bridge between the oil industry and major universities worldwide are honored to deliver technical/business related knowledge transfer to PSUAD students”.

Sorbonne University signed recently an MoU with Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation for its important role in seeking to nurture the arts, education, culture and creativity in the community for the benefit of the advancement of Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision.