AUD ITU-T’s Academia Membership: Opportunities and Challenges

1. WTSA-12 Academic Event(Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 20 November 2012) AUD ITU-T’s Academia Membership:Opportunities and Challenges Dr. Wael Bazzi American University in Dubai wbazzi@aud.edu

2. AUD at a Glance • Primarily undergraduate institution focusing on excellence in teaching • Culturally diverse student and faculty body (101 different student nationalities) • Graduates with intellectual, personal, and professional success

3. AUD ITU-T’s Membership • AUD School of Engineering became first academic member of ITU in the UAE – 21 September 2011

4. AUD ITU-T’s Membership Opportunities • Exceptional opportunity to contribute to ITU standards • Increased visibility at the national and international level • Access to ITU meetings, events, and documents • Improved curriculum and education experience for students • Professional development opportunities for faculty members • Networking with ITU leaders and members • Knowledge partnerships

5. ITU Telecom World 2012 • knowledge partnership between AUD and ITU

6. ITU Telecom World 2012 cont. • (AUD) organized workshops for the 12 finalists at the (ITU)’s young innovators competition • AUD Business and Management professors engaged the young entrepreneurs in talks to discuss management challenges lying ahead in their business evolutions • This activity emanated from AUD’s commitment to maintaining an active membership of ITU

7. TSB Director’s Ad-hoc Group • Joined the TSB Director's Ad-hoc Group on Education about Standardization • Meetings and ITU documents are used to address international ICT standardization in our academic curriculum

8. AUD ITU-T’s Membership Challenges • Stimulating contribution to ITU standards rather than just passively learning about them • Faculty members are working full-time on mostly teaching related activities • Difficulty in attending various ITU meetings (time constraints, travel, …)

9. Questions and Discussion