SESAME represented by its Director, Professor Khaled Toukan, and the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) represented by its Secretary-General Professor Amr Salama signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further expand collaboration between their two organizations, particularly to strengthen research in Arab universities, and to foster academic and research cooperation, and the exchange of knowledge and scientific experience between the two institutions.
Professor Salama was accompanied in the MoU signing ceremony that was held at SESAME by the AArU Assistant Secretary-General Dr. Khamisi Hamidi, the AArU Director of General Administration Ms. Lina Al-Bitar, and the AArU Director of Media and Public Relations Mr. Wahib Karajah. On SESAME’s side there were the Sector Directors, and members of the staff.
Among the activities envisaged in the MoU is the organization of joint workshops, training courses, and scientific events for the benefit of Arab universities. Professor Toukan welcomed the MoU, which will open up prospects for cooperation in research projects for postgraduates and undergraduates in Arab Universities, and will enable students to be trained at SESAME and benefit from expertise that will strengthen their research skills and widen their knowledge in the many fields possible at SESAME (e.g. medicine, pharmacology, physics, chemistry, cultural heritage, and biology amongst others), thus better preparing them for their future careers in science.
Professor Salama acknowledged the importance of the Center's role in promoting scientific research, innovation, and creativity, and the positive impact this would have on capacity building in the region.
The AArU Secretary-General and his suite were taken on a tour of the Centre during which they were shown the beamline facilities by the Scientific Director, Dr. Andrea Lausi, and informed of the many scientific applications being carried out at SESAME.
