CUNY ITS to Help Train Abu Dhabi Department of Transport Personnel

The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (Abu Dhabi DoT) and The CUNY Institute for Transportation Systems (CUNY ITS) in the Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York, signed a Memorandum of Understanding Monday, June 4, 2012, aimed at providing continuous development support in areas of transport management and technical programs to targeted United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Abu Dhabi DoT students, executives and staff.

The Abu Dhabi DoT’s responsibilities cover aviation, maritime, public transport, road safety and highways management. Abu Dhabi has ambitious long-term transport plans that aim to improve the lifestyle of its growing population and provide suitable infrastructure to strengthen its position as a regional hub for distribution of goods and services across the Persian Gulf. Abu Dhabi DoT is also keen to focus on transport options that explore alternative energy options and protect Abu Dhabi’s natural assets.

In order to provide excellence in transport planning, Abu Dhabi DoT recognizes that its employees’ skill levels must be of the highest caliber. They have, therefore, developed a scholarship program targeting leading students from across the region and providing them with Bachelor’s and Master’s training. In addition, application-driven programs like on-the-job training are in place to fast track the development of young Emiratis joining the transport Industry.

The CUNY ITS was chosen for the high quality of its training and development program, based on a Lean Learning approach, and backed by extensive experience in research and management development. In the words of H. E. Zayoun Alameri, Abu Dhabi DoT executive director of support services, “The CUNY ITS is a center for excellence in transportation research and development…possessing the expertise to help us develop transportation planning capabilities of the highest caliber.”

Commenting on Abu Dhabi’s 21st Century approach to transportation infrastructure planning and development, Dr. Martin Moskovits, provost of The City College, stated that the College was honored that the Abu Dhabi DoT is partnering with the CUNY ITS to help develop the skills of its employees and students from the United Arab Emirates. He anticipated that the “Memorandum of Understanding will lead to greater understanding of the region’s transportation infrastructure issues, and expanded opportunities to enrich the diversity of our student population.”

The CUNY ITS is the home of the Federal Region 2 University Transportation Research Center (UTRC2) in the United States, a relationship that allows it to expand its reach through the federally supported network of research centers throughout the United States. The agreement is a significant opportunity for the parties, contributing to knowledge and development in the transport domain in the fast growing region of the Persian Gulf and enriching the already diverse student base of the CUNY ITS.