Khalifa University is a science-focused university located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with a satellite campus in Sharjah. In 2017 it is ranked as the 401st best university in the world by QS rankings. Founded in 2007 by a decree issued by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Khalifa University was established in an effort to support a knowledge-based economy that will contribute to the state’s post-oil future. Currently, it is merging with The Petroleum Institute and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. The university has a student population of approximately 1300. In the 2019 Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, Khalifa University placed as the 28th best university in Asia. In September 2018, Khalifa University was ranked 1st in the UAE and 2nd in the Arab region by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. The AI Institute has a funding outlay of AED 160 million for a five-year period.
History
Originally established in 1989 as the Etisalat College of Engineering, the school’s main campus was built in Sharjah, and aimed to supply the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation with technologically trained workers. Khalifa University’s current president, Tod A. Laursen, was appointed in August 2010. As of 2013, KU faculty and staff come from over 40 countries, and its student body is internationally diverse and co-educational.
Organization
Khalifa University offers 12 undergraduate degrees through its College of Engineering:
Distinct in the Gulf, Khalifa University's Institute for International and Civil Security seeks to "produce research which will strengthen the security of the UAE in a way that is responsive to the needs of national and global security decision-makers... enabling the programme to make major contributions that enhance regional, international and human security." The IICS's director is Professor Joel Hayward, "a world authority on international conflict and strategy".
Accreditation
The three original undergraduate B.Eng. degree programs offered by Khalifa University have been awarded accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology
Academic partnership
In recent years, KU has established a number of international academic and research partnerships. They include associations with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University Nuclear Security Science & Policy Institute, and KAIST. In April 2011, Khalifa University signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Bristol to establish and create the Visual Signal Analysis and Processing research centre at the university’s Abu Dhabi campus.
Campuses
Campus Expansion The University has plans to build a new campus near the current campus of Abu Dhabi. The new campus would be 80 hectares in size and allow enrollment to increase up to 6,000 students. The new campus will house a medical school, state of the art labs, a student hub, and sporting facilities.
Student Life
Khalifa University’s campus student newsletter is The Student Voice, which is published once a semester. Students can also participate in various clubs and academic organizations ranging from student government to the sports club.
Scholarship
Some of the scholarships that the university offers include;
Khalifa University has been ranked on 211th position in QS World University Rankings in 2020. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked it 301-350 globally in the 2020 ranking 31 in Asia in 2020 and 14 among Emerging Economies University Rankings 2020. The Academic Ranking of World Universities, placed Khalifa University at 701-800 in the world ranking.
