framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

Sharjah. The university was founded in 1997 by Supreme President
and Chairman Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi; it is a semi-
governmental Higher Educational institution aiming to meet the Emirate
of Sharjah‟s educational and cultural needs as well as the UAE in
general. Sharjah city is the third largest city in the UAE. Sharjah
maintained its role as the cultural capital of the UAE preserving its
Islamic values and traditions. The university is divided into two
campuses according to gender – which is also the case with all the other
universities in the country. All of these educational institutes share the
same mission.
Along the governmental universities the UAE houses non-governmental
universities. The non-governmental universities in the UAE all obtain
international recognition. These universities include the American
University of Sharjah (AUS), the American University in Dubai, Al-Hosn
University in Abu Dhabi and Ajman University of Science and
Technology in Ajman to name a few.
The above mentioned institutes whether public and private invest
heavily to provide comprehensive academic and professional
programmes of the highest quality. They aim to become pioneering
academic institutions in the Middle East and become well recognised
worldwide.
These academic institutions assign foreign experts to provide a
distinctive method of learning that encourages the students to prepare
for leadership roles in society. Preparing students for leadership meets
the needs of UAE society. These institutions continue to fulfil their
obligations and responsibilities towards their students by adding to
human knowledge and scientific research.
4.3.2 Architectural Schools in the UAE
Some of the above mentioned universities house a College of
Engineering where the department of architecture is located (UAE
University, Ajman University for Science and Technology, Al Hosn
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