Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi announces strengthening of GMU with engineering and business management courses, launches Startup Lab at the first-of-its-kind Global Alumni Summit
• More than 200 GMU alumni from across 10 countries gathered to witness the launch of GMU Startup Lab to encourage entrepreneurship
UAE: In a unique initiative to promote entrepreneurship among the alumni and students of Gulf Medical University (GMU), the university has launched the ‘GMU Startup Lab’, which will support aspiring medical entrepreneurs transform their business ideas into reality. The initiative was launched by the chief guest Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, chairman of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, Ajman, at the GMU Annual Global Alumni Summit held at Ajman Saray Hotel, on Sunday, 6th November 2016.
At the convention, Sheikh Rashid further announced that under the directions of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, ruler of the Emirate of Ajman and a member of the UAE Supreme Council of the Union, the Gulf Medical University will be strengthened into a full-fledged university, offering engineering and business management courses.
The function was also attended by Thumbay Moideen – Founder President and Chairman of Board of Governors of GMU, Prof. Gita Ashok Raj – Provost of GMU, the Deans of various colleges of GMU and a large gathering of over 200 GMU alumni from across 10 countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Thumbay Moideen, said, “We’re in the middle of maximizing reach for quality education in the emirate of Ajman. Once the university adds engineering and business management courses, GMU will be renamed as Thumbay University.”
GMU Startup Lab is intended to serve as a platform to equip GMU alumni and students with the knowledge and understanding to get their business ideas up and running. Through this, the university will support brilliant business ideas providing assistance on networking, insight, funding and documentation. The GMU Startup Lab initiative will also volunteer customized support, providing access to funding and investments, referrals, on-campus office location, guidance and mentoring and legal compliance.
On promoting new ideas and businesses, Moideen, said: “The Start-Up Lab has been formulated to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in the healthcare industry. Under this component, special efforts would be made to identify, support and expand the role of competitive healthcare service delivery in a global economy. It is our earnest endeavor to provide mentoring and support to GMU’s healthcare alumni and students through various workshops, referrals and financial pooling.”
The GMU Global Alumni Summit also honored 15 outstanding alumni with mementos, for their remarkable career achievements, celebrating 18 years of an industry-defining medicine program that has developed thousands of healthcare leaders. Moideen commended the efforts of GMU’s academic leadership led by Prof. Gita Ashok Raj, in making GMU one of the most sought-after private medical university in the region, attracting students from all over the globe. “For us at the Gulf Medical University, it is heartening to see alumni create a positive impact in different countries and communities. Looking back, I am happy that our efforts to provide quality medical education and to nurture homegrown talent have given excellent results.”
He further added, “Our teaching hospitals train close to one-fifth of the doctors and around 60 percent of the healthcare professionals in the country. This enjoins more responsibilities on us,” he said. Prof. Gita Ashok Raj recalled the journey of GMU during the last 18 years and reiterated GMU’s commitment to emerging as a full-fledged research-based university, by 2020.”
About Gulf Medical University
Established at Ajman in 1998 as Gulf Medical College by Thumbay Moideen, the Founder President of Thumbay Group, the institution became a full-fledged medical university – the Gulf Medical University, in 2008. Today, GMU is considered the most sought after private medical university in the region. Internationally recognized curriculum, own network of teaching hospitals, an established research division, highly experienced/qualified faculty, separate furnished hostels for boys and girls, safe transportation facilities, on-campus recreation and refreshment facilities etc. are some of the factors behind the huge popularity of the University. GMU’s student cohort is a confluence of 75 nationalities, and it has faculty members and staff from around 22 nationalities.
GMU also houses the Centre for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation (CABRI), which carries out world-class research in the field of medicine and the Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare (CASH), a multidisciplinary educational facility integrating simulation as an educational tool for providing a state-of-the-art, safe learning environment that promotes professional development. A state-of-the-art Innovation Center is being developed in GMU, which will enhance its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity. It will serve as a point of contact for scientists, faculty and students interested in medical research, in addition to fostering international collaborations and partnerships. The Innovation Center will be the first of its kind in the region and will have devoted innovation and incubation laboratories.