The United Arab Emirates University, in cooperation with the Al Ain Youth Council, has organized a panel discussion on the concept of innovation among students: “UAE Innovates”, which was launched by the UAE government at the national level, with the participation of UAEU students from various disciplines, and students of Al Ain Institute of Applied Technology.

It was attended by Dr. Khawla Al Kaabi, Chief Innovation Officer at the UAE University, Omar Al Hashemi, Director at the Abu Dhabi Municipality, a graduate of the Cambridge Innovation Diploma Program, and Mohammad Baabid - Director of the Social Accelerator Department at the Authority of Social Contributions, Ma’an Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Council, Dr. Abdul Rahman Yaqoub Al Raisi, Executive Director of the UAEU Science and Innovation Park.

Wadha Khalfan Al Kaabi, Vice President of the Al Ain Youth Council, who is supervising organization of the event. Al Ain Youth Council, through the activities of the Innovation Month organized at the national level "UAE Innovates", has organized this panel discussion, with the participation of a group of experts, academics and specialists, to contribute to advancement of the role of youth councils by achieving national goals to invest the capabilities of youth in national development, promoting spirit of belonging and achieving national strategic vision of our government for the national institutions, stressing at the same time the importance of the role of youth in achieving plans and programs, upgrading youth skills and experiences, and investing them in the most appropriate manner.

The panel discussion addressed a number of main themes relating to the concept and role of innovation. The first theme dealt with the concept of innovation and how to develop innovation skills among students. The second theme dealt with the role of the UAEU Science and Innovation Park to promote innovation and the programs that are being offered. The third theme dealt with the role of innovation in policies, governance and municipal projects. The fourth theme dealt with innovation challenges and difficulties and the proposed solutions that achieve the strategic and national goals of launching the activities of the Innovation Month.  It has become an annual platform for the launch of innovations and creations in all fields and the participation of various national institutions. Then, an open discussion followed, in which the students participated, which contributed to enriching and achieving the desired goals.