The University of Sharjah recently hosted a distinguished academic delegation from the School of Arabic Studies (Escuela de Estudios Árabes, EEA) in Granada, Spain. The visit was part of ongoing efforts to foster international academic collaboration in the field of Arabic and Islamic studies.
Professor Abdelaziz Soufyane, Director of the International Relations Office at the University of Sharjah, and Professor Mesut Idriz, Director of the Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences (SIFHAMS), extended a warm welcome to Dr. Montserrat Benítez Fernández, Scientific Deputy-Director of EEA, and Dr. Estefanía Valenzuela.
The Escuela de Estudios Árabes operates under the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC), the largest public research institution in Spain and an entity attached to the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
During the meeting, both parties presented overviews of their respective academic activities and explored avenues for future collaboration. One of the key outcomes of the discussion was a preliminary proposal to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University's Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research and the CSIC. The proposed MoU would aim to establish a framework for joint research projects, academic exchange, and scholarly cooperation that promises mutual benefit and high-impact outcomes.
The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude to SIFHAMS for coordinating the visit and organizing the session, with all parties expressing keen interest in developing long-term academic partnerships.
