The University of Birmingham Dubai has signed an agreement with RATP Dev Middle East, to support and train the next generation of urban transportation and mobility professionals in the region and support the Smart Dubai 2021 Strategic Plan.

The partnership launched with the selection of a virtual paid internship for University of Birmingham Dubai student, Nada Bayoumi. The 19-year-old Business Management student is looking forward to exploring both theoretical and practical case studies in transportation across the UAE and wider Middle East as part of her experience.

“Through securing my internship with RATP Dev, I am most looking forward to employing my entrepreneurial mindset in a real-life working environment, in turn further exploring and developing my own career-oriented skill set. I am positive this will aid me in pursuing a career in the unpredictable and ever-changing business industry in the future. I feel as though RATP Dev is the perfect starting point for me as their mission aligns with my own: finding modern solutions in pursuit of achieving sustainable urban living” she commented.

This collaboration between University of Birmingham Dubai and RATP Dev will support undergraduate and graduate academic programmes, research opportunities, and industry engagement. Joint consultancy projects will be offered for final year students, with Continuing Professional Development Programmes (CPD’s) related to the railway industry, in addition to a number of workshops and career events throughout the academic year for students and industry professionals.

University of Birmingham Dubai Provost, Professor Glyn Watson, commented:

“At University of Birmingham Dubai we are committed to meeting the needs and ambitions of a culturally and internationally diverse range of students. We do this by providing challenging academic programmes led by innovative research, scholarship and professional practice. We work hard to prepare professionally skilled individuals who are prepared for smarter, sustainable cities, and able to contribute to the communities in which they live through innovative transportation solutions that benefit the whole society.

“As a global university with a civic outlook, we are committed to playing our part in supporting the UAE as it drives economic progress through knowledge and innovation. We look forward to working closely with RATP Dev from this moment forward” he added.

RATP Dev is a leading mobility actor, developing, operating and maintaining transportation systems around the world, and the undisputed champion of public transportation in the MENA region, operating most major public transport networks (Casablanca, Algeria, Cairo, Riyadh, Doha). The company’s Regional Headquarters for Asia Middle East and North Africa is in Dubai, and it is an active actor of the local ecosystem. With a focus on innovative, sustainable transportation, the Group is keen to develop local talent in the UAE to support the wider Middle East region.

“This partnership reflects our strong commitment to inspire and nurture young talents through adding a new dimension to their educational experience” said Olivier Badard, CEO Asia-Pacific, Middle East & North Africa at RATP Dev.

“Our academic partnership with the University of Birmingham Dubai is one of our contributions to the Dubai Society goals. Students will be provided first-hand access to public transport expertise, to facilitate the emergence of a mobility elite that will shape a better urban transport future in Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East.”

Founded in 2002, RATP Dev operates and maintains urban transportation systems in 12 countries on four continents (United Kingdom, France, Italy, Switzerland, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China, the Philippines, and the United States of America). With more than 1.5 billion passengers travelling on its networks every year, RATP Dev demonstrates every day its extensive and renowned expertise in a wide range of mobility services, ranging from rail, regional express rail, tramway, to bus, cable car and sightseeing activities.

For more information, visit www.ratpdev.com , www.linkedin.com/company/ratp-dev