With the aim of exchanging expertise and experiences with decision-makers in the fields of operations and maintenance, the University of Sharjah (UoS) participated in the 21st International Operations and Maintenance Conference in the Arab Countries (OMAINTEC), held in Egypt, Cairo, under the theme of “Reshaping Education and Training to Meet Future Maintenance Needs - Role of Professional Institutions”. The University was represented by Dr. Asmaa Nusairi, Director of the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development.On the sideline of the conference, the University of Sharjah signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arab Council for Operation and Maintenance to increase the possibilities of communication and create opportunities for the exchange of experiences between employees and practitioners in the public and private sectors within the fields of operation and maintenance, asset, and facilities management.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the University by Dr. Asmaa Nusairi, Director of the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development, and on behalf of the Council by Dr. Mohammad A. Al-Fouzan, Chairman of the Arab Operations and Maintenance Council. The MoU stipulate that the joint cooperation between the University and the Council will focus on conducting scientific activities, programs,seminars and conferences, participating in discussion sessions and publishing joint articles and research in areas of mutual interest.

The conference featured various panel discussions, specialized workshops, and seminars, bringing together an elite group of regional and international experts representing international organizations in the fields of operations and maintenance. The conference addressed several topics, including the importance of maintenance education and training to meet the future needs, the future of AI technologies in maintenance training and education, educational knowledge verses experience in the digital maintenance world, and the role of professional institutions toward more equitable maintenance education, the role of maintenance education in the structural transformation of labor markets, global trends in maintenance education and training in digital transformation era, and proper management of maintenance risks in the digital transformation era.