Leading academics and industry professionals have officially opened the International Conference on Construction Culture, Innovation and Management with keynote speakers debating key issues concerning sustainable development through culture and innovation, the first major conference of its kind to be held in Dubai.
Opening addresses were heard from Marwan Al Qamzi, Head of Procurement and Contracts at leading real estate developer and platinum sponsor of the conference, Nakheel and Dr. Mohammed Dulaimi, Senior Lecturer at The British University in Dubai (BUiD), main organiser and Chair of the conference.
In his opening speech, Al Qamzi addressing the need for clients to promote innovation in construction said: “Innovation requires a long-term commitment across the whole organisation and at all levels of management.”
“As clients become more sophisticated and demanding more innovative practices, champions of innovation should be encouraged and empowered,” added Al Qamzi.
Themes covered during the four-day conference include: integrating sustainability into business processes, cultural change to embrace sustainability, working with diversity and multi-culturalism, and innovation in design.
“Dubai is seen as a dynamic environment and an appropriate venue to hold the conference due to its multi-cultural society and the phenomenal boom in construction currently taking place across the UAE – the construction industry now contributes 11 percent of the UAE’s GDP,” said Dr. Dulaimi.
About British University in Dubai
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is the Middle East’s first research-based, postgraduate university. The University was established to facilitate access to world-class education, training and research in the Middle East. BUiD aspires to the highest, internationally recognized British standards as reflected in its partnership with the University of Edinburgh, the University of Birmingham, the University of Manchester, Cardiff University and now the Cass Business School at City University, London. Each has a five or five-star rating in the UK national Research Assessment Exercise that signifies research of international standard.
The not-for-profit university offers full and part-time Masters Degree programmes and Continuing Professional Development courses in Information Technology, Project Management, the Built Environment, Finance and Banking, Education and IT Management.
All BUiD’s current Masters Programmes have received Accreditation Eligibility Status from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s Commission for Academic Accreditation.
The founders of the University are the Al Maktoum Foundation, the Dubai Development and Investment Authority, Rolls-Royce, the British Business Group and the National Bank of Dubai. The University is governed by a Council under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The Emirates Group, DUCAB, Atkins, Dubai Duty Free, Hyder Consulting, the Emirates Foundation and DUGAS are supporters of the university through financial contributions or the provision of scholarships.
