UAE Abu Dhabi University (ADU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 5ire, a fifth generation blockchain ecosystem, to strengthen blockchain education, research and entrepreneurship. both parties will identify and support compelling projects on blockchain technology, with a specific focus on sustainability and accessibility.

As part of its commitment to expand the course offerings, ADU will work closely with 5ire to build a comprehensive framework that will provide educational opportunities for students, including courses and workshops focused on blockchain technology and its applications. In addition, 5ire will provide financial sponsorship for ADU’s UAE national students, who have met the criteria and are interested in obtaining professional certifications or pursuing degrees focused on blockchain courses. The criteria include but are not limited to academic performance, financial need and demonstrated interest in blockchain technology.

Furthermore, the partnership will focus on providing resources to support students and researchers that are interested in developing and commercializing projects based on blockchain technology. ADU and 5ire will work on a business plan to launch a blockchain academy with a profit-sharing model to offer professional certifications accepted within the UAE and throughout the region.

The parties will organize a hackathon hosted at ADU for both school and university students, as well as offering hands-on training and mentorship to the hackathon participants. A training program will also be arranged to ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to advance and commercialize projects focused on 5ire’s blockchain technology.

5ire will offer ADU faculty and staff members comprehensive training and a “train-the-trainer” certificate program, to enable them to effectively support future training efforts and integrate 5ire technology into the curriculum for undergraduate and post-graduate programs. The University students and faculty will also be provided with access to both 5ire’s software and hardware technology and curriculum for teaching and research purposes.

Prof. Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University (ADU), said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with 5ire to further advance our programs and offer our students a well-rounded technological experience that builds on their skillset required for the career market. This collaboration aligns with our mission to continuously develop our programs and offerings to empower our students to grow, succeed and prepare them for their future careers and leadership roles in their respective fields. At ADU, we strive to be up to date with the latest advancements across all sectors, we believe that blockchain technology has the potential to transform a wide range of industries and we are delighted to be at the forefront of this transformation.”

Pratik Gauri, Co-Founder and CEO of 5ire, said: “We are delighted to be working with Abu Dhabi University (ADU) to advance blockchain education, research and entrepreneurship in the UAE. Our technology is designed to address the problem of low blockchain adoption due to sustainability and accessibility challenges. By partnering with ADU, we will be able to provide students and researchers with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop and commercialize projects that can have a positive impact on society and the environment.”

ADU and 5ire will work-hand-in-hand to explore the potential uses and benefits of 5ire’s blockchain technology. In addition to establishing collaborations with companies and organizations in the region that are working on related projects and could benefit from 5ire’s technology. The collaboration will also yield the development of case studies presenting the application of 5ire technology in areas such as sustainability, supply chain and logistics.