The Ras Al Khaimah Education Company (EDRAK), and members of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University held their first meeting of Board of Directors in Boston, US.

The board was constituted following a bilateral agreement signed between EDRAK and the Friedman School establishing a presence in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), in the UAE.

Ras Al Khaimah is developing a new campus (planned to open in August 2008) that will offer cutting-edge academic education as well as services relating to health, nutrition and wellness.

This initiative supports EDRAK's goal of positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a new education hub of the region.

"Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, has deep commitments to Education and Healthcare. This initiative is a true reflection of his vision and as such, we are continually looking for global relationships and global providers to lend history and capacity to the emirate, and eventually the UAE and the region," said CEO of Investment & Development Office, Government of Ras Al Khaimah (IDO) and also Managing Director of EDRAK, Dr Izzat Dajani.

The six-member board appointed Dr Dajani, who holds an MPA from Harvard University, as board chairman, while Dr Eileen Kennedy, Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and who holds PhD from Harvard University, was appointed as vice-chairman.

The collaboration will lead to the establishment of an Enhanced Health and Wellness Centre in RAK, as well as certificate training courses in nutrition science and policy, said an official spokesman.

Development of a partial distance-learning Master of Arts degree in Nutrition will commence later this year with a goal admission date of 2008. The educational content and delivery will be kept to the same high standards as at Tufts in the US.

"In all our international dealings, we have never seen the level and speed of commitment that we have seen here in Ras Al Khaimah from Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, and the Investment and Development Office," Dr Kennedy said.

Various issues pertaining to campus development, board logistics, and budget were discussed at the board meeting.TradeArabia News Service