University of Wollongong in Dubai and European Network for Academic Integrity Establish ENAI WG Centre for Academic Integrity in the UAE

Thursday, 01 June, 2023

In a historic first, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI) to establish the ENAI WG Centre for Academic Integrity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The European Network for Academic Integrity, funded by Erasmus+, comprises over 45 universities globally and is widely recognized as a leading authority on research, practice, and guidelines for academic and research integrity. The network collaborates closely with regional and international agencies such as the Council of Europe.

The ENAI WG Centre for Academic Integrity in the UAE (ECAIU) was initially launched as a voluntary network of dedicated faculty and teachers from various universities and schools in the UAE in 2020. The Centre aimed to support the local academic community in cultivating a culture of integrity. Dr. Zeenath Reza Khan, the Founding President at ECAIU and Assistant Professor and Program Director at UOWD, reflected on the Centre's achievements during the pandemic, stating, "Despite the challenges of the virtual environment, the Centre successfully conducted numerous student and faculty workshops, awareness campaigns, competitions, and publications. We also established a Student Board and Active Committee, which is a significant accomplishment."

This year, the Centre is relaunching as a Working Group of the European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI), with a UOWD in-house research cluster serving as its legal arm in the UAE.

To commemorate this significant milestone and celebrate the launch of the newly edited Springer Nature book titled "Ethics and Integrity in Teacher Education," the Centre collaborated with UOWD to organize a grand gala evening on May 2nd, 2023. The event featured a book reading, a panel discussion, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Distinguished guests included Dr. Susanna Karakhanyan, 7th President of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), Dr. Salim Razi, founding board member of ENAI and Vice Dean at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in Turkey, Dr. Ted Purinton, Founding Dean at Sharjah Education Academy, and other esteemed dignitaries.

The book reading was conducted by Ms. Stephanie Martin, a Senior Teacher at Australian International School and UOWD alumna, and Ms. Veena Mulani, Subject Leader at Al Diyafah High School and UOWD alumna. Both Stephanie and Veena co-authored chapters in the book and shared their reflections on their journeys as teachers, students, and co-authors. Following the book reading, a panel discussion titled "Ethics and Integrity in Teacher Education" took place, moderated by Dr. Zeenath Reza Khan, an author and co-editor of the book. The panel featured prominent speakers including Dr. Susanna Karakhanyan, Dr. Salim Razi, Dr. Ted Purinton, Professor Christopher Hill, Founding Vice President of ECAIU and Professor at the Faculty of Education, British University in Dubai, and Dr. Afnan Boutrid, Author and Assistant Professor at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Wollongong in Dubai.

During the ceremony, students from various universities shared their experiences working with the Centre as integrity champions and organizing events on campus to raise awareness of academic integrity. The relaunch of the Centre was marked by a ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremony led by Professor Mohamed Salem, President of UOWD.

The event concluded with an enchanting live music performance by the UOWD Band.