The RCSI Institute of Leadership today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Sharjah, setting out the intention of the two organisations to collaborate in the development of education and research in the areas of professional development, leadership and academic development.

The University of Sharjah is one of the leading universities in the Arab World and it has demonstrated its commitment to quality medical and health professional education through its establishment of the faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, a College of Health Sciences, a University Hospital, a Dental Hospital, a Clinical Training Centre and the Sharjah Surgical Institute and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research.

Speaking at the signing Professor Samy Mahmoud, Chancellor of the University, said: "While we collaborate with many of the World's leading Universities, we are particularly pleased to enter a new relationship with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland given the prestige of the College and the similarity of our vision."

Professor Ciaran O'Boyle, Director of the RCSI Institute of Leadership, said: "The University of Sharjah is a highly prestigious University that is leading the way in the development of education in medicine and the health sciences in the region. We look forward to many years of friendship and collaboration and we see the relationship as providing an important base for the RCSI in pursuing our mission to improve health."