Institute sets stage for NYUAD

Before opening its new satellite campus in Abu Dhabi, NYU will launch the "NYU Abu Dhabi Institute" next semester in an effort to bridge the gap and "promote connections" between NYU in New York and NYUAD.

The Institute will be located in Abu Dhabi and, according to its website, will feature visits from NYU faculty, Institute Scholars in Residence, courses and public programs.

"It is important in advance of the opening of NYUAD to establish a presence in the region," NYU Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann said. "The Institute could act as an incubator for ideas and an entity through which we can bring faculty and scholars from the region together."

Westermann said she hopes the Institute will give faculty a greater connection to the project and demonstrate the new campus' possibilities.

"Faculty will be able to see the potential and may want to return to teach," Westermann said.

While NYUAD is not expected to open until fall 2010, administrators also hope the NYUAD Institute will be a public forum and center of research, as well as a source for future curricula.

The Institute will begin offering courses in fall 2008. Westermann and NYU President John Sexton have both agreed to teach courses, and the classes will be open to both UAE students, by application, and students here in Washington Square via video conferencing.

"The activities at the Institute will be available by video screen here," said Hilary Ballon, NYUAD's associate vice chancellor for academic programs and campus planning. "It will be a place people can come and see interviews and special events."

As part of the launch of the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute, the university is calling for startup proposals from both faculty and students. Delegations of faculty, or students with particular interests who are working with faculty, can apply for a grant that addresses one of the goals outlined on the website.

While one of the first faculty delegations will focus on Arabic literature, Westermann said there is no regional limitation to proposals and that the Institute hopes to extract ideas from all of NYU's schools.

One example of this is environmental sustainability.

"Abu Dhabi has identified environmental sustainability as a policy goal; they value informed development plans," Ballon said. "This is an example of the type of program we're looking for."

Although there is not a concrete budget for the Institute or these startup proposals, Westermann said the Abu Dhabi government will be funding the entire project.

"NYU has academic control over the Institute, and academic quality will drive determination on the acceptance of the proposals," Westermann said.

Catherine Manfre is a staff writer. E-mail her at news@nyunews.com.