Strengthening cultural and scientific ties with the emirates

The digital newspaper “El Correo del Golfo”, the first and only Spanish-language periodical in the Persian Gulf region serving the Spanish-speaking community, published a report on 29 June about the solemn joint academic event held three days earlier at the Círculo Ecuestre by the Royal European Academy of Doctors (RAED) and the Pro Royal European Academy of Doctors Foundation, together with the Academy of Diplomacy of the Kingdom of Spain and the Consular Corps of Barcelona. During the session, the president of the RAED’s Governing Board, Alfredo Rocafort, welcomed Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, to whom he had already awarded the Royal Corporation’s Medal of Honour during its Eighth International Event, which took the institution to several cities in the Emirates.

“The evening recognised the Sheikh’s distinguished career and his contributions to higher education and scientific research. The event took place as part of Sheikh Sultan’s official visit to Spain and brought to a close an agenda that included celebrations of graduates’ achievements at the University of Barcelona. During his address, the Deputy Ruler emphasised the importance of educational cooperation between the two countries, stressing that advancing education and scientific research is a shared responsibility and a lasting investment in humanity. The Royal European Academy of Doctors had previously awarded the Sheikh its Medal of Honour in recognition of his exceptional leadership and philanthropic work in support of academic excellence,” reports the UAE-based publication.

According to “El Correo del Golfo”, this recognition by the Royal Academy, together with the Academy of Diplomacy and the Consular Corps of Barcelona, marks a turning point in Spain’s acknowledgement of the Emirate’s educational and cultural work. Last March, the RAED held a joint academic event with the University of Sharjah, a leading regional academic institution with which it also established a new partnership. The session was held under the general title “Following the Footprints of the Future: Convergence between Tradition and Innovation”. Also in the Emirates, José Ramón Calvo, a full member and president of the RAED’s Institute for International Cooperation, has been appointed the new director of the Research Centre at the University of Fujairah, while Cecilia Kindelán, also a full member of the RAED, has recently been appointed dean of the Faculty of Communication at the Canadian University Dubai.

The event also included the induction of Santiago Velo de Antelo, executive president of the Academy of Diplomacy of the Kingdom of Spain, as an honorary member of the RAED; the traditional Summer Dinner of the organising institutions; the solemn induction ceremony for the Academy of Diplomacy’s new members; and the presentation of the Award for Solidarity through Patronage, bestowed by the four institutions upon the family of the Counts of Güell. The award was accepted by Carmen Güell, Marchioness of Gelida and author of the book “Gaudí and the Count of Güell: The Artist and the Patron”.