On 26 November, the Jagiellonian University was visited by a delegation led by the Ambassador of United Arab Emirates to Poland Dr Eman Al Salami. A meeting with JU Rector Prof. Jacek Popiel, also attended by the Dean of JU Faculty of Philology Dr hab. Władysław Witalisz, Prof. UJ and Head of JU Chair in Arabic Studies Prof. Barbara Michalak-Pikulska. The programme of the visit included a tour of JU Museum and a guest lecture in Collegium Paderevianum.
During the meeting, the JU Rector stressed the importance and impact of Asian and Arabic Studies programmes at the JU Faculty of Philology, which have long been very popular amongst the students. He also added that he highly values the collaboration between the Jagiellonian University and the United Arab Emirates as well as the UAE Embassy in Poland and expressed his hope that it will be continued and expanded. The UAE Ambassador said that she holds the centuries-long renown and tradition of the Jagiellonian University in very high regard, including the achievements of the Chair in Arabic Studies. She shared Prof. Jacek Popiel’s hope for continued cooperation between the UAE and the University.
Dr Eman Al Salami was appointed as the UAE Ambassador to Poland in July 2021. Beforehand, she was the Director of Strategy and Future Department of MoFAIC. She spearheaded a number of initiatives, such as the ‘Initiative for empowering women and girls’ and worked on implementing them in the UAE. She was granted DBA in organisation and innovation from Abu Dhabi University in January 2014. She also has a MA degree in Strategic Security Studies from the National Defense College of the United Arab Emirates (2020). Since June 2021, she has been a member of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy Board of Trustees.
The collaboration between the Jagiellonian University and the United Arab Emirates revolves chiefly around the activities of the JU Institute of Oriental Studies and the Emirate of Sharjah, such as student mobility programmes and official meeting with the government.
