Campus life gives MBZUAI students a home away from home

Students from across the UAE and around the world come to MBZUAI to be part of one of the most exciting academic movements of our age — the development of artificial intelligence and its application as a force for good.

With more than 30 countries represented by the student population, which continues to grow every year, the university works hard to provide an environment that is at the same time nurturing, supportive, inspiring and stimulating; helping the students to excel in their work while making the most of the their time in the nation’s capital.

As such, great attention has been placed on campus life, ensuring each member of the MBZUAI community has what they need for a fulfilling and well-rounded university experience.

Located at Masdar City in the east of Abu Dhabi — close to the recently upgraded Zayed International Airport and the numerous leisure attractions on Yas Island — the MBZUAI campus not only caters to students’ academic needs, but provides comfortable living quarters, vibrant communal spaces, and a variety of services and events that support physical, intellectual and emotional wellbeing.

With the most advanced AI labs in the region, students at MBZUAI have easy access to best-in-class tech and state-of-the-art computing labs, including nearly 1,000 Nvidia DGZ-1/2 GPU servers. What’s more, the university is home to high-performance computing (HPC) resources, which ensure students have the technological firepower they need to advance their pioneering research.

To complement the outstanding faculty, which includes some of the world’s leading experts in machine learning, computer vision, NLP, robotics and computer science, the university’s classrooms are also a cut above the norm. Three technology-enhanced, HyFlex (hybrid flexible) classrooms offer modular spaces that have been curated using a human-centric and design-thinking process, featuring the latest smart whiteboards, sensor cameras, multiple screens, and the ability for instructors to annotate directly onto presentations. All of which helps engage students whether they are in-person or remote.

The MBZUAI library has also been designed to streamline students’ learning experience on campus, providing a wealth of printed and electronic resources to support academic, research and professional needs. Regularly updated to include up-to-date literature, the library has specialized electronic collections representing core resources and publishers in AI.

Within walking distance of the labs, library and classrooms, students have everything they need to either study in private, or take time to rest and recharge. Student accommodation has been designed to feel like home away from home, with ample space to work, unwind, and even host friends for dinner, thanks to the apartments’ electric cooker, fridge, microwave, and dining table and chairs.

Daily life is made easy, too, with laundry services, food outlets, a clinic, and prayer rooms all within easy access. And social life has also been kept in mind, with numerous common lounges and communal areas around campus — not to mention Central Park and Masdar Park; restorative green spaces that regularly host events and markets, and offer students a place to take a break from the intensity of their studies.

The parks highlight another important aspect of life at MBZUAI: student wellbeing. Whether physical, intellectual or emotional, wellbeing is a focal point for the university’s educational affairs and campus life teams, and has been considered in various ways across campus.

To keep fit and healthy, students have access to a multipurpose recreational facility, which includes male and female gyms, billiards tables and foosball, as well as equipment for sports such as basketball, badminton and table tennis. An adjacent swimming pool is also available, with schedules for both male and female students.

Hanan Gani, a research assist at the university having recently graduated with an M.Sc. in machine learning, said: “Team sports like volleyball are great to unwind and create opportunities to make new friends. We’re fortunate to have great sports and recreation facilities here at MBZUAI. It all helps in creating a well-rounded experience.”

An active mind is also important, and the campus has a lively program of various talks and events. Sometimes hosted by students or faculty, sometimes featuring outside speakers or performers, these events are among the highlights of campus life for many students. The university also encourages the formation of clubs to either develop or cater for diverse interests, and provide excellent networking opportunities with likeminded members of the university community.

These clubs speak to MBZUAI’s sense of community, which is a standout feature of campus life, and a leading reason why many students study here. This sense of community is prominent in the way counsellors, student reps and career advisors interact with and care for students throughout the academic year, ensuring personal and professional concerns are taken care of confidentially and compassionately.

Numan Saeed, MBZUAI’s first Ph.D. graduate, and class of 2024 valedictorian, who is staying on at the university to further his research, has been impressed by the resources and set up of the campus. “The diversity of the students was great and contributed to a well-rounded experience,” he said. “In terms of facilities, the labs and registration processes are fantastic.”

No talk of life on campus at MBZUAI would be complete without noting the wider context of Masdar City — one of the world’s most sustainable urban communities. The low-carbon development is a rich technology and innovation ecosystem that drives sustainability through its six clusters — Smart Mobility, Life Science, Energy, Agri-Tech, AI, and Space Technology. For students at MBZUAI, having neighbors such as IRENA, Siemens, Honeywell, the UAE Space Agency, and numerous other leading organizations, is not only a deep well of inspiration, but a potential source of partnerships and future careers.

It all adds weight to the notion that MBZUAI students are in the cutting-edge place to both learn and create impactful research. And with Abu Dhabi’s aspiration to use AI as a force for good across society, industry, and government, it makes for a dynamic, energizing and invigorating environment for students who want to make a difference through their work.