Educational institution says façade symbolises a number of elements including unexplored opportunities, creativity and intellectual education

The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has unveiled the façade of its independent pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai. It is said to have been built on the theme of the ‘University of the Future’ (UoF), which is billed as a new model of education focused on preparing the next generation in solving employability challenges, by transforming the youth from ‘job seekers’ to ‘job creators’ with the Pathfinders Program, and the Institute of the Future (IoF) among its central initiatives.

According to a statement from the institution, the façade shows a visually distinctive image on the upper panel, showcasing three adventurous pathfinders walking in the Arab desert towards the unexplored opportunities, creativity and intellectual education, in a deeper sense, to ‘Discover, Become, and Co-create’ and pointing towards the stars.

The main artwork is said to express the symbolic narratives of the Pathfinders Program of re-imagining the possibilities around humanity’s most daring adventure of building and sustaining a human colony on Mars. The red planet here metaphorically indicates a new beginning for humanity and a source of new ideas for addressing some of Earth’s most complex challenges. The Arab desert echoes the UAE’s valued local landscape, UAEU stated.

Eventually, the Pathfinders are inclined to address the unemployment dilemma by pointing to the stars, indicating solving the 100m stars unemployment challenge in the Arab World and beyond, the UoF’s primary mission of fostering job creators rather than job seekers, the statement noted.

“We are delighted to unveil the facade wrap that is inspired by a combination of UAE nature, culture and UAEU pavilion journey to symbolically resonate the adventurous spirit of pathfinders, the design of the façade wrap captures the quest of pathfinder journey in their futuristic desert towards the aspiration of the glowing sky while seeking a higher goal for themselves and better life opportunities for all,” explained UAEU pavilion director Dr Sahera Bleibleh.

The statement said that the lower panel of the façade adds to the overall design by displaying several portrait photographs of UAE University students imprinted across the building. The photographs demonstrate the diversity and pavilion’s core focus, youth empowerment and growth with eager students determined to make a difference.

UAEU executive director Dr Nihel Chabrak concluded, “The Façade is a reflection of the UAEU philosophy and drive: being rooted in the country natural and cultural heritage while aspiring for a better future for humankind. The UAE plan to colonise Mars by 2117 is the best vision to instill in youth that passion for science, technology, and knowledge.”