Tieup seeks to boost academic studies

As part of its commitment to bridging academic thought with real-world application, Sharjah Cooperative announced its collaboration with leading global academic institutions to translate research ideas and academic studies into practical initiatives.

This collaboration aims to enhance work processes and foster innovation within the retail sector through specialised programmes in digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI).

Initially it partnership with SP Jain School of Global Management, engaging MBA students in applied research and practical projects designed to address real-world challenges in the retail sector.

The initiative seeks to transform academic outputs into actionable, implementable solutions that support Sharjah Cooperative’s future strategic directions.

Ziad Hammami, Executive Director of the Retail Sector at Sharjah Cooperative, stated that this collaboration aligns with the Cooperative’s vision of strengthening partnerships between the academic and retail sectors, leveraging the latest research-driven concepts in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, and empowering young talent to prepare a new generation of leaders capable of advancing the retail industry.

Faisal Al Nabouda, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Sharjah Cooperative, explained that the research programmes comprised two main projects.

The first focused on digital transformation, examining the gap between social media engagement and actual purchasing decisions. Students presented an integrated omnichannel shopping experience model, along with proposals to activate loyalty programmes by addressing awareness gaps and leveraging home delivery services as a key driver of customer loyalty.

From the academic side, Professor Dr. Umesh Kothari, Deputy Dean at S P Jain School of Global Management, said: “We are proud to collaborate with Sharjah Cooperative on this distinctive applied project, which provided MBA students with the opportunity to work on real challenges within the retail sector and transform academic knowledge into strategic solutions that create tangible value.”

He added that this experience reflects the school’s philosophy of integrating solid academic foundations with practical application, enabling students to develop leadership and strategic capabilities in digital transformation and artificial intelligence.