Hasenkamp and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi connect academic learning with museum practice

Abu Dhabi, 12 November 2026 – Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Hasenkamp Middle East are combining their expertise to give students practical experience in the cultural and museum sector. The partnership links academic study with specialist knowledge in fine art logistics, collection management, preventive conservation and museum operations.

Hasenkamp specialists will contribute to lectures, workshops and masterclasses. The partners also plan visits to Hasenkamp projects and facilities as well as internship opportunities. The collaboration is aimed particularly at students of art history and archaeology and those enrolled in master’s programmes focused on art, museums and cultural heritage.

Practical expertise for the next generation of cultural professionals

The partnership responds to growing demand for qualified professionals across museums, collections and cultural institutions in the Gulf region. It will give students an early insight into international cultural projects and help them connect academic knowledge with practical experience.

Hasenkamp has operated in the United Arab Emirates for many years and has supported the development of the region’s museum and cultural landscape. The company works with leading cultural institutions and has contributed to numerous exhibition and museum projects. Hasenkamp’s work for Louvre Abu Dhabi is a prominent example of this established regional experience. With Louvre Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates has become an internationally recognised cultural destination. The collaboration with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi will introduce students to this professional environment at an early stage.

“The cultural and museum landscape in the Gulf is developing rapidly. This makes it all the more important to introduce young talent to the practical requirements of the sector at an early stage. Together with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, we are creating opportunities for students to experience specialist knowledge first-hand and discover rewarding career paths in the international cultural sector,” says Robin Eckstein, Regional Managing Director of Hasenkamp Middle East.

The long-term collaboration includes teaching and professional development formats as well as workshops, visits and internships. It creates a direct link between academic education and the requirements of international museum and cultural operations.

“Museums and cultural institutions worldwide face increasingly complex challenges. They need well-qualified professionals who understand the practical demands of international exhibition and collection management. Our collaboration with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi brings academic excellence together with practical experience and creates value for the sector as a whole,” says Thomas Schneider, CEO of the Hasenkamp Group.

Bridging study and professional practice

For Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, the partnership creates further opportunities to complement academic learning with direct practical experience. Students will gain access to the expertise and networks of a global specialist in fine art logistics, collection management and museum services.

“Our partnership with Hasenkamp reinforces our commitment to preparing the next generation of cultural and heritage professionals by bringing academic learning closer to industry practice. By offering students valuable exposure to international museum operations, collection management and cultural heritage preservation, this collaboration complements our Master in Arts & Heritage programme, with its concentrations in Museum and Curatorial Studies, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, and Art Market. It will further enrich the student experience, strengthen professional pathways and empower graduates to contribute to the UAE’s cultural landscape and beyond with confidence,” says Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

The agreement was signed by Robin Eckstein, Regional Managing Director, on behalf of Hasenkamp Middle East and by Dr. Rose Marie Ferre, Head of Archaeology and History of Art Department & Associate Professor. The collaboration is planned for three years.

French academic tradition in Abu Dhabi

Established in 2006 through a partnership between Sorbonne Université in Paris and the Government of Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) brings French academic traditions into an international university environment in the UAE. Its multidisciplinary profile spans the humanities, law, economics, business, science and engineering. Based in Abu Dhabi, the university is also part of the wider exchange between French and Emirati academic and cultural communities.

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, established in May 2006 as the first French university in Abu Dhabi and under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and through a visionary partnership between Sorbonne University in Paris and the Government of Abu Dhabi. SUAD brings 768 years of academic excellence from the prestigious Sorbonne University and Université Paris-Cité in Paris to a 93,000 sqm state-of-the-art campus on Al Reem Island. The multidisciplinary research university offers over 20 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across three specialised schools: Arts and Humanities; Law, Economics, Business; and Data, Science and Engineering as well as on-demand PhD programmes from the doctoral schools in France All degrees are awarded by Sorbonne Université and Université Paris Cité and are evaluated by France’s Higher Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES) and accredited by the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation (MESR), as well as the UAE’s Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA).

SUAD’s programmes blend academic rigour, critical thinking, with practical experience through industry partnerships. Home to the Gulf’s largest French language academic library, the university advances research, innovation, and cross-cultural dialogue between French and Emirati communities. Its motto “Choose Excellence, choose SUAD” reveals its commitment to Excellence, one of its 5 strategic pillars – Research, Education, Excellence, Visibility and Sustainability. SAFIR, its multidisciplinary research institute powers the wider knowledge production with 7 centers working on critical domains (such as AI, Humanities and Marine Science), access to 17,000 researchers in France and UAE and strong industry research partnerships. SUAD welcomes the community to its cultural center offering a year-round program of exhibitions, theater plays, concerts, cinema and cultural talks. SUAD is engaged in advancing the UN SDGs through its sustainability pillar. With over 3,200 graduates from more than 90 nationalities, SUAD contributes significantly to Abu Dhabi’s multicultural academic ecosystem. Sorbonne Université is ranked 43rd globally in the Shanghai Rankings 2025, and it is ranked 6th globally in Mathematics and 29th globally in Physics, and is recognized as the 1st Communication School in France by Le Figaro Étudiant 2025. Sorbonne Université is also ranked 8th in the Young University Rankings by Times Higher Education. Université Paris Cité is ranked 60th globally in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking. SUAD’s School of Arts and Humanities was named the 1st Humanities Education University by the Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards in 2019. In 2025, SUAD ranked second in the UAE for Responsible Consumption and Production in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. SUAD has also ranked first in the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award in the Research Institute category.

For more information about Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi: www.sorbonne.ae

All press releases