His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and President of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, attended Abu Dhabi University’s fourth graduation ceremony for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The fourth graduate class consisted out of 358 students; 64% of which were UAE nationals.
The ceremony was held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) and attended by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research and Vice President of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, H.E. Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State and a member of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director General of Abu Dhabi Education Council, Dr. Saeed Hamad Al Hasani, Director General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Mr. Ahmad Ali AL Sayegh, Chairman of Al Dar Properties and Chairman of The Donor’s Fund at Abu Dhabi University, Mrs. Sana’a Darwish Al Ktubi, Advisor to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed and a member of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Mohamed Hasan Omran, Executive Director of Etisalat and a member of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, Mr.Qusai Al Ghussain, a member of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, the ADU Chairman of the Executive Board, Professor Dr. Nabil Ibrahim, the ADU Chancellor, and a number of academics, executives, students and parents of graduates.
After the event, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was quoted to say that education is, and always will be, the foundation of the nation’s growth and development. Education made it possible to build a new civilization, and it established the UAE as one of the great countries of the world. In this regard he expressed his appreciation for the continued commitment to education of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Members of the Supreme Council of Rulers, the Rulers of the various Emirates, and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and President of Abu Dhabi Education Council.
He also mentioned the relevance and importance of education in creating and building a national identity that is centered on traditional values while being open to modern sciences and advanced technologies. While the world is undergoing tremendous changes in the various fields of science, technology and knowledge, the UAE needs to redouble its commitment to the primary, secondary and tertiary phases of education and learning. In doing so, the UAE will be able to face the challenges of this ever-changing demand for academic and professional resources with confidence and efficiency. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has established itself as a very attractive location for universities, educational institutions and specialized research centers from around the world as a result of its unique educational environment. This is made possible with its inclusion of a wide diversity of cultures and nationalities without discrimination on the basis of gender, color, religion, creed or nationality. The UAE attracts many different cultures that live in tolerant harmony.
He also made mention of the graduates, advising them to preserve and cherish the genuine and true values of the UAE society. He continued by saying that they should always remember that they are representatives of Abu Dhabi University, the institution that nurtured them with care and knowledge. He then advised the graduates that they should not see their degrees as the end of their education, but rather that they should always continue to learn, adding to their qualifications with new experiences, skills and degrees. By doing this, each and every graduate will become a continuing asset to the UAE job market.
This was followed with a speech by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. In his speech he stated that ADU is proud of its academic and social achievements, especially since the university has endowed over 2500 graduates with the ability to secure employment at various establishments in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. He expressed his appreciation for the support of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the field of education. This has ensured that every national and resident in the country is entitled to a unique education. He also expressed his appreciation for the vision and guidance of H.H. Sheikh Mohamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi & Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who made Abu Dhabi a unique center of teaching and learning in the region and the world. He also thanked H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and President of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, for his efforts in establishing a unique national academic organization that excels in teaching and scientific research and is engaged in all social issues of the UAE society. He explained that ADU offered academic and social initiatives that made ADU one of the best national universities and a home to people from all walks of life.
He noted that he is honored by the participation of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahayan in ADU’s fourth graduation ceremony. As the graduation ceremony honors the accomplishments of the graduates, it also affords an opportunity to express pride in the university’s progress and accomplishments, and the remarkable level of maturity and success it achieved in its very short history. He welcomed Sheikh Hamdan, and reaffirmed with great pride, that the real and significant contributions of Abu Dhabi University to higher education in the UAE, are a clear testament to, and a direct result of, his guidance and leadership. The university’s contributions represent a creative response to Sheikh Hamdan’s strong mandate for Abu Dhabi University to reach the highest standards of performance and achievement; the university boasts the best educational outcomes and a strong connection to the community; it empowers individuals and community institutions to achieve; it participates in building a national knowledge economy; and it keeps up with the latest developments and the most important discoveries in a world characterized by continuous change. He thanked Sheikh Hamdan for his patronage of the graduation ceremony and for his strong leadership and support of Abu Dhabi University. He also greatly appreciated Sheikh Hamdan’s efforts and initiatives in the development and progress of the United Arab Emirates.
He then welcomed all the guests that attended the ceremony: leaders and members of the community as well as parents of the graduates. He thanked them for their support of Abu Dhabi University and valued their confidence in its progress and its bright future.
He continued: “We are very fortunate that the United Arab Emirates enjoys such successful development and so many accomplishments in the field of higher education. These achievements flow from a strong national conviction that successful education is a key investment in our future and is one of the most critical factors in the development of society. This conviction is continually emphasized by His Highness the President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan. The President repeatedly declares that human development is essential to national development, for the building of our national institutions, and for achieving prosperity for individuals as well as for the entire society.”
