Sultan Bin Hamdan witnesses the graduation of 1,995 students from Abu Dhabi University

Under the patronage of 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 Regents, Abu Dhabi University celebrated the graduation of 1,995 undergraduate and postgraduate students of its eleventh graduating class in a ceremony held at ADNEC with Etihad Airways as the diamond sponsor. The eleventh graduating class included 776 undergraduate students, 386 postgraduate students, as well as 833 cadets from the University’s military programs, and 490 students graduating with honors, divided into 31 from the College of Arts and Sciences, 255 from the College of Business Administration and 134 from the College of Engineering, in addition to 70 cadets graduating with honors from the University’s military programs.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Director of East Asia & Pacific Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inaugurated the ceremony in the presence of H.E Dr. Maitha Al-Shamsi UAE Minister of State, H.E Dr. Hadef Bin Jua'an Al Daheri, H.E Nasser Ahmad Al Suwaidi Chairman of the Energy Authority, and H.E Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri Chairman of Abu Dhabi University’s Executive Board, as well as several dignitaries and members of ADU’s faculty, staff and the graduates’ families.

Delivering the University’s speech, H.E Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri Chairman of Abu Dhabi University’s Executive Board said: “This recurring joyous occasion always receives the generous patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, and President of ADU’s Board of Regents, as an expression of his great support for this University which, became with the grace of Allah, a significant part of the educational system in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The University’s successful journey translates His Highness’s vision for it to be a leading national university that upholds the best international standards in teaching, research and community service. Today, Abu Dhabi University stands tall and firm and joins the elite international universities that have met all requirements of quality and excellence, thanks to its achievements since its inception, and to all the components of excellence, growth, and prosperity available at its disposal”.

Bin Harmal added: “Throughout its academic journey, Abu Dhabi University received a number of prestigious awards. In the area of academic accreditation and quality assurance: Our College of Business Administration hit a new academic milestone that furthers the progress of higher education in the UAE and the region by earning the international academic accreditation for all of its undergraduate, and postgraduate programs: from 'EQUIS‘, the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration, created and run by the ‘European Foundation for Management Development –EFMD’. ADU is the first and only higher education institution in the Middle East to get this international academic accreditation. With this achievement, the College of Business Administration has successfully joined the elite top 1% of business schools world-wide that have received both EQUIS and AACSB international academic accreditations”.

Bin Harmal pointed out that ADU’s College of Engineering had also received international accreditation for five of its programs from the renowned Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. “Abu Dhabi University also accomplished another international milestone by receiving institutional recognition and international academic accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges: Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) for upholding the highest international academic standards of higher education institutions worldwide, in teaching, scientific research, community service and quality of learning outcomes. These accolades embody the directives of the wise leadership of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as well as their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates”, explained Bin Harmal.

H.E Bin Harmal went on to announce that ADU has graduated over 11,000 graduates to date. “I’m pleased to announce the graduation of ADU’s eleventh graduating class which consists of 1,995 graduates; divided into 776 undergraduate students and 386 postgraduate students, in addition to 833 students graduating from the Military programs. This class also includes 67 graduates from “Etihad Airways”, the diamond sponsor of this ceremony, and I extend my gratitude and appreciation for their support of this event”, concluded Bin Harmal.

On his part, Faisal Al Ahbabi, an MBA graduate from ADU’s College of Business Administration and valedictorian of ADU’s eleventh graduating class, said: “On behalf of all the graduates, I would like extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our beloved nation’s wise leadership for their directives and unlimited support of the massive development witnessed in our country in various fields. This graduation ceremony will always be a historic event that holds special significance in our hearts as it coincides with the UAE’s celebrations of the ‘Year of Giving’, and ADU’s continuous advancement in its academic journey as it strives to provide the human capital needs of the policy agenda of the Government of Abu Dhabi and its Economic Vision 2030”.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the graduates with their degrees, after which H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri presented His Highness with a gift as a humble token of Abu Dhabi University’s heartfelt appreciation and gratitude which cannot be expressed in mere words.