Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Khalifa University of Science and Technology has celebrated the graduation of future leaders, totaling 549 male and female students from bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programmes in various disciplines.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan honoured the university's students who obtained PhD, master's and bachelor's degrees in various fields at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). The event was attended by several intellectual and academic leaders in the country, members of the university's Board of Trustees, academic and administrative staff, as well as the parents of the new graduates.
His Excellency stated that the celebration of the graduation of Emirati sons and daughters in various fields of knowledge is a vivid embodiment of the wise vision of the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, may he rest in peace, who established this nation on knowledge and ethics. He devoted himself wholeheartedly for the sake of this precious nation. It is also an opportunity to express absolute appreciation for the unlimited support and gracious care of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the President of the UAE, for higher education in the emirates. The wise leadership provides all the resources for the sons and daughters of the nation to excel and succeed in various fields of knowledge.
His Excellency added: "The graduation ceremony of Emirati sons and daughters at Khalifa University represents a great occasion for us to express our profound gratitude, immense appreciation, and utmost respect on behalf of all of us to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE. We consistently emphasize our pride and admiration for his wise leadership, his support for the importance of education, and his continuous commitment to empowering universities to fulfill their noble mission for the sake of this nation and the future of its children. He firmly believes that excellent education is the true foundation for keeping the emirates always at the forefront."
His Excellency congratulated His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa University of Science and Technology and the sponsor of the ceremony, commending his efforts to uplift the university, its students, andits faculty. He also congratulated all the graduates, parents, and the university administration, affirming that this remarkable scene of accomplished graduates inspires future generations to exert more effort and perseverance.This is to equip all the sons and daughters of the Emirates with the highest academic degrees in various disciplines because they are the leaders of the future and the creators of this nation's civilization, armed with the values of loyalty and belonging to this beloved country and its wise leadership.
His Excellency clarified that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, considers education in general, and especially higher education, of utmost importance. He consistently emphasises that the development and advancement of education, along with improving its outcomes, are urgent necessities within our collective efforts to uplift the nation, drive its progress, and excel in various fields. He believes that education, culture, and the preservation of our authentic societal values are the optimal means to enhance national identity, citizenship values, and positive values, including tolerance, coexistence, and human brotherhood. His Excellency affirmed that higher education always receives unlimited support from our wise leadership.
His Excellency urged all the graduates to be exemplary role models for their peers and to strive for continuous success in their professional lives. He encouraged them to utilize the knowledge they have acquired in various fields to achieve their goals and contribute to the advancement of their nation. He emphasized the importance of their loyalty, development, and commitment to this country and its wise leadership, as well as their belief in their identity, culture, and values, which should serve as their motivation for progress, excellence, and creativity. His Excellency expressed his pride in all of them.
The ceremony celebrated the graduation of 549 students, 37 of which were PhD students, 157 Master’s and 326 Bachelors of Science, and Engineering programs. The first cohort of 29 medical graduates from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) were also conferred degrees.
Professor Sir John O’Reilly, President, Khalifa University, said: “Congratulations to the graduating students, who, we believe, will play key roles in leading not only Abu Dhabi’s knowledge economy of the future but also in this region and across the world. These graduates have now become Khalifa University’s special ambassadors in the wider community and they will make a name for themselves while bringing honor to the university.”
In his address, Sir John O’Reilly expressed his gratitude to the UAE Founding Father the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan for his exemplary contribution that has facilitated an overall development of the education sector in general. He also paid tribute to the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose name the university is honored to have and for his consistent support right from the initial days of Khalifa University.
He also thanked the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for his visionary leadership and for providing continuous support not to Khalifa University that has enabled the university to remain pioneers in innovation in science and technology, and continue to drive new initiatives in academic teaching and learning, in research and beyond.
His Excellency Homaid Al Shimmari, Vice-Chairman, Khalifa University Board of Trustees, later presented HE Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan with a memento - a 10-micron 3D-printed pure-ceramic miniature version of Abu Dhabi’s architectural icon Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, fabricated by researchers at Khalifa University.
