His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “The most fascinating success in life is when a person becomes a source of giving; for giving is not only material, but also spiritual and cognitive. To be able to put a smile on people’s faces, this means to teach them something new, renew their faith and strength in themselves to achieve what they need to attain.” Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, attended the Zayed University 2016 graduation ceremony held yesterday, May 18, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (Adnec). In the presence of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance and President of Zayed University, H.H Sheikh Abdullah presented the degrees in a glittering ceremony to a total of 1464 male and female undergraduate and graduate candidates(1250 holders of BA and 214 holders of master’s degrees) Class of 2014-2015.
Out of the 1464 Zayed University students, 102 female and male graduates (88 holders of master’s degree and 14 holders of BA) achieved distinction and high distinction during their tenure at Zayed University. Additionally, out of the 1464 awarded graduates, 39 males students are enrolling in the national mandatory military service. Since its inception in 1998, Zayed University now has a pool of 9563 graduates, 8016 of them are BA holders and 1547 are master’s degree holders.At the outset of the ceremony, the Abu Dhabi Police Music Band played the National Anthem, followed by a short video that featured major achievements of Zayed University, commemorative events, ceremonies, and milestones witnessed since its inception until the present time.
After that, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah gave an opening speech saying: “People who work hard with faithfulness and diligence on this land shall enjoy a good and happy life, regardless of their origin or personal beliefs. The UAE does not differentiate between people but only by their devotion and dedication to their work.” His Highness said: “I am quite sure that each one of you has his or her own dream and ambition to achieve in life after they graduate. Let me assure you that you live in a country that is used to realize people’s dreams.”
Addressing the graduates in a packed auditorium filled with families, friends, and wellwishers, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah said: “Life has taught me that the biggest obstacle to achieving your dreams is the dreams themselves; I will tell how: the first set of dreams represent one’s aspirations and ambitions, which shall not be realized unless we set clear objectives and dedicate our life to achieve; while the second ones are when we indulge in hoping to realize our ambitions but sit still motionless, putting no effort, no training, no reading, not willing to exert any effort; we only sit and dream of ourselves being just better.” His Highness Sheikh Abdullah then added, “Another major factor that can hinder your dreams from being actualized is to rush their success, for success is cumulative, and is never achieved on a platter of gold. It takes us a whole set of failures to get to the height you desire in life, to savor the sweetness of our success, and feel that we have really made it, worthily and well-deserved.”
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah concluded his speech by saying: “If any graduate would ask me today about the most meaningful lesson of life that I have so far learned, I would say: There are two types of people: First, people who are busy rectifying themselves and striving to correct their defects; and second, people who are busy snooping others’ defects; the first ones have become a source of inspiration and role models to follow in life, engraved in history; while the others have their names greyed out.” His Highness Sheikh Abdullah has also extended his thankfulness to Zayed University’s faculty members, academic administrators, and staff for their exerted efforts and praised their support in preparing highly qualified graduates. And then, he applauded graduates for their hard work and addressed Zayed University community by saying: “I am sure that you are proud of them. You, respected and distinguished faculty members, should be proud of your outcome. They will definitely guarantee a bright future for this country.”
Addressing families of graduates, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah said: “There is no doubt that you have provided a lot for your children. I am very confident that they you are proud of them, just as the country is extremely proud of you.” As she congratulated the Class of 2014-2015 graduates, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi said in her speech, “It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to this very special ceremony, to share together, in heart and soul, as one Zayed University community, the joy of another year of graduation, and to mark with high recognition the accomplishments of a new batch of graduates, both in undergraduate and graduate programs, and reward their long awaited academic journey, as they delve into the crossroads of their new phase of life.” “We at Zayed University, are very much honored tonight to witness our 14th graduating female batch, and also very proud of our 4th graduating male batch, and sincerely greet their advanced peers in the various Master’s programs, all of them having crowned with success their well-earned diplomas. We renew our pledge of commitment to support you, and assure you that your State, with all it arms and bodies, shall deliver on the promises to empower you in your challenging professional path.”
During the ceremony, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna also raised loftiest recognition and gratitude to His Highness the President of the State, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their Highnesses, Members of the Supreme Council of the Union, the Rulers of the Emirates, for their tremendous and continued support to foster learning and higher education, and concretize education and innovation as pivotal cornerstones towards achieving the comprehensive development goals of the nation.”
“As we celebrate these precious memorial moments in the life of each graduate, we hail with pride and gratitude the far-sighted efforts of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for the boundless care Her Highness continues to bestow on the graduates of the nation, and her dedicated follow up to their education development at all stages, as well as Her Highness’s keenness to endorse the success and excellence of our distinguished graduates every year. to Her Highness we reiterate our utmost gratitude and appreciation,” Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna added.
During the ceremony, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi expressed her sincere gratitude and deep-felt thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for His Highness’s patronage of Zayed University graduation ceremony and his tremendous and continued support to the tri-milestones of excellence, distinction, and leadership, as well as His Highness’s generous initiatives in support of Zayed University’s mission.Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna also added, “Tonight we joyfully and proudly welcome to our graduation His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and thank him for honoring us with his presence to share our graduates’ success as he underpins once again his unceasing support to our University.”
In her speech, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna said: “Every year, our State opens vast horizons and entrusts the new cohorts of graduates with new responsibilities that their previous peers did not explore. Indeed our wise Leadership has opened the door to set myriads of unique and great initiatives, and engrave exceptional titles in its Agenda for which the world will remain astound.” “The UAE Government has declared the year 2015 as “the Year of Innovation” and the year 2016 has been announced the “Year of Reading”, and every year we shall await another grand and exceptional title. Through these initiatives and with these exceptional titles, our Leadership is indeed kindling the sparks of the promising potentials of the youth of the nation, for them to be on par with the new challenges and responsibilities they are entrusted with, to contribute to shaping a new and distinctive facet of the future, driving their enthusiasm, triggering their minds, and boosting their cognitive skills, to construe with innovation all the future challenges,” Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna added.
Her Excellency Sheikha Lubnasaid, “Our UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has recently initiated his directive for the inception of legislations towards enforcing the “Law of Reading” which aims to ensure the Government’s sustainable efforts to consolidate Reading as a pillar in the UAE. This is indeed a giant leap forward in the advancement and progress of our nation that will mirror its presence on the global competiveness level, and will foster a culture of which we shall definitely be proud in face of the other developed and historical nations of the universe.”
“On the other hand, our nation has witnessed the initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum setting the “National Policy of Reading” over the coming next decade, thus chartering the roadmap of the “Making of the Future” through the path of sustainable reading. This all would only be achieved by actions speaking louder than words,” Her Excellency added.
Addressing Zayed University graduates at the ceremony, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna said: “Our joy is today multiplied with all these blessed development that our nation is living. You shall be entrusted with important responsibilities for which you shall strive with all your capabilities and creative sharpened skills to achieve, committed to foster the visionary innovation of our wise Leadership, and instill our deeply rooted vital and cognitive directives and ideals, while pursuing the march of renaissance and advancement of our dear nation.” Additionally, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna has expressed her gratitude and sincere thanks to Zayed University’s faculty and staff for their genuine endeavors to prepare high qualified generations, who shall foster a knowledge-based economy, and engage in solid scientific research works that will return great benefits to their community.
Then, Khadem Al Meherbi, a Zayed University graduate and master’s degree holder in Judicial Studies, and Afra Khalfan Al Mansoori, a Zayed University graduate and bachelor’s degree holder from the College of Sustainability and Humanities, gave a speech on behalf of Zayed University graduates.
“Today, the tree of knowledge has blossomed yielding future blessings, and time has come to reaffirm our gratitude to all who have bestowed us with their care and support. On this momentous occasion, we pay homage to the Founding Father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may his soul rest in peace), and promise to move forward in his forthright vision, as we pledge to carry on the torch of enlightenment and education through our university, Zayed University, this beacon of education which proudly carries his beloved name,” Al Meherbi and Afra said.
They also added, “We, Zayed University graduates, extend our sincere gratitude and thankfulness to His Highness the President of the State, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rahid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their Highnesses, Members of the Supreme Council of the Union, The Rulers of the Emirates, for their exerted endeavors and unwavering support to uphold to the advancement and empowerment of national education, to raise the bar of excellence, reach and maintain the highest international benchmarks.”
“To our parents who have supported us wholeheartedly, we bow in gratitude for the overwhelmed love and guidance they continue to cultivate in us. To your we owe our success and milestone achievement. To you dear Zayed University administrators, a great thank you for all the support you have shouldered us with, and continue to do with all Zayed University’s students,” they said.
They concluded their speech by saying: “From this stage, we renew our pledge, as today’s graduates and tomorrow’s leaders, to be up to the level of responsibility to contribute to the advancement and betterment of our dear nation, and to contribute to its multi-faceted innovative success, under the wise Leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.” At the end of the ceremony, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimipresented a souvenir to His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and they took picture with graduates present at the ceremony. The Zayed University graduation ceremony was also attended bySheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, His Excellency SaqrGhobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, His Excellency Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, His Excellency Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education Affairs,His Excellency Ahmed Al Zaabi, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs, their Excellencies the Ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and a large number of public figures.
About Zayed University
Zayed University is today the premier national university in the United Arab Emirates and a regional leader in educational innovation and change. It has created and implemented a skills-rich, outcome-based general education program that systemically develops student skills, knowledge, and values associated with liberal learning and provided a solid foundation for pursuit of disciplinary majors and future careers. Zayed University welcomes national and international students, and provides them with a high quality education, offered by seasoned teaching scholars to prepare them to shape the future of the United Arab Emirates.
Zayed University offers Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in the following Colleges: College of Arts & Creative Enterprises (recognized as substantially equivalent by NASAD), College of Business (Accredited by AACSB), College of Communication & Media Sciences (Accredited by ACEJMC), College of Education (Accredited by NCATE), College of Sustainability Sciences & Humanities, and College of Technological Innovation (Accredited by ABET). For more information, visit www.zu.ac.ae