Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance and President of Zayed University, inaugurated the annual convocation today (Wednesday) at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi campus under the theme of ‘Shaping the Future: ZU’s Strategic Plan 2017-2021’. The one-day event was also attended by Professor Reyadh AlMehaideb, Vice President of Zayed University, Dr Marilyn Roberts, Provost of Zayed University, Deans of colleges and Zayed University staff and faculty members as well as new hires. In her address to Zayed University community members, Sheikha Lubna said: “It is a pleasure to welcome everyone, faculty and staff, at the beginning of a new academic year. We meet at this time every year to recount the multitude of achievements that Zayed University has made over the last eighteen years, and consider the targets in the near future in light of the national expectations and aspirations from Zayed University. We are very proud and privileged that our University bears the name of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may he rest in peace. We renew the University’s commitment to continue his enduring legacy. We work to establish ZU as one of the leading centers of knowledge and scholarship, nationally and regionally, and a positive contributor to the wellbeing of the people of the United Arab Emirates.
We are also grateful for the solid and continuous support of our wise leadership headed by our President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, to whom we express our deep gratitude. We are also grateful to His Highness, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, for the instrumental support His Highness provides Zayed University so it can achieve academic distinction in the region and the world. We are also particularly thankful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his wise directives and continued support of the University. We also cherish, with profound esteem and gratitude, the great support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his multi-faceted support of the University’s mission…and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council for his prominent patronage and guidance of the University’s academic path.
On this day, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all our community, for the continued efforts and shared commitment to promote the core values of Zayed University, and for developing the University as a unique role model of a distinguished higher education institution in the region. I also welcome the new hires who have joined us this year. I look forward to their input and contributions to continue developing Zayed University as a unique higher education institute. It also gives me particular pleasure to greet their Excellencies Members of the University Council, for their enduring commitment to support the University’s academic path. With their support, Zayed University can take its position among the select universities of the region.Dear audience, I am indeed delighted to follow the participation and contributions of our University in the impressive spectra of national initiatives that our wise leadership launches regularly in a scale unparalleled internationally, to challenge our minds and recharge our ambitions. We can inspire and drive all governmental and societal organizations to reset their vision, strategies and objectives, to work together under one umbrella of core values. We aspire to mirror and re-establish the grand image of the Arab-Islamic culture that is open to the different cultures. We strive to empower the young generations to take their roles in shaping the future of their nation, and where happiness, tolerance, and positivity are essential parts of its personality.
I follow with interest the initiatives and activities that have been carried out on and off the University campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In order to keep pace with the Initiative of His Highness, the President of the Nation, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, launched last December, declaring the year 2016, as the “Year of Reading”. His Highness’s directives set in motion an integrated national literacy strategy and a framework to produce a fresh generation of readers, intellectuals, scientists, and innovators, and to establish the UAE as the capital of cultural events. In developing a knowledge-based economy that recognizes innovation as the next accelerator for development and progress, His Highness’ directions in early May 2016, to start the legislative procedure of drafting a UAE “National Reading Law”, aims to ensure the sustainability of all government efforts to institute reading in the UAE for all ages. In identifying the key responsibilities of government agencies in this field… these along with the ten-year “National Policy for Reading,” launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aim to ink a new chapter in reading. His Highness confirms that “the goal is to prepare our future generations to achieve developmental leaps, underpin our national leadership goals, strengthen our competitiveness and achieve our future vision.”These national initiatives support immensely the objectives of the education sector and constitute the main enablers for the nation to enter the next era of development that the nation has enjoyed since the start of the UAE Federation. The future will be carved by the youth of today, armed with the highest qualifications, knowledge, and innovative spirits.
The university's initiatives are also in line with the pioneering call of the Mother of The Nation, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood She declared at the “Emirati Woman Conference: Distinction and Innovation” (March 2016), this year as the Year of “Woman and Innovation”. A declaration which was marked by a diversity of exhibitions and competitions, demonstrating our students’ exceptional talents in the field of innovation.We, at Zayed University, are renewing, in our hearts and minds, the pledge to remain faithful to the Nation’s leadership, and to hold the banner of excellence and creativity, with our unwavering determination to reach and remain “Number One”. In this context, we emphasize at the top of our aspirations, the importance to sustain the achievements and gains the University has made over eighteen years of its existence. The attainment of institutional accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), and the renewal and affirmation of international accreditation by the Middle States Commission for Higher Education (M.S.C.H.E.). Additional success came with the disciplinary academic accreditations in five of our colleges in their respective specializations, as well as the renewal of all the programs' CAA academic accreditation which is currently underway. All are important and appreciated in the community. They also constitute a strong foundation for Zayed University to participate in other endeavors, and provide the assurance for our students and the community that the ZU model of higher education is comparable to the best educational systems in the world.
We need to consolidate these achievements through continuous efforts to provide an outstanding educational experience to our students. We strive to enhance the competitiveness of all our students including students with special needs through learning experiences that enhance their leadership skills in a holistic educational platform, these will develop the students’ awareness and social responsibility, and engage them in the important issues of their society and the nation.Over the past year, we have inaugurated Sheikha Latifa bintHamdan Al Maktoum Center for Students in Dubai, and The Student Counseling Center in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai both having different but complementary roles. The Sheikha Latifa Center focuses on developing students interpersonal skill through activities, to help develop their personalities. The Student Counseling Center provides the psychological and social counseling services that meet international standards. It helps students to adjust to the University life requirements and to seek assistance when needed.Moreover, as part of the efforts to improve the University governance, and develop its administrative processes, the University Council approved a set of new policies that ensure compatibility of academic programs with the CAA’s standards. Also support of extra-curricular activities plays an important role in developing the students’ interpersonal skills.
Dear Colleagues, as we embark on path guided by the national vision, we need to outline the broad elements of what we aim to accomplish in the coming period, and ensure our adherence to the following pillars: first, ensure continuous improvement of the quality of academic programs within the framework of the accreditation (or excellence) bodies’ requirements. This is ongoing and continuous process, aimed at empowering the university to achieve its primary mission of educating new generations. We must maintain our distinguished academic reputation in an education field in the country, which includes more than (70) public and private universities.Second, offer new programs tailored to the needs of job market, to promote Zayed University as a comprehensive university, and to recognize the need to design new majors. We must continue to improve and adjust currently offered programs, keeping pace with the latest developments in the different fields and employers requirements.In this regard, the University Council has considered the possible expansion of programs focusing on the STEAM fields in their more comprehensive definition that include majors in the social sciences, given the importance of all these disciplines to the job market in the country. And within this direction has approved the re-structuring of the College of Sustainability Sciences and Humanities into two new colleges, namely: The College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS)" and The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), to allow for the expansion of programs offered in both areas.
Third, meet the aspirations of the Government to raise the UAE competitiveness in the field of research and innovation. Weneed to identify and develop the areas of contributions of the University in line with the innovation strategy of the Nation. These areas will need to be aligned with the disciplines offered, and should target outcomes that contribute to the National Agenda. We strive to improve the University’s ranking, regionally and globally. In research and development, we must consider their relevance and potential enterprise value, so that the University can begin to fulfill the promise to transform investments in research and innovation into tangible economic returns that contribute to the nation's economy.Fourth, continue to develop partnerships and collaborative arrangements with the public, private, and community-based organizations. Extending ZU expertise and support to the community while creating opportunities to enhance the educational experience of our students through training and internships will lead to gainful employments, and support for the university research.
Fifth, improve on an ongoing basis the administrative services at the University, and in particular the Smart Services and initiatives to achieve the highest standards of efficiency, transparency, and responsibility within proper Governance. We will continue to enhance the Smart Learning Project by equipping the classrooms with state-of-the-art applications and technologies, developing suitable pedagogy, and through the use of iPads, computers and laptops, and other e-learning applications. Sixth, spread awareness on national causes, and promote the values of volunteering and involvement in the various civic and social activities. We will embed the values of Happiness, Positivity and Tolerance within the curricula and programs as well as in the ZU colleges and departments, and establish initiative and activities to promote these national values among the institution and the youth of the nation. Dear audience, we need to collectively concur that the above pillars constitute the key elements of what we have to achieve in the near future. We will create the best work programs, tools and techniques, and the policies and procedures that will help the institution achieve these objectives.In conclusion, congratulations on the start of a new academic year and my best wishes to all and Zayed University for continued progress and the best of success.”
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 Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, and College of Technological Innovation (Accredited by ABET). For more information, visit www.zu.ac.ae