Abu Dhabi, 19 September 2021: Under the patronage and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, Abu Dhabi University (ADU) celebrated the graduation of its 15th cohort in a virtual ceremony. 

Along with 2050 graduates – 44% from undergraduate programs and 56% from postgraduate programs - His Excellency Dr. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of ADU's Board of Directors, Professor Waqar Ahmad, Chancellor of ADU, Professor Thomas Hochstettler, the Provost, Salem Mubarak Al Dhaheri, Executive Director of Community Relations, the College Deans, Director of Al Ain, Dubai and Aldhafra Campuses, faculty, staff, and families of the graduates attended the virtual graduation ceremony. 

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan congratulated the graduates and said, 'To our beloved graduates, we salute you for your firm commitment to our society, and we appreciate your sincere awareness towards our nation and the world.  We have full confidence in the promising future that awaits you all as you play a vital role in shaping the present and the future and spread the spirit of giving and achievement throughout society and the world.'
His Excellency added, 'We are behind you all, watching you with care, trust, and confidence. We are with you on your journey of giving and achievement. We are sure you will join your fellow graduates on the path to career success to support the journey of our nation.'

'Abu Dhabi University's annual graduation ceremony presents us with a special opportunity to convey our sincere greetings and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of ADU's Board of Trustees, for his constant support of the University. This support has enabled ADU to become a leading educational institution, remain true to its mission and goals, and continue its commitment toward excellence and distinction in all its activities. As a result, it produces well-qualified graduates with the skills and abilities to make a real impact and contribution to the developments taking place in our country and globally,' he continued.

His Excellency Dr. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of ADU's Board, extended his gratitude to His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan for attending the ceremony and expressed his pride in Abu Dhabi University's commitment to the intellectual development of students who will become leaders and contributors to society. 

On behalf of his fellow graduates, Tashiah Qaed, ADU graduate, said in his valedictorian speech, 'We stand here inspiring the younger generations that with the support of one another we have come out stronger, despite the challenges that we have encountered. We have all earned a well-deserved degree and are fully prepared to enter the workforce and pursue all our dreams and goals.'

She added, 'ADU is where we envisioned our future. It has enabled us to achieve our ambitions and to raise our aspirations for the future. So, as we bid farewell to the class of 2021, I would like to thank you, ADU, for being the best companion and mentor and for being with us every step of the way. We look forward to contributing to our community and representing ADU as alumni wherever we go.'

Many of the graduating students have already begun making their mark through winning prestigious accolades. For example, teams from the Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) Department and the Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer (MEC) Department took three out of the top four positions (1st, 3rd, and 4th) in Emirates Global Aluminum's 2020 AI Robot competition; ADU students recently won second and third places in the Research Collaboration Competition (X-Research), organized by Skyline University College, Sharjah,; and two of ADU's outstanding students recently received scholarships from the International Symposium on Women in Services Computing (WISC). In addition, ADU received the 'Workspace Transformation of the Year' award in the education category at the Future Workspace Summit & Awards and is participating in the Fifth Biennial Architecture Exhibition hosted by the European Cultural Centre. Titled 'Time Space Existence 2021,' the exhibition takes place in Venice, Italy, from 22 May - 21 November, parallel to the Venice Biennale of Architecture. 

ADU has retained its position in the top 701-750 universities globally in the prestigious Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2022 for the fourth year in a row while improving its position within various indicators significantly. 

ADU has more prestigious international accreditations, relative to its size, than any other institution in the UAE, including its College of Business being the only such college in the UAE to hold the prestigious EQUIS and AACSB accreditation. The University is also accredited by WASC, the State of California accrediting body, ensuring that the University’s degrees are respected across the world.