I graduated from Abu Dhabi University with a Bachelor of Architecture and a GPA of 3.98 – top of my class. During the winter semester of my senior year, I interned with GHD Engineering. The company was so pleased with my work that they extended the internship until the end of my senior year. After graduation, I was selected for Gensler's six-month Professional Internship Program. Gensler - ranked the top architecture firm globally at that time - was impressed with the quality of my portfolio and my design program capabilities. Had the global pandemic not resulted in a hiring freeze, I would have secured a full-time position with Gensler.
Following this, I decided to pursue a postgraduate program and chose the Master of Construction Management at the University of Kansas, USA, out of multiple offers from UK and USA universities. I am on course to graduate this year (May 2023) with a GPA of 4.0. and the options for my next step are wide open. GLMV Architecture in Kansas City extended my summer internship and offered me a full-time position after graduation. Or I might accept an offer from Kansas State University to study for a Ph.D. in Environmental Design. Abu Dhabi University gave me the skills to succeed in my field, and I am grateful to all the professors and teaching assistants who supported me through my undergraduate and postgraduate journey. I am excited to see what the future holds.
My journey at Abu Dhabi University has been nothing short of incredible, and it has played a huge role in shaping who I am today. As a graduate with honors from the Bachelor's program in Mass Communication in 2016, I had the privilege of being a student of some of the most knowledgeable and experienced educators in the field.
The program provided me with a solid foundation in communication theory, and I learned about various forms of media such as print, broadcast, and digital media. This allowed me to pursue my passion for content creation and media, and I was able to start my career as a content creator and presenter.
In 2019, I graduated with a Master's degree in Business Administration with a fellowship from Griffith University, Australia. I owe this achievement to the exceptional education I received at Abu Dhabi University.
ADU gave me a platform to develop my skills and knowledge beyond the classroom. As a member of the Media Youth Council, I had the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the media industry, and we developed solutions for various media-related issues in the UAE.
Today, as a content creator and presenter, I owe much of my success to the education, mentorship, and opportunities provided by Abu Dhabi University. I am grateful to the faculty, staff, and fellow students who have supported me throughout my journey.
I was privileged to be taught by an outstanding faculty, providing incredible teaching efforts and support. Without this continuous support and world-class teaching, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the achievements I’ve always dreamed of. I was able to complete my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in three years due to the flexibility and availability of courses, which allowed me to graduate among the first cohort of students in 2014.
The resources available at ADU provided me with the opportunity to explore modern challenges in the field of conditioning monitoring and opened doors to new challenges. I also worked as a teaching assistant while pursuing my master's degree in mechanical engineering.
Thanks to ADU, I had the opportunity to broaden my academic horizons and learn from some of the best minds in the field. I am currently working as a doctoral researcher on the topic "AI-based condition monitoring of electro-hydraulic systems" at Tampere University, Finland.
"I aimed to make a positive impact on ADU during my time here."
"Having worked in different sectors for several years, I realized that law was my true passion. After conducting extensive research to find the best institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in law, I found Abu Dhabi University to be impressive with its accreditations and world rankings."
"I am receiving the highest standards of education in my program, with excellent facilities and incredibly knowledgeable and supportive professors. The co-curricular activities at ADU have provided me with opportunities to participate in seminars and conferences, enabling me to apply what I have learned in real-world situations on an ongoing basis."
As an alumna of Abu Dhabi University's Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (English) program, I can confidently say that it provided me with the opportunity to learn the best practices in media production for various media platforms. Working with sophisticated equipment such as high-end cameras, lighting, vision mixers, and the audio console in the TV studio was an experience that gave me the confidence to work at both front and back camera in television production. The program helped me discover my true potential and transformed me into someone always ready to accept challenges. My parents were my motivation to succeed; my friends gave me the necessary support; my teachers provided the tools.
Set your goals and make a plan to achieve them!
As a current Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at ADU, I can confidently say that the university has provided me with countless opportunities for growth and learning, both academically and personally. The faculty and professors have always been dedicated to ensuring that students receive a quality education, as well as inspiring us to push ourselves to new heights.
The supportive community at ADU has helped me to achieve my goals and aspirations, and I am grateful for the guidance and encouragement I have received from everyone involved. Although I will eventually graduate and move on to new endeavors, I know that the experiences and knowledge I have gained at ADU will stay with me throughout my life.
In short, ADU has had a profound impact on my academic journey and personal development, and I am proud to be a part of this exceptional institution.
ADU was one of the most significant stations in my journey. It provided me with ample opportunities to invest my time and energy in various extracurricular activities such as research, competitions, sports, and volunteering. I used to enjoy spending my time on campus using the available facilities. I am immensely grateful for the professors who acted as mentors and provided me with their knowledge and support, helping me identify my goals and achieve them in my career path. As a graduate in Business Administration, I am delighted that my BBA degree is double accredited by AACSB and EQUIS, which is a distinction only 1% of business schools worldwide have achieved.
The professors at ADU encourage you to succeed by nurturing your enthusiasm as well as improving your knowledge in the areas of biology, medicine, and engineering. Their doors are always open, and they deliver the classes in such an enjoyable way.
I have really enjoyed my biomedical courses and learned a lot, including about medical devices and how to design and classify them. Because of this, I feel I will be able to make a real difference in the biomedical engineering field and the health industry in general.
State-of-the-art technology is used in all the labs, providing students with an optimum hands-on learning experience. In fact, the Bioimaging Research Lab is affiliated with the University of Louisville's Bioimaging Lab, making it one-of-a-kind in the UAE.
“Prevention is better than cure!”
"I'm currently working in health education focusing on giving lifestyle advice to people with type 2 diabetes. As part of my program, I took an internship with the Department of Health and this experience helped me secure this position with Daman shortly after graduation.
ADU has given me so many opportunities. With the encouragement of my professors, I started the Public Health Club and held the position of Club President for a year. Through the Club, we attended numerous events and conferences related to our field, gaining a lot of practical experience along the way.
I've experienced several proud moments during my time at ADU including being honored in the Dean's List for my high GPA. My high point, however, was being appointed as a UAE Public Health Ambassador through the Health Authority Abu Dhabi's (HAAD) Public Health Ambassador Program. This aims to engage communities in healthy life choices which is, I believe, my vocation in life."
Abu Dhabi University (ADU) hosted students from across the globe during this year’s University Innovation Fellows Eastern Hemisphere Meetup in the United Arab Emirates. Two days of the four-day program, run by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school), took place at the university’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses.
Abu Dhabi University (ADU) hosted students from across the globe during this year’s University Innovation Fellows Eastern Hemisphere Meetup in the United Arab Emirates. Two days of the four-day program, run by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school), took place at the university’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses.
Seven students led by faculty champion Ms. Rubina Qureshi representing ADU participated in the 2019 meetup, where they joined a thought leaders’ community comprising of 75 fellows and 10 faculty champions from over 20 higher education institutions from United States, India, UAE and Bulgaria. The annual meetup was designed to connect innovators from all over the world to advocate disruptive innovations and empower students to become agents of change at their own educational institutions. The program involving ADU students comes in line with the students first approach, one of the university’s core pillars to provide its community with a holistic learning experience.
The innovation fellows, who are currently enrolled at ADU completing undergraduate programs, led by Ms Rubina Quresi and Dr. Anne Ewijk faculty members from ADU were selected among many other international students. The event was supported by Dr. Sreethi Nair Dean of University College who has a vision to deploy the fellows in the larger fabric of innovation at the university level.
Ms Rubina Qureshi participated in the meetup of the UIF program said, “The program provided an opportunity for participants to unlock innovative ways of creating change in higher education. The event facilitates networking opportunities among youth by bringing them together in a creative community to work collaboratively and engage in building a culture of change.”
Dr Petra Turkama, Director of Innovation at ADU also supported this program. She said: “We are very proud of our students for being part of this internationally-recognized program, where Fellows can develop an entrepreneurial mindset. The idea behind the rigorous training is for the organizations involved to provide a platform for the students’ voices to be heard in conversations about the future of higher education. By facilitating experiential workshops and working with faculty and administrators to develop new courses, we are offering our young researchers the opportunity to become advocates for lasting institutional change. ADU is confident its students will continue to succeed in making their mark worldwide through their work as UIF Ambassadors.”
Throughout the course of the annual program, UIF candidates undertake a 6-week online training, which helps them develop innovative techniques and analytical mindsets. Stanford’s d.school faculty members equip the students with the required skillset and tools to be able to excel as part of the program. The last day of the program and the closing ceremony were held at ADU’s Dubai campus.
Betty Lucille Hillebrand, Business Management student at Abu Dhabi University commented, “I am honored to have been given the opportunity to take part in the UIF training program. It was an insightful, eye-opening learning experience, during which my team and I gained substantial knowledge in problem-solving and the necessity for change. As UIF ambassadors, we are eager to share the expertise we have gained with ADU students to enrich the culture of innovation at the university based on the training we have received. Through the exchange in information, we will be able to pursue the next steps in making lasting changes to our campus’ innovation development.
The fellows are a global community leading a movement to ensure that all students gain the attitude, skills and knowledge required to navigate a complex world. Using the in-depth expertise showcased during the workshops, young innovators help facilitate opportunities for their peers to build creative confidence and develop research-based solutions for global challenges, thereby contributing to building a better future.