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.
Esraa Abuelrub
Graduate Bachelor of Architecture
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.
Shehab Al Hashemi
Mass Communication and MBA Graduate
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.
Abid Abdul Azeez
Mechanical Engineering Graduate
"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."
Salama Al Meraikhi
Graduate of the Bachelor of Law (Arabic)
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!
Nada Ali
Graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (English)
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.
Sven Ivak
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Student
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.
Sara Kittaneh
Bachelor of Business Administration Graduate
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.
Huda Tarek Sliman
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
“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."
Maram Hijjah
Bachelor of Science in Public Health Graduate
ADU Student Research on Resilient Cities During COVID-19 Profiled at Leading International Conference
Architecture students from ADU's College of Engineering presented a research paper titled ‘Resilient cities and COVID-19 – an Abu Dhabi case study,’ at an international conference focused on ‘Lockdown Urbanism,’ organized by the International Community of Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development.
Architecture students from ADU's College of Engineering presented a research paper titled ‘Resilient cities and COVID-19 – an Abu Dhabi case study,’ at an international conference focused on ‘Lockdown Urbanism,’ organized by the International Community of Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development. The students - Aya Al Khatib, Maya Wacily, Heba Hejji, Zeina Adel Hammam, and Zakia Al Amry - developed their research under Dr. Rim Meziani’s supervision, using resources available at the University.
The research paper was presented to a panel of judges during the international conference held last month and earned a lot of interest. The students were invited to publish their research in the International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development (IRSPSD), a top-ranked Scopus indexed journal where leading academics architecture publish their research.
In the research, the students explore possible challenges that countries around the world might face during a pandemic, including risk management, infrastructure, and resources, and present a case study on the UAE - the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular - showcasing the resilient approach that Abu Dhabi took to combat COVID-19.
The paper, which takes an architectural and urban perspective, aims to study the capacity of large buildings and how they can be transformed into wide spaces with high medical standards and hygiene levels to accommodate medical emergencies during pandemics.
Secondly, it proposes a master plan in a sample neighborhood in Abu Dhabi that shows the distribution and location of large spaces and potential buildings, which have been selected based on accessibility, proximity, capacity, the radius of services, the flexibility of plans/layout, and technicality. The research states that it is possible to transform and convert these buildings for medical use in future emergencies and crises. By enacting these measures, Abu Dhabi would be more spatially prepared for such risks and be able to act rapidly and efficiently.
Commenting on this achievement, Prof. Thomas Hochstettler, Provost of Abu Dhabi University, said, “This success is a testament to our students’ ingenuity and hard work that is contributing to supporting Abu Dhabi University’s vision to be a frontrunner in producing distinguished research. Student research is learning at its best: it is creative and challenging and enables students to experience first-hand the process of scholarly exploration that characterizes an academic mindset. For this reason, we are committed to providing our undergraduates with the highest standards of research and innovation and offering them an open platform to think, observe, and connect.”
Dr. Hamdi Sheibani, Dean of the College of Engineering at ADU, said, “I am filled with indescribable pride on behalf of our talented students and their accomplishments. They have achieved great success at the international ‘Lockdown Urbanism’ conference and will be featured in one of the world's most reputable academic journals. We are dedicated to providing a vibrant learning culture for our students and equipping them with advanced skills and expertise to give them a competitive edge and unlock their potential. By enabling them to share their input and insights, we are giving them the opportunity to tackle real-life challenges, especially the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted the whole world in an unprecedented way.”
Dr. Rim Meziani, Associate Professor of Architecture at ADU, who supervised the research, added, “I am immensely proud of our students for successfully developing this research and impressing the judges with their bright ideas. This is a prodigious achievement. We thank ADU for this opportunity, and I am delighted to have supervised and worked with these young and talented minds. It is a great honor for me to be part of a distinguished academic institution such as ADU that is always keen to support quality in research and education and retain hard-working and high achieving students.”