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 Hosts The Fifth Educational Forum
Abu Dhabi University organized the event in collaboration with the Regional Center for Educational Planning – UNESCO and the Queen Rania Teacher Academy.
Under the patronage of H.E. Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education in the UAE and in partnership with the Regional Center for Educational Planning – UNESCO and The Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA), Abu Dhabi University (ADU) hosted the fifth Educational Forum, under the theme “Re-imagining Education.”
ADU faculty members in addition to members from the World Bank, UNESCO, QRTA, and USA’s Drexel University attended the Forum as speakers. The Forum discussed the challenges facing schools and explored post-COVID-19 educational opportunities such as taking education out of the confinements of classrooms and into distance learning, providing equal access to academic opportunities and harnessing data and technology to strengthen teaching and learning.
During the Forum, H.E. Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education, noted that reimagining the future of education has become a rising topic that is garnering a high level of attention from educational decision-makers and various educational systems in light of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to insights, COVID-19 served as a warning bell that stressed on the imperative need to reform educational systems by employing and incorporating technology as a basic and essential foundation for sustainable education.
Al Hammadi added: “A feasible and successful educational system is characterized by its flexibility in adapting to emerging situations, in addition to its ability to provide educational options, efficient professional development, and qualitative disciplines. The UAE’s wise leadership has continuously supported the educational system, which highly contributed to its unique technical and logistical capabilities. These same capabilities enabled the system to easily overcome the difficulties caused by the pandemic with minimal educational losses, which allowed students to continue their learning journey with obstacles.”
Professor Waqar Ahmad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University (ADU), said during his opening speech at the Forum: “The Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to changing the way we educate and assess students, the student experience and the way we conduct research and external engagement in a positive way. The changes offered opportunities to focus on adding value rather than imparting knowledge. Our experience opened up new prospects in providing virtual and more connected services, bringing more innovation and research in education, and enabling remote collaborations.”
Dr. Osama Obeidat, CEO of the Queen Rania Teacher Academy, said: “On behalf of Queen Rania Teacher Academy-QRTA, we are thrilled to partner with Abu Dhabi University (ADU) and the Regional Center for Educational Planning – UNESCO on this Forum for the second year in a row. Reimagining our educational system is no longer a luxury but a necessity and even a matter of continuity for countries that want to thrive, improve or even maintain their competitive edge in the coming years. Reimagining education means we have to think differently and be decisive and firm in our reform decisions.”
H.E Mahra AlMutaiwei, Director of the Regional Center for Educational Planning – UNESCO, commented on the Forum about Redesigning Educational Systems, said: “Since its establishment, the regional center has been keen to build a network of strategic partnerships on a national, regional and global level. This is to facilitate the adoption of many projects, initiatives and strategies that would upskill talent in the field of planning, propagate and publish best practices and raise awareness on the development of educational systems and policies.”
AlMutaiwei added: “It is paramount for educational systems to adopt different teaching methods inspired by key learnings of the pandemic. This includes ensuring that alternative educational plans are available to maintain education continuity in all crises, achieving high-quality educational opportunities for all students at all levels, and focusing on lifelong learning and remote learning of all kinds. As such, schools need to direct efforts on developing their infrastructure and technology, with different specializations that are capable to keep pace with technological advances, and building frameworks and metrics that guarantee that both traditional and distance learning are up to quality standards. Additionally, it’s important to focus on students in an integrated manner in terms of knowledge, skills, professionalism, academia and psychology, and to provide them with the necessary support to continue their learning process and build their future.”
The Forum witnessed the participation of more than 500 academics and students from across the region and the world.