Al Ain: Some 568 male students on Tuesday graduated from the UAE University (UAEU), promising to play their role in different fields with dedication and hard work.
The graduates received their degrees, certificates, medals, and cash prizes from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
It was the 27th batch of graduates to have recently completed their bachelor's and masters degrees.
A total of 2,848 students, including 2,280 women, graduated from the UAE University this year.
The female students will receive their degrees in a separate ceremony on May 7. Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the UAE General Women's Union, will confer the degrees, according to a university official.
Addressing the students, Shaikh Mohammad said every human being was gifted with energy and talent, and should bring out their creativity and energy in their work. He congratulated the graduates and commended their intelligence and confidence.
Skills
He encouraged the graduates to use their skills and knowledge in developing themselves and raising their nation's status.
He urged all Emiratis to innovate wherever they work and reminded them of the importance of being productive for the growth of their nation.
Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mub-arak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Chancellor of the UAE University, expressed gratitude to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who supports the development of education.
"Shaikh Khalifa has always shown his care and attention as well as moral and material support to the development of the education sector in the country with the aim of building up a new generation armed with knowledge."
"It is this knowledge that will boost the cultural, economic, social and scientific achievements in our country," he added.
university town
Dh2b facility planned
The UAE University, the leading centre for higher education in the UAE, has nine faculties with more than 1,200 teaching staff. More than 17,000 students, the majority of them female, currently study at the university.
A new cluster of a university facility, called University Town, has been planed in Al Ain that will be ready by 2010 at a cost of Dh2 billion. The Federal Cabinet, headed by Shaikh Mohammad, has recently reviewed the project's master plan.
The university facilities are currently scattered at 10 locations in different parts of the city. The University Town will be constructed in four phases. The first two phases will be completed by September and the next two are expected to start next month and finish in 2010.
By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief