The Student Academic Success Program (SASP), part of the University College at the United Arab Emirates University organized an Academic Olympics for the Foundation Year, on Tuesday, December 8^th, 2015 in the College of Information Technology on the Al Ain campus. Dr. Hassan Al Naboodah, Dean of the University College, faculty and students were all present.

The Academic Olympics included a range of competitions and activities aimed at strengthening competition, creativity and innovation among students as well as unearthing their talents. These activities included a ‘Knowledge Challenge’ between groups of female and male students. This competition involved general knowledge questions, observations, mathematics and puzzles. There was also a ‘Treasure Hunt’, an IELTS listening competition and an English language public speaking competition. In addition, there were three-dimensional printer projects, mural research and manual and digital drawings were put on display. At the end of the competitions the winners were announced.

Dr. Fatima Tayel, the Director of SASP, said that, “This kind of competition is an opportunity to showcase the creativity, talents and skills of students. The diversity of competitions allows for different categories of creativity to flourish and allows for the participation of a large number of students. In addition to enhancing the value of teamwork the competitions foster a feeling of belonging to, and association with, the university. We have had an excellent turnout of students up to and including the finals of the various competitions”.