His Excellency Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, delivered a speech during the university’s annual convocation on Tuesday, August, 22^nd, 2017. The convocation was held in the Crescent Building at UAEU and the Chancellor stressed the necessity of working together to become ‘The University of the Future’.

The university strives to meet the needs of UAE society by developing many new programs and specializations. The Vice Chancellor, staff and faculty attended the event.

Dr. Al Nuaimi was quoted as saying that, “working in a university requires flexibility and looking ahead to the future as we strive to make our institution a leading university. I have confidence that UAEU faculty and staff are making major contributions to the achievement of this goal. We must leave a clear footprint on the development of the UAE, have the courage to break down traditional barriers in higher education and take a leading role in the industries of the future. I urge you all to live up to this aspiration every day”.

He added that, “the National University has achieved regional and worldwide recognition and attracts faculty from all over the world. This has enriched the academic life of UAEU as we continue to focus on scientific research that can help to disseminate knowledge and find solutions to the problems and challenges we face in UAE and the wider region. Our leadership is concerned with the UAE development project, and we must take steps to build our future”.

During the convocation, the second cycle of the Chancellor’s Award for Institutional Excellence was launched. This is in line with the vision of the UAE’s leaders to inculcate a culture of excellence throughout the UAE and throughout the university’s pursuit of best practices in higher education. The Award has four categories: The Institutional Excellence Category; Distinguished Team Category; The Chancellor’s Medal, and the Special Recognition Category.

Professor Richard DeMillo, Executive Director of the 21^st Century Universities Center; Professor of Management, and Chair of Computer Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology, gave a presentation on the future of higher education and the requirements for universities of the future.