With the attendance of H.E. UAEU Chancellor

During the annual convocation for the academic year 2019/2020, which was held this morning in the presence of the university leadership, College Deans, directors of research centers, faculty and administrators at the university. H.E. Saeed Ahmed Ghobash, UAEU Chancellor, stressed the importance of the UAEU’s pivotal role in the active participation in the mapping of higher education and scientific research in the UAE and its active participation in the introduction of many initiatives adopted by the UAE government in many strategic sectors of the UAE until 2071.

H.E. the UAEU Chancellor welcomed the university community and wishing them success and urged them to pursue up-to-date innovative methods and curricula, to positively contribute to the transformation of science and knowledge and reviewed with them the main strategic directives that underpin the university in its future plans to transform to leading Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE, inspired by the wisdom of the founding leader Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, “May He Rest in Peace” in strengthening the national role of the UAEU since its establishment in 1976, to be a beacon of science and knowledge and preparing national cadres to contribute to the sustainable development process in the knowledge age of the UAE.

He added that, “During UAEU’s 40-years, we have been able to realize the vision of our wise leadership in taking the lead in driving the UAE's higher education and scientific research and have made many achievements at the local, regional and international levels that allows to lead in the future through our academic programs and research outcomes in numerous vital sectors outlined by the national strategy in the era of the knowledge-based economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We can rightly say that the Flagship University has set the standards to lead the transition towards scientific research for various universities in the region and through this approach and responsibility, we will spare no effort in the pursuit of leadership and excellence at the global level in higher education and scientific research in terms of the quality of the scientific programs and our learning outcomes.

Moreover, we must all be inspired by the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that innovation is a sustainable wealth and a basis for the improvement of people and the progress of countries toward future. And a way of life, to build a knowledge-based society led by innovators with future visions, to strengthen the march of their country and consolidate its global position, from which we derive many meanings on the need to rely on our human resources and qualified national cadres to promote a culture of innovation in our scientific community”.

He pointed out to the active participation in the innovation map of the UAEU through transferring knowledge , sharing with students , joint and collective work to enhance the outputs of scientific research to achieve leadership, innovation and excellence at all levels, and cooperation for research and scientific to achieve the desired transformation of the university in graduate studies and innovative scientific research and academic publication of research results in prestigious international scientific journals.

H.E. UAEU Chancellor emphasized on the importance of the participation of researchers and faculty members to achieve the goals of the UAEU and its strategic vision to shape the future by focusing on students who are the center of learning process as well as commitment to transfer knowledge in line with the values ​​of the university in scientific integrity and honesty as a solid culture and deep knowledge of the UAE Culture in order to achieve the vision of the university in leadership and innovation in higher education, scientific research and community service in accordance with its national mission and its contributions to the progress and advancement of the UAE through high-quality programs which improve students' research capacity, production and dissemination of knowledge to support national development. “At the UAEU, which will witness a major transformation in the current academic year, we must adhere to the values ​​of the University, which requires us all to work together to achieve them in preparing our national cadres and university students to meet the challenges of the future and enhance UAEU's transformation programme for scientific and research leadership project at both the national and international level.”

For his part, H.E. Prof. Mohamed Albaili, UAEU Vice Chancellor, announced during the annual convocation, "the launching of the UAEU transformation programme", and gave a presentation on the achievements of the university during the academic year 2018/2019 and future foresight for the National University and stated that this year, we have a culturally diverse student and faculty body from 72 countries around the world. He also showcased the university’s performance indicators and the satisfaction rate which reached 94% according to the international standards of the university rankings. UAEU has shown significant progress and advanced up in the world university rankings.

In addition to that, The UAEU Vice Chancellor also pointed out the efforts exerted by the senior leadership of the university to strengthen this anticipated transformation through restructuring many academic programs and adding new to many university colleges, most notably the programs of the University College, the College of Food and Agriculture, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the College of Business and Economics to promote scientific quality per the highest international standards for academic programs, and establishment of master's programs in accordance with the requirements of UAE’s National Science Plan, including the "Master of Science in Space", the “Master of Innovative Education”, the Linguistics and Anthropology Masters program. As well as the launch of several programs that focus on the industrial sector in the UAE and in line with the industrialization strategy of the UAE , the development of artificial intelligence , robotics programs , smart factory apps., and other innovative academic programs and techniques of teaching and learning as a dynamic change toward excellence in education. He stated that significant transformation in the UAEU requires the combined intensive efforts of all university faculty and administrative staff to transcend into the future and lead the change in higher education and scientific research according to the requirements of the UAE’s National Agenda.