The promotion is taking the name Al Wasl Dome, to celebrate the unique setting of this year’s historic event.
The ceremony was presided over by Marcy Grossman, Ambassador of Canada to the United Arab Emirates; the chancellor of the university, Buti Saeed Al Ghandi; President and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Karim Chelli; and university board members, including Abdulla Mohd Obaidallah, board member of Emirates Investment and Development, and Charles Sousa, former Ontario finance minister, board member of Magellan Community Charities.
In his convocation speech, Sheikh Nahyan recognized the tremendous achievements of the graduates and stressed the important role of education in building a peaceful and prosperous society. Reflecting on hosting the event at Expo 2020 Dubai, he encouraged the graduates to pursue the mission set by the global gathering; share knowledge, promote communication and cooperation, and build international ties based on tolerance and coexistence.
Addressing the audience, Buti Saeed Al Ghandi congratulated the graduates and paid tribute to the leaders of the United Arab Emirates for their wisdom and foresight, for connecting the world through Expo 2020 Dubai and in recognition of the remarkable achievements of the nation over the past 50 years. He thanked Sheikh Nahyan for his continued guidance and support for the university, pledging his commitment to further progress in the next 50 years.
Speaking on behalf of the University, Professor Chelli said: “We are very proud of the success of our graduates and hope that this University will be a source of great pride for you as you progress in your career. Thanks to the exceptional talent and dedication of our faculty and staff, this year CUD was recognized among the top 2% of universities in the world – an outstanding achievement for such a young university. I encourage everyone graduating today to realize the value of their college experience and to use their education to make their own meaningful contribution to society.
Representing the graduating students, Shamma Al Tayer, Master of Business Administration (Finance) graduate, said, “As with every graduation ceremony, CUD never ceases to amaze us and the world. We thought nothing could top the Burj Khalifa class of 2020, but the CUD has done it again, as we find ourselves in this historic moment in the presence of the founding father of higher education in the UAE, Sheik Nahyan, at the ‘Expo 2020, in Al Wasl Square. We have all learned so many lessons during our time at CUD, so let’s think now about how we can each make a change to drive research and innovation in the future.
This year’s ceremony at Al Wasl Dome represents another historic celebration to honor the success of the University’s graduates. Previous pioneering ceremonies have included a unique gathering at the prestigious Dubai Opera in 2018 and a jaw-dropping event in 2020 which saw the images of graduates projected onto the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
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