Dubai: Students of Al Maktoum College of Higher Education in Dundee, Scotland marked International Women’s Day by paying tribute to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Over 120 young women students, who had successfully graduated from Al Maktoum College of Higher Education’s 2016 Summer School Programme and 2017 Winter School Programme in Dundee, Scotland, visited Shaikh Hamdan’s palace in Zabeel to thank him for his unlimited support of enhancing women’s education in Arab and Islamic societies.
The students present were representing Abu Dhabi University, Zayed University, College of Arab and Islamic Studies, American University in Dubai, British University in Dubai, American University of Sharjah, UAE University and the University of Sharjah.
A student from the Abu Dhabi University read out an inspirational and original poem to Shaikh Hamdan in the presence of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi. Minister of State for Tolerance; Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education; Dr Thani Bin Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Lt-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior; Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of Al Maktoum College Board and Director of Shaikh Hamdan’s Office; dignitaries, educationalists and guests.
Shaikh Hamdan congratulated and praised the students for successfully completing their courses and stressed the need to continue efforts to develop the education techniques and programmes in Arab and Islamic countries.
“You have made the UAE proud in the way you have performed and conducted yourself during your stay in Dundee,” Shaikh Hamdan told the students and encouraged them to strive to become leaders of tomorrow.
“I am not a teacher, I am just a financier,” Shaikh Hamdan told the students. “Your part was more difficult, but you were admirable in your efforts and that makes me happy and proud.”
Mirza Al Sayegh, the driving force behind Al Maktoum College of Higher Education, also praised the students for their commitment saying: “Your dedication and cooperation in the Summer and Winter schools have once again proven invaluable.
“Your involvement made it worthwhile and encouraging for all students who participated from the nine colleges in the UAE, and the students from Qatar, Egypt and Malaysia.
“I would like to once again congratulate you and thank you for your efforts and hard work and we look forward to conducting more ground-breaking programmes at Al Maktoum College of High Education in the future.”
The studies and debates on topics during the Summer and Winter schools included multiculturalism, globalisation, leadership and management.
Topics also included Scottish history and culture, leadership and management, imagination, art and presentation plus civilisational dialogue.
This was the 22nd educational programme of its kind since the first Summer School in 2003 and the number of students who have taken part in the programme now stands at close to 1,000.
