Abu Dhabi: Masdar Institute graduates should help build a more sustainable world, said Ahmad Abdullah Humaid Bel Houl Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education, during the university’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday.
Having developed a reputation as one of the leading universities in producing innovative and cutting-edge research, the class of 2016 can be expected to contribute to the UAE’s strategic vision of a knowledge-based economy. The class of 2016 saw 119 students from 44 countries graduate.
Among those in attendance to award the graduates were Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State.
“I believe that Masdar Institute exemplifies the interdependence between education and sustainability like no other educational institution in the world. In order for us to achieve sustainability — whether it be environmental, economic, or social — we need higher education to train the next generation of problem-solvers,” said Al Falasi.
Al Falasi said that the education received by the graduates would help them to uniquely understand the important need of sustainability.
“By choosing to study sustainable focus engineering, you are able to see what many others have failed to see. You have seen the real need for this world to have sustainable innovations and the dedicated talented young people who will produce them.
“Today your graduation is only one half of the equation, and now the real world begins. You need to put the skill, the training, and the experience that you have developed at Masdar Institute at work to achieve sustainability,” he added.
Dr Behjat Al Yousuf, Masdar Institute Provost, said the students would now be tasked with serving their communities and the world.
“We expect you to be the beacons that the world needs today more than ever. You are committed and well prepared. You have a great responsibility to the world at large.
“We have prepared each of you to be innovative leaders, passionate scholars and researchers committed to transforming others,” she added.
