Abu Dhabi: Masdar Institute graduates were encouraged to build a new world of clean and sustainable energy in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday during the institute’s seventh commencement ceremony.
The class of 2017 saw 139 new graduates, including 61 women, with Emirati students making close to half of all graduates.
The ceremony which was attended by high-ranking officials including Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Crown Prince Court, was a special occasion for the institute as this year also marked its 10th year since its opening.
“We are reflecting on 10 remarkable years since Masdar Institute was established by the UAE’s visionary leadership… The Abu Dhabi leadership trusted Masdar Institute to address the UAE’s call to provide human and intellectual capital in sustainable energy and advanced technology,” said Dr Bahjat Yousuf Al Yousuf, interim provost at Masdar Institute.
Al Yousuf added the latest batch of graduates would contribute to critical areas for the UAE, helping the country meet its water and energy challenges.
“Water, energy, advanced materials, and engineering systems have been our core research teams. We are proud to say that we have made significant progress in these areas, in response to the UAE’s most pressing challenges,” she said.
Al Yousuf also praised the high number of women graduates in the class of 2017, and said it was a testament to the UAE’s vision of increasing the role of women in society.
“61 women graduate today… This shows our ongoing commitment to advancing women in science and engineering.”
Aisha Al Nuaimi, one of the fresh graduates, promised to uphold the values of innovation in her student commencement speech.
“We seek to have a leading model worldwide… We have become highly innovative and seek to project a new image of the UAE and boost the status of Abu Dhabi as a hub of knowledge and innovation,” she said.
“We will always be proud of our country and do our best to serve our homeland,” she added.
Dr Ernest J. Moniz, former US secretary of energy, who was also invited as a keynote speaker, said that Masdar’s graduates were in an ideal position to usher in the age of clean and sustainable technologies.
“You are superbly equipped through your education at Masdar to harvest opportunity. Science and engineering provide the skill set you will need for that, innovation and entrepreneurship leads into… A successful and productive career that serves society well.
“One of the areas where great change is almost certain is energy and sustainability, [which has been the focus] of Masdar,” he added.
