Private university to be set up in Abu Dhabi this year

A new private university for both UAE national and expatriate students will open in Abu Dhabi from the academic year 2003-04.

The opening of Abu Dhabi University (ADU) was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in a message read on his behalf at the launching ceremony, held at the Abu Dhabi Hilton Hotel yesterday.

In his speech, Sheikh Hamdan said great efforts were exerted in establishing the ADU, to make it a pioneering university in the field of higher education at both the regional and international level.

The ceremony was attended by Ali Saeed Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Establishing Committee. He delivered the opening speech on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan. He said: "We have recruited the best Arab and international experts and have developed the latest programmes of the highest academic calibre to correspond with our society's needs."

Sheikh Hamdan said the ADU will realise its vision by adopting the concept of total quality education. "The university will follow the system of continuous evaluation of educational outputs to ensure they achieve the objectives of the founders. The university will focus more on scientific research and intellectual output, as well as cultivating close contacts with society and meeting its needs through various specialisations."

The ADU will start its first academic year on August 30 in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Registrations will start on July 15 and continue until the end of August. The institute has been founded under the auspices of Sheikh Hamdan, also the Chairman of the ADU Board of Trustees.

The university's programmes have already acquired accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. It will host three colleges, including Business Administration, Computer and Information Technology, Arts and Sciences.

It will offer bachelors degrees in management, marketing, finance, computer science, English language, information and library sciences, and education.

A wide range of other programmes, such as bachelors in accounting, management information system, early childhood education, computer information system, masters in business administration and English language, are awaiting accreditation.

The ADU is currently awaiting accreditation for a series of additional bachelors and masters degrees and post graduate professional diplomas. Dr Muthanna Ghani Abdul Razzaq, Chairman of the Academic Committee, and Ghada Al Pasha, registrar of the university, were also present.

On offer

Meeting society's needs:
* ADU to start first academic year on August 30 in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

* Registrations will start on July 15 and continue until the end of August

* The university's programmes have been given accreditation by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

* The university will host three colleges - Business Administration, Computer and Information Technology and Arts and Sciences.

* Bachelors degrees in management, marketing, finance, computer science, English, information and library sciences and education to be offered.