Canadian University Dubai (CUD) has graduated the Class of Al Wasl Dome during its 11th convocation ceremony hosted in the iconic centrepiece of Expo 2020 Dubai. The event was held in the presence and under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
The spectacular ceremony saw the graduates of 2021 take to the stage in the central hub of the world’s biggest international cultural gathering. Sheikh Nahayan conferred degrees on 406 students representing the University’s four faculties of Management; Architecture and Interior Design; Communication, Arts and Sciences; and Engineering, Applied Science and Technology.
The graduating class takes the name of the Al Wasl Dome, in celebration of the unique setting for this year’s historic event.
Presiding over the ceremony was Marcy Grossman, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE; University Chancellor, Buti Saeed Al Ghandi; President and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Karim Chelli; and members of the University Board of Trustees, including Abdulla Mohd Obaidallah, Member of the Board of Directors for Emirates Investment and Development, and Charles Sousa, Former Minister of Finance for Ontario, Canada Board Member – Magellan Community Charities.
In his convocation address, Sheikh Nahyan recognized the tremendous achievements of the graduates and emphasized the important role of education in building a peaceful and prosperous society. Reflecting on the staging of the event at Expo 2020 Dubai, he encouraged the graduates to take forward the mission set by the global gathering; to share knowledge, promote communication and cooperation, and to build international bonds based on tolerance and coexistence.
Addressing the audience, Buti Saeed Al Ghandi congratulated the graduates and paid tribute to the leaders of the UAE for their wisdom and foresight, for connecting the world through Expo 2020 Dubai, and in recognition of the nation’s remarkable achievements in the past 50 years. He thanked Sheikh Nahyan for his ongoing guidance and support for the university, pledging its commitment to advance even further in the 50 years to come.
Speaking on behalf of the University, Prof. Chelli said, “We take great pride in our graduates’ success, and we trust that this university will be a source of great pride for you, as you move forward in your careers. Thanks to the exceptional talent and dedication of our faculty, and staff, this year CUD has been recognized among the top 2% of universities worldwide – an outstanding achievement for such a young university. I encourage all of you graduating today to realize the value of your university experience, and to use your education to make your own meaningful contribution to society.”
Representing the graduating students was Master of Business Administration (Finance) graduate, Shamma Al Tayer, said, “As in every graduation ceremony, CUD never cease to amaze us, and the world. We thought that nothing could top the Burj Khalifa Class of 2020, yet CUD has done it again, as we find ourselves in this historical moment in the presence of the founding father of Higher Education in the UAE, Sheikh Nahyan, at Expo 2020, in the Al Wasl Plaza. We have all learnt so many lessons during our time at CUD, so let us now think about how we can each make a change to drive new research and innovation in the future.”
This year’s ceremony in Al Wasl Dome represents another landmark celebration to honour the success of the University’s graduates. Previous pioneering ceremonies have included a unique gathering at the prestigious Dubai Opera in 2018 and a breath-taking event in 2020 that saw the images of graduates projected onto the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
