20 years of women's achievements feted at DWC

Dubai: Emirati women's progress in the UAE was celebrated at Dubai Women's College's (DWC) 20th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday.

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) awarded DWC partners and outstanding alumni for their support and achievements.

In his speech, Shaikh Nahyan thanked all who contributed to making the last 20 years a success.

"Since its inception in 1989, Dubai Women's College emphasised its role as an essential bridge between the present and the future. It enabled its students to understand their opportunities and responsibilities to serve their country while living in a constantly changing global community. And, there is no place on earth that is more global than Dubai," he said.

Safia Saeed Al Raqabani, director of Development at Zayed University, addressed the fact that 70 per cent of college graduates in the UAE are females.

"More than 52 per cent of employees in the government sector are women, as are 22 per cent of the UAE Federal National members," Safia said. "The number of female Emiratis in the workforce is growing three times as fast as male Emiratis."

Dr Howard Reed, director of DWC said that in its 20 years of existence the colleges' biggest achievement is its graduates. "We've revolutionised the role of women in Dubai, that's huge," Reed told Gulf News.

We have over 4,000 working graduates and they have changed the whole workplace because they have changed the role of women...20 years ago there weren't many working Emirati women. Today you can't go into almost any organisation without seeing a DWC graduate."

Mariyah Mohammad graduated from DWC in 2000. Nine years later she came back to the college to celebrate, sponsor, and receive a special award at DWC's 20th anniversary, as the owner of Yebab.com; a wedding directory company.

In her opinion DWC's biggest achievement is "a reputation that their graduates are the best".