Hard work rewarded

Dubai Women's College students thrilled to receive Sheikh Rashid Awards


It was a moment of joy and pride for Howard Reed, director of the Dubai Women's College, when he said that six out of seven of the prestigious Sheikh Rashid Awards for Academic Excellence had been bestowed upon the students of his college.

The UAE nationals are the largest resource of the country, and keeping this in mind Dubai Women's College, Higher Colleges of Technology, have provided an infrastructure that produces students with excellent academic records.

The government provides the necessary encouragement in the shape of the Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence to produce a generation of women who have a strong educational base along with a motivation to face the future.

"Education is all about what the students do after they graduate. These students are contributing to the economy of the country and it makes me happy to see that more women are now taking a part in the workplace," says Reed.

Nabila Ahli has done an MBA and has received her award for excellence in this field. "My education at the Dubai Women's College, Higher Colleges of Technology, gave me a strong foundation and filled me with a determination to make something of myself," she says.

She was different from others in her family and she has worked hard to achieve what she has today. "My friends in the college supported me at every step, and it is this circle of friends which supported me even more than my family in times of crisis."

Nabila went to the U.S. for studies and on her return was determined to do a Masters course. "I was told to be happy with my Bachelors degree, but I wanted to study more and I wanted to be proud of myself. I have now received the Rashid Award and it is a big honour for me," she says.

Her mother in now really proud of her and had tears in her eyes when her daughter received the award.

Nabila worked at ENOC while she was studying for her Masters degree. "My boss, Mr Ismail, helped me receive a full sponsorship from ENOC for my studies and helped me study even during my lunch breaks at work. I could not have done it without their help and support," explains Nabila.

For Mareyah Mohammad Ahmad it was sheer determination and the will to succeed that have got her this far. "I wanted my parents to be proud of me. When I was young my father wanted me to be a doctor, but I did not want that. So I wanted to prove to him that I could excel in other fields as well," says Mareyah.

"None in my family have this award and it really makes my family proud of me," she adds. She has received the Rashid Award for her Bachelors degree in Applied Business Science, and is currently employed with the HSBC Bank Middle East as a trade services executive.

"I have worked so hard for this award. I have really burnt the midnight oil. I never used to go out, and between work and college I have spent my life proving that my efforts shall reap me benefits, and they have." The honour of receiving this award has been a motivation for her to study further and excel with outstanding results.

Being a student as well as an employee is a struggle for many, and this was felt by most of the women who received the award. Nawal Abdel Rahim received her Rashid Award for a diploma in Applied Science. She is also an administration assistant at Tanmia.

"I had to work under stress and pressure to be able to reach college at the required time," she confesses. Days and nights that she has spent doing her projects and formatting are still fresh in her mind.

She fondly remembers the days when she has been up the whole night to meet deadlines. "I believe that the college has provided us with all the skills that are needed at the workplace. Additionally, the college is also always helping us to get employed in different organisations."