ADU celebrates ‘Year of Recognition' with milestones in international accreditation

Chairman H.E Al Dhaheri looks back on 11 years of progress and more breakthroughs on the horizon   

UAE, Abu Dhabi, 23 June 2015: Following a year of multiple achievements that has become known as the ‘Year of Recognition’, Abu Dhabi University concluded its 2014-15 academic year on a high note with its Annual Staff & Faculty Appreciation Day. Among many other achievements, ADU’s College of Business Administration earned an honor enjoyed by less than 5% of the world’s business schools, when all its programs received accreditation from the 100-year-old Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the global accrediting body for business schools. In another milestone, ADU’s College of Engineering received international accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET for three programs: the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering.

The event attracted widespread support from the business community that has benefited from ADU’s highly sought after graduates, with Platinum Sponsors including Bin Harmal Travel , Alfahim group , EMW  and French dental center.

Other achievements include a record growth of 54% in student enrollment compared to 2010, with over 7,000 students now pursuing 31 undergraduate and 17 Masters degrees, as well as the prestigious Doctor of Business Administration.

Addressing about 450 members of ADU’s staff and faculty, Chairman of the ADU Executive Board, His Excellency Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri reminisced: “As the founding Chairman of Abu Dhabi University, it has truly been a privilege to witness first hand our remarkable progress, defying the odds and defying the young age of our University.”

He elaborated: “Our College of Engineering received international accreditation from the world renowned Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). For the third successive year, we entered the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Top 750 Global University Rankings. Meanwhile at the Best m-government Service Awards, three of our brightest prodigies in Electrical and Computer Engineering were awarded the Special Innovation Award of AED1 million for their life-saving ‘Al Naidah’ app. The same quest for innovation extends to our research, where the hugely successful UAE Undergraduate Student Research Competition attracted over 1,000 submissions. In partnership with the University of Michigan, our team won the 1^st Solar Car Challenge, demonstrating our commitment to a smarter, more sustainable future. Even more success stories are on the horizon -- particularly in international recognition, with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) granting ADU ‘Candidate’ status for five years.”

Ahmed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Group said: “At Al Fahim Group, we stress the importance of education and the pivotal role it plays in the future of our children and our country as a whole. As a result, we are proud to support ADU in its path towards excellence in education, and we take this opportunity to congratulate the university for its incredible achievements in the academic field.”

Serjios El Hage, Group CEO of EMWme commented: “It has been a privilege to work with such a prestigious institution as Abu Dhabi University, strengthening our investment in future generations. ADU is a leader in attracting and incubating student talent through cutting edge technologies, taking them to the forefront of higher education. EMWme’s reach touches over 90% of academic institutions across the UAE, with deep technical expertise that can be shared to continuously improve students’ social and academic lives. It is a known fact worldwide that students who are comfortable in their campus environment are more likely to excel than those who aren’t.  ADU and EMWme strive towards providing this ideal environment for future generations to come.”

The institution’s achievements are in sync with Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, which has pinpointed world-class education as a vital stepping stone to progress. Graduates can look forward to support from ADU alumni, which grew to 7,270 professionals in successful careers worldwide.