NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2025: Celebration of academic excellence
19 June 2025 11:35
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has held its 12th commencement ceremony to honour the Class of 2025. Some 530 students representing more than 85 countries participated in the largest graduating class that NYUAD has held since its inception in 2011.In attendance were His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Her Excellency Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE; Evan R Chesler, Chair of the NYU Board of Trustees; Rima Al Mokarrab, NYU Trustee; and Linda Mills, NYU President.The keynote speech was delivered by former NASA astronaut and geophysicist, Andrew Feustel.Feustel said, 'It's been said that luck is where preparation meets opportunity, and with opportunity comes obligation. You now have an opportunity to launch from this place and continue your life mission. You also have an obligation to strive to work to the best of your ability to reach your mission objectives along this path. Some days, optimism can be elusive. However, we as humans are capable of the most beautiful and significant acts of love and kindness toward each other. Many things in life will catch your eye, but few will catch your heart; pursue those things.'Vice Chancellor at NYUAD, Fabio Piano, said, 'You arrived just as the world emerged from a global pandemic, a moment that reminded us how fragile, and how deeply interconnected, we really are. Reminding us that the biggest challenges of our time, climate change, inequality, global health, are global in nature and cannot be solved by any one nation alone. And you responded. You brought your voices, your values, your creativity. You studied, debated, researched, and built. You launched ideas and companies and NGOs, published influential papers and books, and made new solutions to help the world with medical devices or beautiful music that was played from space.'Class of 2025 Emirati student, Khalid Alzeyoudi, who majored in computer engineering, offered welcome remarks.Class of 2025 student, Pauline Wee, spoke on behalf of the graduating class. Originally from the Philippines, Wee completed a double major in Computer Science and Business, Organisations, and Society with a minor in Interactive Media.Wee said, 'Four years ago, NYUAD chose you. And you chose NYUAD. Since then, so many people have chosen to nurture your mind, cultivate your character, and change your life. In turn, you have chosen to pour so much back into this community. Going forward, how will you choose to change the world beyond Saadiyat? What commitments will you make to those around you? What will you choose to put your head, your heart, and your hands towards? Only you can decide. But I have the utmost faith that we will all continue to choose well."From its inception, NYUAD has been one of the most selective higher education institutions in the world. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 35 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest globally ranked university in the UAE and MENA region.Admitted from high schools around the world, NYUAD's current student body consists of some 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.To date, NYUAD has produced 24 Rhodes Scholars, 20 Schwarzman Scholars, and 16 Fulbright Scholars.Approximately four percent of those who applied to be a part of the Class of 2025 were accepted for admission, and the standardised test profile of the Class of 2025 matched those of the most elite higher education institutions in the US.During their four years, the Class of 2025 has excelled in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. It has participated in student clubs, athletic groups, and built ties with the Abu Dhabi community.Eighty-two percent of the graduating class held at least one internship during their academic career in some of the world's most respected organisations such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Goldman Sachs, Google, National Geographic, Tiktok (ByteDance), UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, and World Economic Forum, among others.Some have received graduate school offers from a range of institutions, including Columbia University SIPA, Harvard University, Imperial College London, London Business School, and University of Oxford.Students have also secured offers of employment from key local and global organisations, including Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Amazon, Department of Culture and Tourism, Meta, and World Food Programme, among others.NYUAD opened in 2011 with an ambitious vision to be one of the world's great research universities, addressing complex challenges of local and global significance.
Since then, the University has been ranked number one in the UAE for producing publications in top science journals based on Nature index, filed applications for more than 245 research patents, created and directed more than 630 creative works, and produced over 9,200 research publications, among other achievements.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
14 hours ago
- Al Etihad
From lab to market: ATRC entities turn breakthrough research into real-world technologies
20 June 2025 02:27 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Fuelling the UAE's push for innovation and a knowledge-based future are local labs and institutions that transform cutting-edge research into homegrown Advanced Technology Research Council's (ATRC) key entities - TII, ASPIRE, and SteerAI - are translating advanced science into real-world solutions that serve communities and national priorities, from AI to robotics and automation. "We are helping the UAE shift from adopting technologies to building them - delivering real economic and strategic value," said Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, in an interview with Aletihad . "Whether it is AI, quantum, robotics, or advanced materials, we are working on scalable, secure systems that support industrial resilience and self-reliance."Radar systems, edge AI tools, and impact-responsive body armour are some of the technologies that are moving "steadily from lab to market", supported by TII's commercialisation partner VentureOne, Dr. Aaraj ProjectsTII has been working with major government entities to advance next-generation technologies across sectors, from aerial systems and quantum-secure space communications to AI-enabled healthcare."Our robotics centre worked with the GCAA on autonomous aerial corridors. In quantum, we are partnering with the UAE Space Agency on secure communications for space infrastructure," Dr. Aaraj said."In AI, we enable edge-based models for healthcare and government, while in autonomous robotics, we are advancing GPS-free navigation for logistics and inspections."TII also invests in local talent. "Programmes like NexTech embed top Emirati STEM students in international universities and bring them back to our research centres to build the next generation of UAE scientists," she with Real-World ImpactATRC's ASPIRE also seeks to "bridge the gap between breakthrough research and tangible, real-world impact", turning lab ideas into deployable tech across key sectors. Speaking to Aletihad , Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE and A2RL, said: "From tackling carbon storage monitoring to shaping air corridors for autonomous mobility, our work ensures that emerging technologies meet real industrial and societal needs." ASPIRE focuses on "dual-use, high-impact technologies", including AI, robotics, and advanced materials."We are proving high-performance systems can be designed and built in the UAE," Timpano said, highlighting projects like A2RL's EAV-24 autonomous lab-to-market process starts by identifying real-world challenges in priority sectors, he said."Then, we invite global and local innovators to solve (these challenges) through competitive, milestone-driven programmes. Once a solution proves viable, we help de-risk and scale it."The goal, Timpano added, is to "forge new collaborations and show how the UAE is not just buying innovation but building it"."Everything we do is designed to grow the UAE's intellectual capital," he SolutionsSteerAI, on the other hand, seeks to drive the UAE's shift from tech importer to innovator through sovereign autonomous mobility Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of SteerAI, told Aletihad that the company is helping drive the UAE's shift from tech importer to innovator through sovereign autonomous mobility solutions."SteerAI is a direct product of the UAE's ambition to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing and AI innovation," said Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of an instance, its autonomous GPS-free system, CoreX, was developed at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and is now being deployed with partners like A2RL and Milrem Robotics."CoreX allows our vehicles to navigate unmapped terrain in real time without relying on GPS or maps," Sonderby said. "It has huge implications for defence, ISR, search and rescue, and more." SteerAI's CoreX system is designed to keep humans out of danger zones, he said. "It does not tire, get distracted, or miss signals. We detect and avoid obstacles faster than human drivers." By supporting the country's autonomous tech ecosystem, SteerAI's "goal is to contribute to the UAE's vision of becoming a global tech hub", Sonderby said.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2025: Celebration of academic excellence
19 June 2025 11:35 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has held its 12th commencement ceremony to honour the Class of 2025. Some 530 students representing more than 85 countries participated in the largest graduating class that NYUAD has held since its inception in attendance were His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Her Excellency Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE; Evan R Chesler, Chair of the NYU Board of Trustees; Rima Al Mokarrab, NYU Trustee; and Linda Mills, NYU keynote speech was delivered by former NASA astronaut and geophysicist, Andrew said, 'It's been said that luck is where preparation meets opportunity, and with opportunity comes obligation. You now have an opportunity to launch from this place and continue your life mission. You also have an obligation to strive to work to the best of your ability to reach your mission objectives along this path. Some days, optimism can be elusive. However, we as humans are capable of the most beautiful and significant acts of love and kindness toward each other. Many things in life will catch your eye, but few will catch your heart; pursue those things.'Vice Chancellor at NYUAD, Fabio Piano, said, 'You arrived just as the world emerged from a global pandemic, a moment that reminded us how fragile, and how deeply interconnected, we really are. Reminding us that the biggest challenges of our time, climate change, inequality, global health, are global in nature and cannot be solved by any one nation alone. And you responded. You brought your voices, your values, your creativity. You studied, debated, researched, and built. You launched ideas and companies and NGOs, published influential papers and books, and made new solutions to help the world with medical devices or beautiful music that was played from space.'Class of 2025 Emirati student, Khalid Alzeyoudi, who majored in computer engineering, offered welcome of 2025 student, Pauline Wee, spoke on behalf of the graduating class. Originally from the Philippines, Wee completed a double major in Computer Science and Business, Organisations, and Society with a minor in Interactive said, 'Four years ago, NYUAD chose you. And you chose NYUAD. Since then, so many people have chosen to nurture your mind, cultivate your character, and change your life. In turn, you have chosen to pour so much back into this community. Going forward, how will you choose to change the world beyond Saadiyat? What commitments will you make to those around you? What will you choose to put your head, your heart, and your hands towards? Only you can decide. But I have the utmost faith that we will all continue to choose well."From its inception, NYUAD has been one of the most selective higher education institutions in the world. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 35 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest globally ranked university in the UAE and MENA from high schools around the world, NYUAD's current student body consists of some 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse date, NYUAD has produced 24 Rhodes Scholars, 20 Schwarzman Scholars, and 16 Fulbright four percent of those who applied to be a part of the Class of 2025 were accepted for admission, and the standardised test profile of the Class of 2025 matched those of the most elite higher education institutions in the their four years, the Class of 2025 has excelled in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. It has participated in student clubs, athletic groups, and built ties with the Abu Dhabi percent of the graduating class held at least one internship during their academic career in some of the world's most respected organisations such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Goldman Sachs, Google, National Geographic, Tiktok (ByteDance), UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, and World Economic Forum, among have received graduate school offers from a range of institutions, including Columbia University SIPA, Harvard University, Imperial College London, London Business School, and University of have also secured offers of employment from key local and global organisations, including Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Amazon, Department of Culture and Tourism, Meta, and World Food Programme, among opened in 2011 with an ambitious vision to be one of the world's great research universities, addressing complex challenges of local and global significance. Since then, the University has been ranked number one in the UAE for producing publications in top science journals based on Nature index, filed applications for more than 245 research patents, created and directed more than 630 creative works, and produced over 9,200 research publications, among other achievements.
Hi Dubai
4 days ago
- Hi Dubai
UAE Leads Globally in Metrology as Pillar of Innovation, Economic Competitiveness
The UAE is advancing its vision of a knowledge-driven economy by elevating metrology—the science of measurement—as a cornerstone for innovation, quality, and competitiveness. Central to this effort is the Emirates Metrology Institute (EMI), which is building a robust national system that enhances accuracy, fairness, and trust across critical sectors. Founded in 2011, EMI leads the country's ambition to become a regional and global hub for precision measurement sciences. Accurate measurement underpins social and economic justice, ensuring fair trade, protecting consumer rights, and promoting healthy competition. By strengthening the national metrology infrastructure, the institute supports sustainable development, attracts investment, and aligns the UAE with global standards. EMI is currently developing specialized laboratories to serve key industries. These include facilities focused on mass, volume, and flow measurements for commerce and industry; electrical time and power for energy and telecommunications; length and angle for construction and engineering; temperature and humidity for environmental monitoring; and force, torque, and pressure for oil, gas, and construction sectors. A Chemical Metrology Laboratory is also in feasibility study stages, aiming to bolster healthcare, food safety, and environmental oversight. Through strategic training programs and international partnerships, EMI has nurtured skilled Emirati professionals to lead this scientific infrastructure. The institute's work not only enhances measurement precision but also fosters innovation, reduces resource waste, and builds confidence in the UAE's quality infrastructure—key pillars for a competitive, innovation-driven economy. As the UAE pushes forward, EMI's role remains critical in ensuring transparency, market stability, and compliance with international best practices, positioning the country at the forefront of the global metrology landscape. News Source: Emirates News Agency
