I graduated from Abu Dhabi University with a Bachelor of Architecture and a GPA of 3.98 – top of my class. During the winter semester of my senior year, I interned with GHD Engineering. The company was so pleased with my work that they extended the internship until the end of my senior year. After graduation, I was selected for Gensler's six-month Professional Internship Program. Gensler - ranked the top architecture firm globally at that time - was impressed with the quality of my portfolio and my design program capabilities. Had the global pandemic not resulted in a hiring freeze, I would have secured a full-time position with Gensler.
Following this, I decided to pursue a postgraduate program and chose the Master of Construction Management at the University of Kansas, USA, out of multiple offers from UK and USA universities. I am on course to graduate this year (May 2023) with a GPA of 4.0. and the options for my next step are wide open. GLMV Architecture in Kansas City extended my summer internship and offered me a full-time position after graduation. Or I might accept an offer from Kansas State University to study for a Ph.D. in Environmental Design. Abu Dhabi University gave me the skills to succeed in my field, and I am grateful to all the professors and teaching assistants who supported me through my undergraduate and postgraduate journey. I am excited to see what the future holds.
Esraa Abuelrub
Graduate Bachelor of Architecture
My journey at Abu Dhabi University has been nothing short of incredible, and it has played a huge role in shaping who I am today. As a graduate with honors from the Bachelor's program in Mass Communication in 2016, I had the privilege of being a student of some of the most knowledgeable and experienced educators in the field.
The program provided me with a solid foundation in communication theory, and I learned about various forms of media such as print, broadcast, and digital media. This allowed me to pursue my passion for content creation and media, and I was able to start my career as a content creator and presenter.
In 2019, I graduated with a Master's degree in Business Administration with a fellowship from Griffith University, Australia. I owe this achievement to the exceptional education I received at Abu Dhabi University.
ADU gave me a platform to develop my skills and knowledge beyond the classroom. As a member of the Media Youth Council, I had the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the media industry, and we developed solutions for various media-related issues in the UAE.
Today, as a content creator and presenter, I owe much of my success to the education, mentorship, and opportunities provided by Abu Dhabi University. I am grateful to the faculty, staff, and fellow students who have supported me throughout my journey.
Shehab Al Hashemi
Mass Communication and MBA Graduate
I was privileged to be taught by an outstanding faculty, providing incredible teaching efforts and support. Without this continuous support and world-class teaching, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the achievements I’ve always dreamed of. I was able to complete my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in three years due to the flexibility and availability of courses, which allowed me to graduate among the first cohort of students in 2014.
The resources available at ADU provided me with the opportunity to explore modern challenges in the field of conditioning monitoring and opened doors to new challenges. I also worked as a teaching assistant while pursuing my master's degree in mechanical engineering.
Thanks to ADU, I had the opportunity to broaden my academic horizons and learn from some of the best minds in the field. I am currently working as a doctoral researcher on the topic "AI-based condition monitoring of electro-hydraulic systems" at Tampere University, Finland.
Abid Abdul Azeez
Mechanical Engineering Graduate
"I aimed to make a positive impact on ADU during my time here."
"Having worked in different sectors for several years, I realized that law was my true passion. After conducting extensive research to find the best institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in law, I found Abu Dhabi University to be impressive with its accreditations and world rankings."
"I am receiving the highest standards of education in my program, with excellent facilities and incredibly knowledgeable and supportive professors. The co-curricular activities at ADU have provided me with opportunities to participate in seminars and conferences, enabling me to apply what I have learned in real-world situations on an ongoing basis."
Salama Al Meraikhi
Graduate of the Bachelor of Law (Arabic)
As an alumna of Abu Dhabi University's Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (English) program, I can confidently say that it provided me with the opportunity to learn the best practices in media production for various media platforms. Working with sophisticated equipment such as high-end cameras, lighting, vision mixers, and the audio console in the TV studio was an experience that gave me the confidence to work at both front and back camera in television production. The program helped me discover my true potential and transformed me into someone always ready to accept challenges. My parents were my motivation to succeed; my friends gave me the necessary support; my teachers provided the tools.
Set your goals and make a plan to achieve them!
Nada Ali
Graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (English)
As a current Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at ADU, I can confidently say that the university has provided me with countless opportunities for growth and learning, both academically and personally. The faculty and professors have always been dedicated to ensuring that students receive a quality education, as well as inspiring us to push ourselves to new heights.
The supportive community at ADU has helped me to achieve my goals and aspirations, and I am grateful for the guidance and encouragement I have received from everyone involved. Although I will eventually graduate and move on to new endeavors, I know that the experiences and knowledge I have gained at ADU will stay with me throughout my life.
In short, ADU has had a profound impact on my academic journey and personal development, and I am proud to be a part of this exceptional institution.
Sven Ivak
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Student
ADU was one of the most significant stations in my journey. It provided me with ample opportunities to invest my time and energy in various extracurricular activities such as research, competitions, sports, and volunteering. I used to enjoy spending my time on campus using the available facilities. I am immensely grateful for the professors who acted as mentors and provided me with their knowledge and support, helping me identify my goals and achieve them in my career path. As a graduate in Business Administration, I am delighted that my BBA degree is double accredited by AACSB and EQUIS, which is a distinction only 1% of business schools worldwide have achieved.
Sara Kittaneh
Bachelor of Business Administration Graduate
The professors at ADU encourage you to succeed by nurturing your enthusiasm as well as improving your knowledge in the areas of biology, medicine, and engineering. Their doors are always open, and they deliver the classes in such an enjoyable way.
I have really enjoyed my biomedical courses and learned a lot, including about medical devices and how to design and classify them. Because of this, I feel I will be able to make a real difference in the biomedical engineering field and the health industry in general.
State-of-the-art technology is used in all the labs, providing students with an optimum hands-on learning experience. In fact, the Bioimaging Research Lab is affiliated with the University of Louisville's Bioimaging Lab, making it one-of-a-kind in the UAE.
Huda Tarek Sliman
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
“Prevention is better than cure!”
"I'm currently working in health education focusing on giving lifestyle advice to people with type 2 diabetes. As part of my program, I took an internship with the Department of Health and this experience helped me secure this position with Daman shortly after graduation.
ADU has given me so many opportunities. With the encouragement of my professors, I started the Public Health Club and held the position of Club President for a year. Through the Club, we attended numerous events and conferences related to our field, gaining a lot of practical experience along the way.
I've experienced several proud moments during my time at ADU including being honored in the Dean's List for my high GPA. My high point, however, was being appointed as a UAE Public Health Ambassador through the Health Authority Abu Dhabi's (HAAD) Public Health Ambassador Program. This aims to engage communities in healthy life choices which is, I believe, my vocation in life."
Maram Hijjah
Bachelor of Science in Public Health Graduate
Distance Learning is More Than Just Teaching: ADU Takes Distance Learning to The Next Level
Following the integration of distance in the UAE, Abu Dhabi University (ADU) continues to pave the way for student success by ensuring its students are connected and equipped with the necessary educational tools while remaining healthy at home.
Following the integration of distance in the UAE, Abu Dhabi University (ADU) continues to pave the way for student success by ensuring its students are connected and equipped with the necessary educational tools while remaining healthy at home. As part of the University’s mission to provide a holistic experience to its students, ADU is also providing online counselling, advising, and tutoring, virtual sports and wellness activities, online workshops, and other forms of student engagement.
Using social media as well as co-working tools such as Microsoft Teams, ADU is constantly communicating with the members of its community to boost their morale, provide study tips, counselling, workshops and facilitate online study groups. To maintain student engagement, sports tournaments have been moved online, with home workout videos being streamed daily, and sports teams meeting virtually to challenge each other as they stay safe at home. The University is also providing an academic advisory program where students are able to connect with their academic advisors online and tutors can check on students in need of support.
One of the most important aspects of how ADU is staying connected to its community is by providing health tips in response to COVID-19. Several clubs are involved in transferring the message of practicing social distancing, tips to maintain necessary hygiene, and how students can stay strong at home.
Prof. Waqar Ahmad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, commented, “ADU strives to maintain high student morale and ensure its students are receiving the necessary tools and resources to continue their quality education. In line with our mission to put the ADU community at the heart of everything we do, we have gone the extra mile to make distance learning an enjoyable experience for our students. They have access to online competitions, sports tournaments, and useful tips on how to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing during this trying period. Our mission is to equip our students with the resources to achieve academic and personal success, in addition to fostering leadership, innovation and, ambition among them. Our graduates will be the leaders of tomorrow. We are committed to retaining a solid community in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, making sure our students know we are, as always, here to support them.”
The Employability and Alumni Relations Office (EARO) has put in place a set of initiatives and activities to engage students, including virtual career development workshops and events for students and graduates. In addition to that, the EARO is collaborating with various employers to present virtual career information sessions and create opportunities for students to network with future employers.
The Student Engagement Office (SEO) is also continuing to maintain and strengthen its relationship with students by arranging regular virtual meetings with student organizations, offering workshops on how to maintain engagement with potential and current members. The SEO is also adapting many of its traditional face-to-face activities, such as the Club Fair, to virtual format.
The Sports and Wellness Office (SWO) is hard at work keeping students active during this period, coordinating three separate e-sports tournaments exclusively for ADU students and providing weekly workout videos for the entire ADU community. The SWO has also continued to train their sports teams by providing over 70 online coaching sessions with individual players from the male basketball and football teams. Especially impressive is the introduction of ‘Stallions Chat’, an interview segment piece where the SWO will conduct interviews with elite sports professionals from around the world. The Sports and Wellness Office has made it its mission to encourage the health and wellness of the entire ADU community.
In a bid to keep students healthy and well, the Student Support Office has launched an ‘Online Doctor’s Advice’ and ‘Online Counselling Service’ to help the community cope with the current situation and overcome any challenges they might be facing. Abu Dhabi University is the first higher education institution to launch such services to its students, staff and faculty across all campuses in the UAE. Our Student Support Office will also ensure a smooth visa renewal process for all students and is ensuring our international students who live far from their countries feel at home. Students new to ADU will be welcomed virtually to the academic year via a virtual orientation day, which will give them a comprehensive overview of the University’s academic programs, campus facilities, and student life.
The Academic Success Center (ASC) also offers workshops led by faculty and students, allowing students an opportunity to hone their presentation skills and increase self-confidence. Course Assistants are providing support for all math and science courses, and the last two weeks have seen over 100 students benefit from the services provided by the ASC.
The Student Affairs Department at Al Ain campus has developed a virtual activities calendar covering different aspects of student life including recreational activities, workshops, sports and fitness activities, and Student Development Program workshops, along with social media competitions and challenges to help break the daily routine.