Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, attended the second annual IBDAA graduation ceremony in an effort to boost emiritisation with over 400 academy graduates qualified to enter key positions in various industry sectors across the UAE.

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research met with graduating students during yesterday's ceremony and commended 150 private and public sector institutions which work closely in developing the nation's workforce by hiring IBDAA graduates.

“The UAE Academy performs a vital role in helping to match local employment needs with highly qualified nationals who are skilled, committed and motivated,'' said Mohammad Omar Abdullah, Under-Secretary of Department of Planning and Economy, Chairman of the UAE Academy.

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs along with the UAE Academy partnered with some of the world's leading educational institutions namely: University of Washington, Montana State University and Texas International Education Consortium; courses are delivered in small groups and the campuses are located in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain where technology and classroom practices are offered to ensure students are fully-equipped with cutting-edge skills and knowledge.

“Participating in the IBDAA Programme has given me an insight into the value I bring to an organisation as a UAE National. Not only has it sharpened my commercial skill-set, but it has also given me new-found confidence as to the role I can play in both business and to the development of my emirate as a whole," said graduate student Khadija Al Jefri.

The ceremony was held at the Centre for Strategic and Documentation Research yesterday.