The ceremony: Technosphere-2006 Graduation of Ajman University of Science and Technology Network (AUSTN). The ceremony is held every five years.
Number of graduates: 14,000
Duration: Two days
Present: His Highness Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman; His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, Shaikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman; Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Honorary Chairman of the Ajman Educational Zone and Chairman of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department.
The speaker: "What we have achieved in the area of education is the fruit of the vision of our leaders who consider that education is the key to our national development. In that regard, education helps people develop important and necessary knowledge and skills."
— Dr Saeed Salman, president of the AUSTN
The valedictorian: "Today is a joyous event where we get to celebrate the results of our hard work. This is a day we've all waited for. But let us also not forget all the people who were behind our success, honour them and thank them for their support."
— Jasim Al Ra'es
Sounds of the day: The national anthem at the beginning of the ceremony.
Professor to students: "Never give up; work hard to achieve your goals. Also keep learning."
— Dr Narendra Kothari, finance
Graduates speak: "We graduated three years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't get to know about the graduation until a few days ago from some of my friends! But I am very happy. It's true my parents could not make it because I didn't know about the ceremony earlier, but I am proud to be an AUSTN graduate and I am really happy."
— Firas Al Tarzi, computer science graduate
Notes overheard:
"I cannot believe that people will be celebrating after the ceremony and I will have to go back to work! You think, can I just not show up?"
— One graduate to another
Skyline College Sharjah celebrates its students' achievements.
More than 190 Skyline College students celebrated the end of four years of hard work, endless sleepless nights and "intolerable" early morning classes at the 17th graduation ceremony last week.
The celebration, which started with the police band playing the national anthem, featured graduates of more than 35 nationalities who participated in a flag march.
Present at the event were Dr Ganim Mohammad Al Hajiri, Director General of Civil Aviation and the Sharjah Airport Authority, and Blake Faulkner, president of the National American University.
Skyline College president Kamal Puri congratulated the graduates and highlighted the success of the college over the years.
Mubarak Saeed, a graduate, spoke about his experience at college and the contribution of the faculty in shaping his life and career so far.
What the graduates said
Graduate Hiba Al Salmani, a Certified Internet Webmaster, said it felt great to be graduating. "I never thought that I would feel so proud of myself the way I am now. I made my parents feel honoured and happy," she said.
Al Salmani is planning to do her masters degree next year. She said she will miss her professors, attending classes and the "usual stuff" she got used to at Skyline.
"The knowledge and skills I've learnt have enabled me to enter a multinational workforce and achieve my dreams," she added. "Although there will be some difficulties from time to time, I know that God will help me and I will do my best at everything I do."
During the ceremony, four top students were honoured amidst applause from parents, teachers and friends.
The top graduates
Praveen Venugopal, travel and tourism management
Nargis Shaukat Hussain, technology
Divya Udyawar, international business
Mohammad Hassan, marketing
