Dundee, Scotland: The Principal of the Al Maktoum College of Higher Education in Dundee, Scotland, has paid tribute to the Emirati students who posted excellent results in the Summer Academic Training Programme which concludes on Monday.
Speaking to Gulf News ahead of Monday’s Graduation ceremony, Professor Hossein Godazgar said he was “absolutely delighted and proud” of the 24th batch of graduates who completed the annual course which focused on contemporary global issues of multiculturalism, leadership, cultural engagement and global awareness.
“It was a privilege for me to be involved with this visionary program once again,” he said.
“It was a pleasure to engage with the students who were all very open to debates and in sharing views. The discussions in the tutorial groups were absorbing and it really was a great honour for me to coach and mentor them.
“On a personal level, I really value trying to build mutual understanding between the Western world and the countries of the Middle East and Muslim societies.
“I truly love doing what’s close to my heart.”
The course, which commenced last July, attracted over six female students from a number of UAE universities, and for the first time students from Abu Dhabi Police College and the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University.
The graduation ceremony will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who established the Al Maktoum College of Higher Education in 2001.
The ceremony will be attended by Dundee’s Lord Provost, Ian Borthwick, Mirza Al Sayegh, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the College and Director of Shaikh Hamdan’s Office, and Sulaiman Hamid Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to the UK.
UAE universities whose students attended the Summer School included students from the Abu Dhabi University, American University in Dubai, American University of Sharjah, British University in Dubai, College of Islamic and Arabic Studies, Dubai, Higher Colleges of Technology, University of Sharjah, UAE University, Zayed University and Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
Al Sayegh conveyed the greetings of Shaikh Hamdan to the students and said that the success of the Summer School Programme reflected the hard work and dedication of the students, Al Maktoum College Faculty and the vital support of parents.
“We wish them the very best at this important stage of their academic careers,” he said. “It is always wonderful to see the smiles on the girls’ faces which shows that they are enjoying what they are doing and are committed to study and collaborate with members of the faculty.”
The Al Maktoum College of Higher Education aims to bridge cultures and understanding between the Muslim and western world by focusing on education, research, debate and scientific understanding of Islam and the role of Muslims in the 21st century.
Based in Dundee, a dynamic and growing Scottish city, since its inception the college has hosted students and staff from all around the globe. In addition, graduates from over 30 countries have successfully completed their postgraduate degree programmes with a majority of them achieving their PhDs.
