Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi celebrates the 12th graduation ceremony

22 November, 2021

Abu Dhabi, November 22, 2021: Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi celebrates the 12th graduation ceremony, with nearly 200 bachelors and masters degree students graduating from a wide range of disciplines.

The ceremony was held yesterday at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, and was also attended by His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to HH the UAE President, Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, and Chairman of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Board of Trustees and by Professor Alain Tallon, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Sorbonne University in Paris, and Member of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Board of Trustees.

Addressing the congregation, His Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh said, “Our celebration this year coincides with celebrating 15 years since the foundation of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. During which the university has developed into an important and distinctive cultural and educational hub, which supports Abu Dhabi’s progress towards achieving its goal of occupying the leading position in the academic, scientific, and cultural fields”.

His Excellency expressed his heartfelt gratitude to HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who “continues to give generous support to Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in the belief that education and culture are the mainstay of economic growth and the well-being of society. It is his express desire that the sons and daughters of the United Arab Emirates gain the scientific knowledge, intellectual capacities, and skills required to graduate from prestigious universities in order to contribute to the progress and development of the nation”.

His Excellency confirmed that Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi has successfully turned His Highness’ aspirations into reality. He said, “since its foundation, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi has demonstrated an exemplary commitment in preparing highly qualified graduates in a broad range of disciplines and providing them with the technical and professional skills that to become innovators, entrepreneurs, and pioneers, to meet the demands of private and public sectors job markets, and to pioneer change in line with the UAE’s vision 2071”.

Speaking in French, His Excellency offered his congratulations to the graduating students and praised the efforts of the faculty, administration, and various departments of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, for their contributions to the success of the students and the academic reputation and worldwide recognition of Sorbonne University as a top francophone higher education institution. He said, “the university expresses the values and aspirations of both France and the UAE to establish solid cultural links. Such links are the bridge towards the creation of peaceful human relations that are the source of all sustainable development and progress. “I congratulate you, our new graduates and wish you prosperous careers and promising futures. May you realize your dreams and ambitions and contribute to the nation’s march of progress in the next fifty years” his excellency added.

Professor Alain Tallon offered his own congratulations to the graduating students, saying, “I am delighted to share this moment of joy with you, which is the outcome of a period of great effort. You can be very proud of yourselves, especially that you had to study through the COVID-19 pandemic that presented us with challenging conditions. I would like to thank all the academic and administrative teams who came together in a remarkable way to guarantee the full quality of your education. In this way, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi demonstrated its capacity of resilience”.

Professor Tallon placed emphasis on the initiatives that contributes to the university’s success. He said, “We place a priority on developing research and doctoral studies, in connection with the institution in Paris”. He expressed his hope that graduating students would want to benefit from these developments by pursuing an academic career. He said, “This degree today is not in any way an end. It is the beginning of a career in which the international education you received using teaching methodologies of the French and European higher education traditions will be of precious value”.

He said, “I am lucky to have been teaching at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi since its inauguration and witness, with great pleasure, the unique nature of interactions between different cultures, respecting each other and sharing a mutual interest for knowledge. Cherish these values, they are worth as much as the degree that you will receive. You are about to become part of the vast and worldwide Sorbonne alumni community which is so proud of you today”.

Professor Silvia Serrano, Vice-Chancellor Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi commented “Today, we celebrate the fruits of hard work and success of our graduating students. We are proud of their achievements, and it is our pleasure to share this memorable moment with them. Today’s graduates will join more than 2,000 existing alumni who have applied their knowledge and skills to become leaders and creators of positive change. The Class of 2021 has proven they have particularly strong will and purpose, and I look forward to seeing them thrive in their professional lives and fulfill their dreams.”