AURAK graduation ceremony sees record number of female graduates; AI gains prominence
Students of 26 nationalities received their degrees, with 8 earning the highest 'Summa Cum Laude' recognition
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE: Female graduates outnumbered males at the twin Commencement Ceremonies of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), while Artificial Intelligence (AI) took center-stage with the number of graduates doubling in just one year.
The two graduation ceremonies (13th and 14th) saw a total of 331 graduate and undergraduate students receive their degrees, of which 188 (56.8 per cent) were female, reflecting the growing trend of women aspiring for careers and entrepreneurship.
The second major takeaway was the rising prominence of AI in the career landscape. The ceremony saw the very first batch of the university's Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence receive their degrees. AURAK's Bachelor of Science in AI is a four-year program that empowers students to design and develop computer systems and data models, using the latest advances in the field.
The 13th Graduation Ceremony (Class of 24) had extra significance attached to it, for these graduates had entered university in the thick of Covid-19 disruption, and had to navigate through the unknown territory of online classes.
AURAK, listed among Top 500 Universities in the 2025 QS World University Rankings and occupying the sixth position among UAE universities, honored 68 graduates and 263 undergraduates at the two ceremonies held on successive days. Eight students earned the Summa Cum Laude (highest distinction) honor.
H.E. Robert Raines, US Consul General in Dubai, who delivered the Commencement Adress, hailed the resilience displayed by the Covid-impacted graduates of the Class of 2024, and urged them to draw inspiration from the ghaf tree, whose roots go 60 meters into the soil.
'Remember your resilience. Remember that you can do this, whether you become scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs, engineers, artists or diplomats. You're entering a world that faces serious global challenges. You will need your resilience to survive and to succeed, and the world needs you to succeed. Second, I hope that you'll remember the value and the importance of community… because it is your community that will nourish you as you grow,' H.E. Robert Raines remarked.
Dr. David A. Schmidt, President of AURAK, in his welcome address, said: 'The world you are stepping into demands resilience, adaptability and vision. You've proven that you can navigate uncertainty and adapt to the unexpected. You've pursued knowledge, not at the absence of obstacles, but often in the face of them. As we confer your degrees, we do more than acknowledge your academic accomplishments, we affirm your readiness to lead and to shape the future.'.
Prof. Stephen C. Wilhite, D.Phil. Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success / Provost, urged the graduates to carry the legacy of appreciation for diversity and a commitment to promoting cultural understanding and to fostering civic responsibility. 'Learning is a lifelong process through which you can leverage your knowledge and skills to become leaders and entrepreneurs who can change the world for the better,' he added.
The graduates received their degrees in the presence of the Chairman of the AURAK Board of Trustees and other board members; H.E. Robert Raines, US Consul General in Dubai; AURAK President David A. Schmidt; and administrative leadership team and faculty of the university.
The Valedictorian Address was delivered by Mohammed Ayyub, the topper in Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with the highest CGPA of 3.95, on the first day. For the second Commencement Ceremony, there were two Valedictorians: Maryam Saeed Sanad Abdulla Alnaqbi (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration), the first Emirati to earn the honor in recent years, and Leen Mohammad Jamal Zaid (Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology).
About the American University of Ras Al Khaimah
The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), located in the United Arab Emirates, is a non-profit, public university that offers a comprehensive set of accredited and internationally recognized undergraduate and postgraduate programs. With a focus on holistic education and practical knowledge, AURAK prepares students to become global citizens who are innovators in their respective fields. Through partnerships with top global universities and organizations, AURAK provides students unparalleled opportunities to gain international exposure and experience.
This press release is issued on behalf of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) by Communicate Gulf FZE, SRTI Park, Sharjah, UAE.
For media queries, please contact PR Consultant Anthony D'Silva
Email: anthony@communicategulf.net
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
4 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE's first undergrad AI class: Only 115 accepted; who are the students?
From over 8,000 applications worldwide, just 115 students have earned their place in the UAE's first-ever undergraduate artificial intelligence program, and their stories truly show what it takes to pioneer the future of technology in the UAE. The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence welcomed its inaugural Bachelor of Science cohort this semester with a five per cent acceptance rate. Artificial intelligence has always been a subject to be taught on the master's or PhD level; nevertheless, the groundbreaking undergraduate programme is a one-of-its-kind in the UAE that is specialised in AI and teaches it to its students from day one. In a statement, Provost Professor Baldwin said, 'The jobs of tomorrow are being shaped by AI today and we must ensure that future generations are equipped with the tools and skills to navigate that shift. Our extraordinarily talented students don't just learn about AI, but learn with it, through it, and for it. This is an extraordinary value proposition across all our programmes, but especially for our undergraduate students, who will be studying towards a bachelor's degree in AI that I believe sets a new global benchmark in terms of technical depth, real-world relevance, and the high-end AI job-readiness of the students.' Among the accepted students are Emirati twin sisters Alaa and Aya Mohamed Elsayed, whose journeys into AI took dramatically different paths. Alaa, the youngest winner of the Nasser Bin Hamad Global Youth Creativity Award, has already built AI-driven medical devices for neurological patients and governmental tools for sustainability challenges. "For me, AI isn't just about algorithms — it's about people," Alaa told Khaleej Times. "I feel a huge sense of responsibility. We're not only representing ourselves but also showing how Emirati youth can lead innovation globally." Her twin sister Aya took a creative route to technology. A young journalist personality who has won over tens of awards in poetry, programming, and public speaking, she sees AI as transforming storytelling itself. "I was always the storyteller while Alaa was the builder," Aya told Khaleej Times. "But AI gave me a way to merge creativity with technology. I want to work at the intersection of AI and media imagine tools that help people of determination access culture, or platforms that preserve our oral storytelling traditions." The twins study alongside students like Russian entrepreneur Arthur Leontiev, who left his successful Moscow startup to pursue technical mastery in Abu Dhabi. After leading digital transformation projects for restaurant chains, Arthur realised he needed deeper AI expertise. "I had built a startup and learned a lot from the business world. But I realised I needed depth — real technical mastery," Arthur told Khaleej Times. "The UAE's vision felt like the perfect place to challenge myself." What surprised him the most was the classroom diversity. "I might be sitting next to an Emirati innovator, a student from Asia, and another from Africa. The mix of perspectives is powerful—it's like a live laboratory of ideas." The program offers two streams: AI for Engineering and AI for Business, with students gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge research, including Arabic language models. Students of the current cohort will be starting their fall classes next week, with the upcoming applications period to be announced soon.
Emirates 24/7
35 minutes ago
- Emirates 24/7
UAE marks World Humanitarian Day, pledges support for vulnerable
The UAE will commemorate World Humanitarian Day tomorrow, reiterating its pivotal role in providing timely assistance to those affected by crises worldwide. By mid-2024, the country's foreign aid had supported over one billion people, valued at more than AED368 billion. This year's occasion comes as the UAE leads international efforts to aid victims of wars and conflicts, particularly the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. According to United Nations reports, Emirati aid accounted for 44 percent of the total international assistance delivered to the Gaza Strip. To date, the UAE has carried out 73 airdrop operations under its "Birds of Goodness" initiative, part of "Operation Chivalrous Knight 3". The total aid airdropped has exceeded 3,988 tonnes, including food and essential supplies. The UAE has also affirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting the brotherly Sudanese people, pledging US$200 million during the High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the People of Sudan held in Addis Ababa on 14th February 2025. This brought the total Emirati humanitarian aid provided to Sudan over the past decade to $3.5 billion. In 2025, the UAE has further enhanced its initiatives to ease the suffering of the Ukrainian people. The UAE Aid Agency signed a cooperation agreement with the Olena Zelenska Foundation to provide additional centres for foster families and orphanages with a contribution of $4.5 million. Until last February, UAE humanitarian aid to Ukraine had benefited more than 1.2 million people, including one million women and children. Mediation efforts undertaken by the UAE between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine have also resulted in 16 prisoner exchange operations, with a total of 4,349 prisoners exchanged. In terms of natural disaster relief, the UAE provided aid to the Republic of Chad in January 2025, which included 30,000 food baskets and more than 20,000 blankets, to help mitigate the impact of floods in several areas of the country. The UAE also sent 700 tonnes of urgent food supplies to flood-affected areas in Somalia. At the end of March, the UAE dispatched urgent humanitarian aid to the Republic of Myanmar following an earthquake, delivering more than 200 tonnes of food, shelter supplies and medical aid. Later, it sent over 167 metric tonnes of essential relief materials, including plastic tarps and equipment, to support around 80,000 people affected by the disaster. On 11th August, specialised teams from the UAE arrived in the Albanian capital, Tirana, to take part in urgent response operations to extinguish fires raging across several regions. The UAE contributed with aircraft, equipment and firefighting materials. This year has also seen the launch of several humanitarian initiatives with global impact, such as the Fathers' Endowment campaign, part of whose proceeds will go towards providing healthcare and treatment for the underprivileged and supporting health systems in less fortunate communities by developing hospitals and securing medicines. Furthermore, the UAE Aid Agency and the Government of Chad signed an agreement to build the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Hospital and a dialysis centre in the capital, N'Djamena, aimed at providing advanced health services and therapeutic care for dialysis patients.
Fintech News ME
an hour ago
- Fintech News ME
MBZUAI Launches First AI Undergraduate Course
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has enrolled 403 new students for its Fall 2025 intake, marking its largest cohort to date. This includes the university's first undergraduate class, new graduate cohorts in existing programmes in Computer Science, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Robotics, as well as the initial intakes for the Master of Science in Statistics & Data Science and the Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence. The semester received over 8,000 applications across the university's undergraduate and graduate programmes, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 5%. Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI Provost and Professor of Natural Language Processing, said: 'AI is transforming the world at a pace that vastly outstrips traditional education models. To realise its full global potential, MBZUAI invests heavily in reviewing and updating our programmes to reflect modern AI research methodology and workflows, based on our bleeding-edge AI research credentials and grounded in societal and industrial needs.' The newly launched Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence offers two streams: AI for Business and AI for Engineering. The programme combines technical training with leadership development, hands-on entrepreneurship, and industry experience. The first cohort comprises 115 undergraduate students from more than 25 countries, with over 25 per cent of students being UAE nationals. Professor Baldwin added: 'Our extraordinarily talented students don't just learn about AI, but learn with it, through it, and for it. This is an extraordinary value proposition across all our programmes, but especially for our undergraduate students, who will be studying towards a bachelor's degree in AI that I believe sets a new global benchmark in terms of technical depth, real-world relevance, and the high-end AI job-readiness of the students.' Key highlights of the Fall 2025 intake include a total student body of more than 700, representing over 47 nationalities. Undergraduate students come from countries including Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the UAE, and the UK. Postgraduate students come from Canada, China, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Serbia, UAE, the UK, the USA, and Vietnam. Among the incoming graduate students, 151 (27.5%) hold degrees from universities ranked in the world's top 100 for computer science (CSRankings), including Cornell University, Tsinghua University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of California, San Diego. The university has begun its Orientation Week to introduce new students to its culture of academic rigor, AI-focused research, and community engagement. The programme includes academic sessions, mentorship activities, and cultural events highlighting UAE heritage and life in Abu Dhabi. Features such as the Orientation Mini Fair provide access to resources supporting academic success, career development, and student life. Orientation Week aims to foster a sense of belonging and connection, laying the groundwork for both academic and personal growth.
