Class of 2016 Celebrates at NYIT-Abu Dhabi

Fifty-seven graduating students gathered for NYIT-Abu Dhabi’s commencement ceremony at the Hotel Intercontinental Abu Dhabi on May 26. NYIT President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., joined the graduates and their supporters, including the United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, the Honorable Barbara A. Leaf. The graduates earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, bachelor’s degrees in interior design, and, for the first time in Abu Dhabi, master’s degrees in instructional technology. (Story continues below.)

Participants in the ceremony included graduating senior Mohamed Rashed Al Dhaheri (B.S. ’16), who opened proceedings with a recitation from the Qur’an, and Ambassador Leaf, who discussed innovation and encouraged the graduates to create the best possible future.

NYIT-Abu Dhabi Executive Director Ahmad Tabbara led the faculty processional and presented the graduates to receive their degrees. The two graduate speakers, Nadia Abdulla Al Hammad and Rebab Abdulla, each earned a Master of Business Administration. They expressed their gratitude to NYIT for providing them with knowledge as well as career preparation.

Attendees also enjoyed a brief video highlighting the events that took place at NYIT’s main commencement ceremony in Old Westbury, N.Y., where nearly 2,900 graduates received their degrees on May 22. Graduate Rana El Kassem (M.S. ’16) said, “The best part of the ceremony was when we threw our graduation caps in the air!”

In his commencement address, President Guiliano congratulated the graduates for having accomplished “many meaningful things” during their time at NYIT. He mentioned notable successes in business competitions, international conferences, public exhibitions, travel abroad, and community service, noting “these types of projects have taken you out into the world and form part of your NYIT education. And in addition to the benefit you take from them, your outstanding efforts have made us proud. In fact, the success of NYIT-Abu Dhabi was a key reason why NYIT was granted a prestigious award by the world’s largest organization for international educators, the 2016 Senator Paul Simon Award.”

In addition to the degrees conferred Thursday, NYIT-Abu Dhabi offers a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in information, network, and computer security. All NYIT degrees offered outside the U.S. are accredited both in the U.S. and in the country where they are earned.