More than 615 students graduated from Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus on 25 November. Amongst the graduating cohort was Ahmed S. Fakhreddine, the first Emirati student who has been awarded the 'Best Performing MSc Real Estate Management and Development Student' award since the programme's inception in 2009.
Professor Ammar Kaka, Vice-Principal and Head of Dubai Campus said, "I would like to extend my congratulations to all students who graduated this year. We have significant numbers of exceptional performing students this year and it has been testament to the additional programmes and opportunities we strive to provide for our growing student base. We will have even more new programmes to announce in the coming weeks and we hope this will attract more students in the Middle East for future years as Heriot-Watt's Dubai Campus continues to expand its presence in the region."
The graduation ceremony also included the presentation of an honorary doctorate degree to Professor Uwe Krueger, CEO of Atkins. Professor Krueger gave a special lecture at Heriot-Watt's Dubai Campus on 24 November, on taking a smarter approach to the built environment and challenges that the industry currently faces, with examples of how this is being overcome through sustainable innovation.
Professor Krueger said, "I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this degree from Heriot-Watt University, a great and prestigious academic establishment.
"I hope that in some way this will inspire those many young students graduating this year to take up a career in engineering, and would like to thank the University for its continued leadership in this field.
"We live in a time of unprecedented challenge, as the world's population continues to grow exponentially and our city societies face ever greater pressures, we need, more than ever, to find new, smart, innovative solutions to address them. There is a great need for many more engineers, business people, scientists, town planners, architects and geologists to join companies, such as the one that I lead, to tackle these issues and to find solutions for our future generations."
Professor Ammar Kaka said, "Honorary degrees are given to leading industry figures who provide our students with a forward-thinking, pioneering outlook from which to learn and look up to.
"Professor Krueger and Atkins have been extremely supportive of our School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society and have provided invaluable insight and industry expertise."