Emirates Aviation University yesterday celebrated its 29th graduation ceremony, honouring more than 220 students. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group awarded degrees across multiple disciplines. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, the graduation ceremony took place at the university’s campus in Dubai Academic City.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Dr Ahmad Al Ali, Vice-Chancellor of Emirates Aviation University; Amira Al Falasi, Vice President HR Talent Acquisition & National Talent Development; Ahmad Safa, Divisional Senior Vice President for Emirates Engineering; Dr Amer Sharif, Vice Chancellor of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences; Zaid Al Hazmi, CEO of Lufthansa Technik Middle East and other VIPs, government representatives, family and friends of the graduates.

Dr Ahmad Al Ali, Vice-Chancellor of Emirates Aviation University said: “The graduation ceremony is a significant event on our calendar to celebrate the achievements of our students. We extend our congratulations to them as they take the next steps towards rewarding careers. EAU provides students with vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that combine the highest academic standards with the latest developments in the field of aviation. Their success is a reflection on our strategy that combines international education with industry best practices.”

Guests at the graduation ceremony were also able to view exciting aviation-related projects displayed in the university’s foyer. These projects were the work of final year students from the School of Engineering, including those pursuing studies in BSc Aeronautical Engineering, BEng Aerospace Technology, BEng Avionics Technology and BSc Software Engineering programmes.

Presentations included:

• a runway foreign object debris detector drone for the safe landing and take-off of aircraft;
• a morphing wing application, intended to reduce drag and increase efficiency of fuel consumption on aircraft;
• a drone capture concept which works by throwing a net on unexpected drones flying in restricted areas;
• a concept for a long range solar powered aircraft, printed entirely from 3D materials with solar cells attached on its wing that charge its battery to increase flight time;  and
• Jet Kart, a gas turbine powered kart which generates 12 – 14 kg of thrust that moves other objects along.

Since 1991, the university has graduated more than 16000 students across diverse disciplines and areas of study, helping to support the aviation industry in the UAE, among other sectors.

Emirates Aviation University announced recently that ten of its academic programmes have now been accredited by The Royal Aeronautical Society. The latest international recognition bolsters the university’s credentials as the educational institution offering the most extensive range of accredited aviation programmes in the region, reinforcing its focus on quality education, training and career progression for professionals in the industry. The accredited programmes include: Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Technology, Avionics Technology, Applied Mechanical Engineering as well as Aircraft Maintenance, in addition to Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aviation Safety, Aviation Security and Unmanned Aerospace Systems Design.

Last year, EAU received accreditation from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as a Maintenance Training Organisation. This official certification provided the university with significant recognition on the national and international level as the first educational institution in the UAE to have its Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Programme approved by EASA, in addition to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority.

EAU programmes are also accredited by different national and international institutions including the UAE Ministry of Education, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) , the Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport-UK (MBA aviation management and MBA logistics and supply chain management), the Royal Aeronautical Engineering Society, Royal Aeronautical Society – UK (engineering programmes) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development – CIPD (MA HR management).

Another recent Emirates Aviation University initiative is the six-month internship programme with the Emirates Group for third year students who demonstrate extraordinary academic performance and are enrolled in the university’s upcoming fall semester. The coveted internship programme with one of the region’s largest and most successful organisations will help students combine academic study with practical, applied experience relevant to their education and career plans.

Established in 1991, Emirates Aviation University is a leading educational institution in the Middle East for aeronautical engineering, aviation management, business management, and aviation safety & security studies. The University is the academic wing of the Emirates Group; a global travel and tourism conglomerate known worldwide for their commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of business.