ABU DHABI, 28th March, 2022 (WAM) -- NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) today celebrated the first decade of the NYUAD Summer Academy, an 18-month programme that enhances the academic profiles of highly motivated Emirati high school students and prepares them for entry into top-tier English language universities.

A gala celebration was held on the NYUAD campus, featuring speeches by Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann. Guests were also treated to a premiere of the film 'Ten Years and Counting' to celebrate the continued success of the programme.

During his keynote speech, Zaki Nusseibeh said, "The young men and women who have participated in the Summer Academy over the last 10 years demonstrate the very best qualities of academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and leadership potential. Their creativity, skills, and accomplishments are a source of great pride for the nation. NYUAD and the Summer Academy are excellent examples of how the UAE prepares its young people to visualise the global context of their future roles."

Delivering her keynote speech to alumni, Westermann said, "As the NYUAD Summer Academy celebrates its first decade, our commitment to this outstanding programme remains as strong as ever. The Summer Academy has played a key role in introducing students to the study of the humanities and the value of a liberal arts education, while developing their understanding of the cultural norms of Western universities. It has also helped spur personal growth and maturity, cultivating leadership potential in the brightest minds who will go on to help shape the future of our nation."

The celebration also featured an alumni panel discussion titled "Reflections and Revelations", chaired by Diane C. Yu, Counselor to Leadership, NYUAD and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programmes Executive Director. Another panel titled "Down Memory Lane" also featured Diane with Professor of Higher Education and International Education at NYU Erich Dietrich, and NYUAD Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programmes Manager of Operations and Student Advising Aisha Hamisi.

Commenting on the past ten years, Diane C. Yu said, "It is exciting to be commemorating the first decade of the success of the NYUAD Summer Academy in person on our campus. We saw the students' potential early, but the progress that they have all made - both scholastically and as rising young leaders - is nothing short of remarkable. We are so proud to have had the opportunity to teach and work with them in the Summer Academy."