Universities faced major upheaval and uncertainty during the pandemic, UAE University chancellor Zaki Nusseibeh said on Sunday.
Mr Nusseibeh, in his convocation speech, reflected on the losses and the lessons learnt during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister of State and chancellor spoke to members of faculty and staff on Sunday to welcome them back for the new academic year.
Through the speech, Mr Nusseibeh encouraged people to remain united in the face of challenges.
It is through coming together that we discover what we have to learn from each other
Zaki Nusseibeh,
UAE University chancellor
He said universities were a symbol of unity as they functioned as a community.
“The past 18 months have challenged this sense of unity and community,” said Mr Nusseibeh.
“There have been costs, there have been losses and hard lessons learnt. Many of us need time to recover and recoup our strength and spirits.
“It has been my pride and pleasure to witness staff, faculty, and students’ successful efforts to overcome the challenges to the community presented to us by our forced absence from campus.
“But I have seen that you do have the strength and spirit of unity, the unity that is the symbolic purpose of a university."
During the past year, the majority of students at the university studied remotely. Most students have returned for in-person learning this year.
UAE University was established by Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, in 1976.
Close to 13,000 Emirati and international students are enrolled there.
"Our approach is cautious, but we are certain of our ability to protect the wellbeing of all as we begin to enjoy each other’s company once again," said Mr Nusseibeh in the convocation speech.
"It is through coming together that we discover what we have to learn from each other."
Mr Nusseibeh said Expo 2020 Dubai would bring together nations for dialogue, learning and creating relationships and networks.
In October 2020, Mr Nusseibeh was appointed as UAE University’s chancellor.
He shared a message for the education community through his speech.
"My message to you on this opening of the academic year, is to enjoy the opportunities you have to come together on campus," said Mr Nusseibeh.
"They are treasured, important moments. I request that you maintain your efforts to sustain our community during those times when we must be absent from each other once more.
"I urge you to respect the measures and procedures in place to ensure our safety. By doing this you increase the likelihood that we will all be able to join together face-to-face much sooner."
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
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More from UAE Human Development Report:
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
