BITS, Pilani-Dubai Campus holds Graduation Ceremony - Class of 2006

H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy and Planning, Govt of UAE was the chief guest for the ceremony and awarded the Degrees to the Students. Mr. S. Venkateswaran, former Vice Chancellor and Advisor, BITS, Pilani - India, Dr. Abdullah Karam, CEO, Dubai Knowledge Village and Mr. M.Salahuddin, Managing Director, ETA Ascon group, Mr. Essa Al Ghurair, Al Ghurair Group and Member, Governing Council - BPDC and Mr. Arif B. Rahman, Director - Finance, ETA Group and Member, Governing Council - BPDC were the guests of honor on the occasion. Dr. M. Ramachandran, Director BPDC and Mr. M. Riazuddin, Director, ETA - Net were the hosts for the ceremony, on behalf of the institution.

The "Class of 2006" comprised of a total of 92 students who graduated as Engineers in different disciplines. The students completed their 4 years of Engineering studies which included 7½ months of rigorous Internship in reputed industries of UAE. A Campus Placement Programme was organized by BITS, Pilani-Dubai for the all above Students interested in seeking employment. Several reputed companies participated and recruited the students. The Students received excellent job offers with good salary packages.

Several students interested in pursuing higher studies(Masters and Ph.D degrees) have already got admission at very reputed and highly ranked Institutions like Stanford University- California, University of Southern California, University of Toronto- Canada, Mc Master University- Canada, A&M University-Texas, Drexel University-Philadelphia, Westminster University- UK etc.

The ceremony commenced with the welcome address by Dr. M. Ramachandran, Director, BITS, Pilani-Dubai Campus. The Director highlighted the great achievements of the Honourable Minister, H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, both academically and as the head of a corporation and Ministry, mentioning the enormous number of recognitions and awards bestowed on her. He also brought out the salient aspects of the growth of the institution.

H.E Sheika Lubna Al Qasimi in her address at the ceremony highly appreciated the fact that the number of graduates of BITS, Pilani-Dubai Campus have almost doubled since the first batch earned their degrees in 2004 and said that this growth highlights the focus and commitment of the institute combined with hard work. She was very impressed with the initiative of the institution in helping to secure employment for new graduates and that every new graduate found employment in industries such as technology, construction, logistics and trading and that several have also gone on to reputable universities for masters degree programmes. She said that this only demonstrated that not only are the qualified graduates entering the work force, but they are engaging in the hands-on learning that comes with the first job, or making the choice to pursue an advanced degree. She appreciated the focus, the institution puts on learning through internship opportunities with more than 100 companies and added that it is a model for higher education and a boon for businesses that eventually hire the students.

She said that for the UAE to achieve its economic potential, it needs a diversity of workers with the experience, education and skills to harness new technologies and embrace entrepreneurship. She advised the graduating students to take a lifelong approach to learning so that they will have the flexibility to change their career path as the economy develops. She also emphasized the fact that the Career is the most valuable financial asset, and significantly impacts not only the individual but the family and the economy as a whole.

Prof S.Venkateswaran, former Vice Chancellor, BITS, Pilani - India and Member Governing Council, BPDC congratulated all the graduating students and praised the extraordinary achievements of BITS, Pilani - Dubai Campus in such a short span He appreciated Director Dr.M. Ramachandran and his team for the commendable growth of the campus.

Mr. M. Salahuddin, Managing Director, ETA Group in his address offered his salutations to the past and present leaders of UAE for facilitating and supporting entrepreneurs from all over the world to establish businesses in UAE and growing along with the country in a very business-friendly environment. He said that the UAE government has always been emphazing greatly on education of nationals and expatriates. The far sighted initiative of the Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has several reputed educational institutions established in this country. Today UAE proudly boasts of being the educational hub of the Middle East. He also thanked Dr. K.K.Birla, Chancellor and Dr. S. Venkateswaran, Former Vice Chancellor for supporting his endeavors and for establishing and replicating the world class campus of BITS, Pilani in Dubai. He said that the construction of the new permanent campus of BPDC at Academic City will be completed by September 2007.

Mr. Abdullah Karam, Mr. Essa Al Ghurair and Mr. Arif B. Rahman also addressed the audience. Mr. M. Riazuddin, Director , ETA-Net administered the vote of thanks.

The graduation ceremony was attended by about 400 people comprising of the graduating students, their parents, guests from the industry, faculty and staff.

Over a period of six years, BPDC's students strength has grown to about 1200 students with students seeking admission not only from the UAE and the other Middle East countires, but also from India and other parts of the world. BPDC offers B.E. (Hons.) Engineering programmes in Computer Science, Electrical & Electronics, Electronics &Instrumentation, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering. BPDC will be moving to its permanent campus in the Academic City in the year 2007.