Page 4 - Freshmen Welcome Newsletter

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Interview with ADU Chancellor

Prof. Ghassan Aouad

Q4- Research and innovation are major priorities at ADU. Can you list a few of the noteworthy
collaborations or research projects that have helped the university’s academic standing and excellence?

We have signed many research collaborations with institutions across the globe, mainly with the top 200-ranked
universities in the world. In some ranking agencies, universities are encouraged to go for joint collaborations with
each other. For instance, if you look at the QS ranking system, universities should take part in their program called
the ‘International Research Network’. The international research network is based on publications released by at
least three institutions working together. It’s an advantage to ADU that we are collaborating with international
universities and institutions. This will help increase our reputation and propel the production of our publications
and citations. Most importantly, it creates a positive impact. People will start taking the institution more seriously,
and this will create greater opportunities in the future. The more collaborations we have, the higher the rank we
will achieve.

5. How is ADU adjusting to students’ evolving needs and expectations as the field of education continues
to change, particularly in light of the digital era and online learning? Especially after COVID?

I think we need to understand that students now are what they call Generation Z. Their needs and demands are
different from those of the older generation. They are sometimes referred to as the entitlement generation. They
are entitled to certain things, and education is one of them. Providing them with the best
learning experience is a must. I mean, we are here to provide them with the right environment to enable them,
academically and socially, to be fit for the marketplace. We have graduate attributes for every single graduate
of the university to meet certain skills, be it digital, communication, analytical, and so on. This is the age of
technology, and the students are now digital natives. Indeed, they find technology very accessible, as they are
familiar with using it in advanced ways. ADU is providing its students with excellent platforms to enable them to
learn, whether it’s in the classroom or remotely. This is now a given in the post-COVID era. During COVID, people
lived in isolation, and they did not experience campus life. We are talking about a generation that has not been
to school or even university for two to three years, and I think this might have created some mental health issues
due to being isolated, not communicating with others, and so on and so forth. So, we need to encourage them
now and create the right environment for them as well by exposing them to functions, events, support from
student affairs, the counselling division, and so on. It’s a combination of measures that I think we put in place in
order to provide the best learning experience for our students, and our students are our best investors. Morally,
ethically, academically, and physically, it is incumbent upon us to provide them with the best learning and student
experience; they are entitled to it.

6. Could you provide some information about ADU’s policy on diversity and inclusion on campus and
how ADU promotes a friendly and inclusive environment for students from all backgrounds?

We have the policy, but what’s happening on the ground, in fact, is what matters. So, you may see in various
research projects a mix of males and females. Equally true, you may see people from different nationalities
working together in a nice environment. Some diverse teams enter competitions and win together. During
celebrating functions and events such as the national day, the entire ADU community celebrates like one family.
By way of example, we had the Pakistani Ambassador visit us, and I loved it because we had him for an hour and
a half only, and you could see the environment buzzing. Not just the Pakistanis were there; there were all types
of nationalities going around trying the food and mixing with each other, chatting, and sharing everything. You
can definitely say that ADU is a truly cosmopolitan place where a huge variety of people co-exist and enjoy each
other’s company with utter respect for one another, irrespective of race, religion, social status, background, and
nationality. The UAE is a land of tolerance, and in the UAE, people are genuinely tolerant. You can practice your
religion and live in harmony as long as you respect the values of the country. Certainly, diversity is now the most

Abu Dhabi University | ADU Freshman Guide 23-24