NYUAD's class of 2015 already a success story

NYU-Abu Dhabi's Class of 2015 graduates are already making their mark on the world in a diverse range of fields, according to a new report on the group's six months after graduation.

The class - which came from 53 countries - now includes a UAE Rhodes Scholar studying at Oxford, an accomplished composer in Mexico City, and a water engineer with a global consulting firm in Abu Dhabi, among others.The report - entitled 'Life Beyond Saadiyat' - indicates that the class collectively received over 180 offers of employment from a wide variety of industries.

Of the graduating students, 28 per cent decided to remain in the UAE, where they work in 24 companies. Of these, 67 per cent remain in Abu Dhabi, working for companies including twofour54, Ernst&Young, Irena, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Canon Inc.

"As I conduct macroeconomic research, model supply and demand dynamics, work through financial statements, and make projections, the liberal arts curriculum that an NYUAD degree is built upon has undoubtedly been a key asset," said alumni Kefa Kebanga, who is currently a development consultancy and research analyst with Knight Frank in Dubai. "It trained me to quickly develop knowledge in areas where I had no previous experience, catalysing my professional growth."

In addition to those who have entered the workforce, 29 per cent of the graduating class is currently enrolled in graduate or professional schools working on master's, doctoral, law, medical or business agrees at a number of prestigious universities, including Dartmouth, Hong Kong University, London School of Economics, Oxford, Yale, Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Of these students, 62 per cent received scholarships to continue their education.

Among those still pursuing their education is Sumit Dahal, who majored in Physics and Mathematics at NYUAD and is now a PhD student in Astrophysics at Johns Hopkins University in the US.

"I am constructing four telescopes to look at light that has been travelling towards us for more than 13 billion years, helping us understand the beginning of the universe. Getting up every day and working to answer the most fundamental question 'How did it all begin?' is the most satisfying aspect of my work," he said.

Class of 2015 graduate and current UAE Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, Hamel Al Qubaisi, noted: "Looking back on my four years at NYUAD, perhaps the greatest lesson that I learned was hope. This is a place where more than 100 nationalities peacefully coexist. For me, it shows that the world can be a better place."

reporters@khaleejtimes.com