TOAD met some of the capital’s students and discovered that the diverse university life in AD is in a class of its own.
Abu Dhabi University
Specialises in Aviation, civil engineering, architecture
Most popular course Masters in business administration
Most unusual course BA in science aviation
Pros Lots of clubs
Cons Short library hours
Campus life
Vice chancellor Dr Terrence Motiuk says, ‘Half our students are Emiratis, the other half is made up of 62 different nationalities. We have 30 clubs, including a Syrian society, Chinese and African club, music, sports and maths groups, and 80 initiatives such as blood drives, clean-the-beach events, hospital visits, free visits to Jebel Ali Racetrack in Dubai, and Abu Dhabi’s Got Talent in our auditorium. We bring in coaches and judges, and students line up to get in. The venue seats 660.
‘Our annual week-long Mother of Nation event celebrates women, and we host camel rides, photography contests, poetry reading and faculty-versus-student football matches on and off campus. The public can attend half of our events. Soon we have a global week to celebrate ethnic diversity with dances, costumes, handicrafts and food stalls, which we expect to be busy on May 7, 2pm-6pm.’
Student Ghaida Arabi, 19, is Canadian. She says, ‘I’m in my second year of a BA in mass communications, which I started in September 2013. I live in a studio off campus. Most of my friends are Emirati and live with their families, while my foreign friends live in halls. I chose Abu Dhabi University because my brother-in-law was a professor there and recommended it; it’s a respectable university. I got a scholarship which means my spring and autumn fees are paid for. I’m satisfied with the professors. You can email the vice chancellor any time, faculty members have specific office hours so you can drop in, and they help you organise internships and jobs. Many students work on campus. The only downside is that the library closes at 7.45pm, and my class was promised a media lab with cameras when we started but it’s been delayed until September.
‘My foreign friends don’t like that the activities are segregated, they think it’s boring – although my Emirati friends are happy with this. I’m part-time, so I work for an events company in the morning, then have lunch in the cafeteria which has a healthy, varied menu. Classes run from 3pm-6pm. Your schedule depends on your course – typically, civil engineering students study in the morning when they’re most alert, while art students are most creative in the evenings. Architecture students study from 9am-5pm. The university lacks big spaces to hang out in; there’s no pool or dance hall, and only dorm students can use the gym. We usually hang out in Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks on campus, Boulevard Tche Tche Cafe in Al Raha Mall – which has a 10 per cent student discount – or the food courts in Dalma Mall and Mazyed Mall in Mohammed Bin Zayed City. I’m the president of the Lebanese club, so I am involved in debates and presentations for that, too.’
Inspired to take a short course? Try… How to Start a Business, Dhs3,500, a six-week Saturday course. Learn how to make a business plan, get funding and open multiple franchises. The next course starts mid May.
Khalifa City, www.adu.ac.ae (800 23968).
