To commemorate the UAE National Day, Emirates College for Advanced Education organized a range of activities at the College campus followed by a celebration ceremony held on Wednesday, November 30 at the Police Officers Club in Abu Dhabi. H.E. Saqr Saif Al Muhairbi, a number of senior officials from the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), KG students from Abu Dhabi Schools, ECAE staff and students attended the event.
The attendees first toured a remarkable falcon display presented by his H.E. Saqr Saif Al Muhairbi, a fine art exhibit of paintings of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, founder of the UAE, and some of the UAE’s prime landmarks developed from pure gems by the visual artist, Mr. Myasar Al Sobyani. The displays also included a student art exhibit of photographs and paintings of the late Sheik Zayed and ‘youla’ traditional dances. In addition to other entertainment stands which provided henna painting, traditional food and Arabic coffee.
Emirates College for Advanced Education students inaugurated the celebration by elaborating their pride of the National Day through a short film documentary titled “Voices of the UAE”, which recorded the students’ expressions of the past, present and the future of the country. H.E. Saqr Saif Al Muhairbi presented a speech sharing his experience of the history of the UAE followed by a song presented by the singer Saif Fadhel. ECAE BEd year four student Ahmed Al Mamamri recited his written poem honoring the occasion. The celebration also included performances by KG students and the recognition of the top students who made the dean’s and honor lists for this academic semester. Dr. Lynne Pierson, Executive Director of P-12 at ADEC awarded the students with the honoree certificates applauding them on their academic achievement.
Dr. Robert Thompson, Dean Academic, praised the students’ work highlighting the importance of national identity and described ECAE students as an elite cohort of tomorrow’s teachers. He commended administration and student efforts put into the organization of this joyful ceremony.
Activities on campus included a pictorial collage about the UAE past and present, food decorating competition, photo studio, fashion parade, youla dancing classes, daily entertainment bazar, and a unique art exhibition presented by Azza Al Qubaisi titled “Generations. The exhibition was open for ECAE students to contribute their expressions about National Day through painting, writing, and Arabic calligraphy. In addition, students from BEd year four organized a morning of games for fifty KG children from Al Jeel Al Jadeed School on November 29th. The children were engaged in a number of play-based activities related to the National Day.
