Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Dubai, 9 September 2026: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and President of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), the University celebrated the graduation of 270 learners from its 16th cohort across a range of academic programs. The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Governors of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University.

The graduation of the new cohort comes at a time of rapid transformation across education and the workplace, driven by technological advancements and the accelerating development of artificial intelligence. These changes reinforce the importance of preparing talents who combine academic knowledge with future-ready skills and have the ability to continuously learn, adapt, innovate, and contribute to shaping the future.

The ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of the University, members of the Board of Governors, academic and administrative leaders, faculty members, and the graduates’ families.

The 16th cohort included graduates from a broad range of academic programs offered by the University, in addition to its research and doctoral programs, reflecting the diversity of its academic ecosystem and its role in preparing talents capable of keeping pace with the rapid transformations shaping the labour market and the knowledge economy.

A New Generation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Corrie Jonn Block delivered the keynote address, highlighting the transformations reshaping the future of education, work, and leadership. He noted that the current generation is entering a new era in which technology is no longer merely a tool, with career paths increasingly being shaped alongside the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.

He also highlighted HBMSU’s pioneering journey in adopting smart learning and discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in the future of work and leadership. He emphasised the importance of balancing technological capabilities with indispensable human qualities that remain essential across professional environments, including the ability to build trust, foster human connection, demonstrate courage and curiosity, inspire others, and maintain a strong sense of purpose.

Dr. Block encouraged the graduates to continue learning and acquiring new skills beyond graduation, affirming that this milestone marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and development.

Empowering Talent through Knowledge and Innovation

Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg said: “The graduation of the 16th cohort embodies the outcome of an ambitious vision founded on the firm belief that building the future begins with empowering people through knowledge, skills, and values. It is an honour to share with our graduates and their families the joy of this achievement, which marks the beginning of a new chapter of contribution, responsibility, and active participation in the UAE’s comprehensive development journey.”

Her Excellency added: “We take pride in the University’s graduates, who have demonstrated their ability to succeed within an innovative and flexible smart-learning model founded on innovation and lifelong learning. We are confident that the knowledge and skills they have acquired will enhance their ability to navigate AI-driven transformations with awareness and competence. By turning challenges into opportunities and ideas into achievements, they will contribute to the development of their communities, strengthen their nation’s competitiveness, and help shape a more prosperous and sustainable future.”

Learning is a Lifelong Journey that Does Not End with Graduation

His Excellency Dr. Mansoor Al Awar affirmed that the graduation of the 16th cohort marks the beginning of a new phase in the graduates’ journeys. He said: “In a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping education and work, graduation no longer marks the end of learning. Similarly, the role of a university is no longer limited to transferring knowledge or awarding qualifications. Our responsibility today is to prepare individuals who can continue learning, adapt to transformation, use technology responsibly, and turn what they learn into added value and tangible impact.”

His Excellency added: “Since its establishment, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University has been guided by the firm belief that education must keep pace with the future rather than wait for change to happen, and that learning is a continuous journey that does not end with earning a qualification. Today, given the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence, this approach is more important than ever. Our message to the graduates of the 16th cohort is that this day does not mark the end of their journey with the University or with knowledge; rather, it is the beginning of a new chapter of learning, skill development, and value creation for their nation and society.”

An Educational Model that Anticipates the Future

The graduation of the 16th cohort reflects HBMSU’s continued development of an advanced model for smart, flexible, and lifelong learning. This model focuses on building capabilities and future-ready skills, strengthening learners’ ability to adapt to rapid transformations, and enabling them to benefit from emerging technologies.

This strategy embodies the University’s vision of education as a continuous pathway for building capabilities—one that extends beyond earning an academic qualification to empowering individuals to continue learning, develop their skills, and transform knowledge and technology into tangible value and impact.

Through this approach, the University contributes to preparing talents capable of participating effectively in the knowledge economy and supporting the UAE’s aspirations for a more innovative, competitive, and sustainable future.