The 13th Graduation Ceremony of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) saw 535 students receiving their degrees at a colourful ceremony at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

This event marked the first of two graduation ceremonies being organized by UOWD this year to accommodate the largest number of graduating students in its 15-year history.

The second graduation ceremony will be held in November.

Prof. Gerard Sutton, vice-chancellor, University of Wollongong, Australia, and Chairman of Board of Trustees, UOWD, conferred the degrees, in the presence of Jeremy Bruer, Australian Ambassador to the UAE; Prof. Robert Castle, pro vice chancellor, (academic and international), University of Wollongong, Australia; and Raymi van der Spek, vice president (administration), UOWD.

Abdul Majid Al Khaja, an alumnus of UOWD and currently the CEO of Rail Agency, Road and Transport Authority (RTA), was the guest speaker.
 
The graduation ceremony concluded with a reception hosted by UOWD.

The number of graduating students at the UOWD has been rising significantly over the past few years with the final number expected to exceed 1,200 by November 2008, according to a spokesperson.- TradeArabia News Service