Major-General Pilot Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, attended the graduation ceremony honoring 288 male and female students, who completed programs in Aviation and Marine Science.

The ceremony was hosted by the Center of Excellence for Applied Research & Training (CERT), the commercial, research and training arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology, in collaboration with the Khalifa bin Zayed Air College and the Rashid bin Saeed Naval College.

The ceremony, held for the 2023 "Today's Leaders for Tomorrow" cohort, took place at the HCT- Bani Yas Campus Auditorium, and was also attended by H.E. Dr Abdulrahman Al-Awar, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and HCT Chancellor; Major-General Sultan Muftah Al Ariani, Director of the Executive Department of Education and Training; Dr. Faisal Alayyan, HCT President & CEO; Mohammed Gheyath, CERT CEO, as well as dignitaries and senior officials from the Khalifa bin Zayed Air College and Rashid bin Saeed Naval College, HCT teaching & administrative staff and graduates’ parents and families.

The celebration featured the UAE national anthem, followed by a video presentation that highlighted the educational environment in which the graduates were nurtured and qualified.

During his speech, delivered on behalf of the HCT's Board of Trustees, Dr. Faisal Alayyan commended the steadfast backing of the UAE's wise leadership, under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. This support has been instrumental in empowering higher education institutions to carry out their crucial role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Dr. Alayyan highlighted the collaboration that unites HCT, represented CERT, and the Khalifa bin Zayed Air College and Rashid bin Saeed Naval College, which has facilitated the preparation of proficient young individuals to serve the nation's military and security sector. He expressed great pride in the latest cohort of male and female graduates from the Bachelor's program, specializing in aviation, aviation support services and marine sciences. He emphasized that these graduates represent national talent who are poised to contribute significantly to the UAE's air and naval forces’ future development, thereby strengthening the nation’s security and stability.

On behalf of the HCT's Board of Trustees, Dr. Alayyan announced the successful graduation of the 288 male and female students, made up of 207 Air College graduates and 81 Naval College graduates. Saeed Ibrahim Al-Samahi, a Marine Science program graduate, delivered the speech on behalf of the graduating class, where he expressed profound gratitude to the UAE's wise leadership for their unwavering support and trust.

Such support, he said, empowered the graduates to attain academic excellence. He emphasized their commitment to serving their nation with utmost dedication and integrity, ensuring its security and prosperity. Additionally, he extended heartfelt appreciation to the graduates’ parents, who instilled in them the values of education and national service, and to their teachers, whose dedicated efforts enriched their learning journey and broadened their educational horizons.

The ceremony concluded with Major-General Pilot Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, awarding graduates with their certificates, followed by a commemorative group photo.