Abu dhabi: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy's (AGDA) Board of Trustees, attended the graduation ceremony of the 'Shapers of Tomorrow' cohort of the Academy's students for the 2024-2025 academic year. The event took place at the AGDA headquarters in Abu Dhabi, marking ten years since the Academy's first cohorts graduated.
According to Emirates News Agency, the ceremony saw attendance from notable figures such as Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President; Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; and Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, among others. The gathering also included international dignitaries, academic staff, and the families of the graduates.
The ceremony celebrated the graduation of 71 students from various AGDA programmes. This included the first cohort of the Master of Arts in International Law, Human Rights and Diplomatic Relations, and the tenth cohort of the Postgraduate Diploma in Emirati Diplomacy and International Relations. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated the graduates and expressed confidence in their ability to enhance the UAE's reputation and contribute to international cooperation.
AGDA Director-General Nickolay Mladenov addressed the graduates, highlighting the Academy's progress over the past decade in developing programmes and preparing diplomats. He praised the graduates for their academic achievements and their ability to engage in professional dialogue in a changing world.
Deputy Director-General Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri emphasized that graduation marks the beginning of a new phase requiring continuous learning. He expressed confidence in the graduates' readiness to pursue professional paths, highlighting the strength of Emirati diplomacy in adaptability and partnership-building.
The ceremony also featured the graduation of 21 participants from the Future Leaders in Foreign Policy programme, aimed at preparing leaders to understand and tackle challenges in foreign policy and enhance skills in analysis, negotiation, and decision-making.