The Arab Open University (AOU) in Bahrain celebrated the graduation of the 13th batch of the AOU students under the patronage and in the presence of HRH Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Talal, Chairman of the AOU Board of Trustees.
In a speech during the ceremony, Prince Abdul-Aziz said the ceremony came in parallel with the graduation ceremonies of other AOU branches operating in nine Arab countries as the University has completed its second decade. Prince Abdul-Aziz recalled the initiatives launched by the AOU founder, the late Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz, May Allah rest his soul in peace, that have provided the youth in the Arab world with higher education, stressing these initiatives primarily seek to qualify and improve the Arab youth's skills and capabilities through locally and internationally advanced knowledge and sciences which in turn help governments in meeting the increasing demand for tertiary education and effectively contributing to the human development.
On his part, Prof. Mohammed Al-Zakari, AOU President, emphasized the University's continuity in achieving the noble vision of the AOU founder that aims at providing educational opportunities to the youth of the Arab world in order to qualify them for positively contributing to driving development. Prof. Mohammed continued the AOU's mission is to be a leading University in building the society of knowledge and science as well as building expertise in accordance with international quality standards in an intellectual environment based on development, scientific research, and harnessing the potential for the benefit of students, community, and humanity as a whole.
Dr. Ghurmallah Al-Ghamdi, Acting Rector of AOU in Bahrain, said the AOU has established academic partnerships with international institutions, and moved beyond the phase of the provision of undergraduate degrees to the postgraduate phase by the virtue and support of the late HRH Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz, HRH Prince Turki bin Talal, and HRH Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Talal. Then, Dr. Al-Ghamdi congratulated the graduates of the 13th class, whom he hoped to be perfect representatives of the AOU and its noble mission.
Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Talal honored the graduates with certificates and wished them all success.