ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿

 News 

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ RAK celebrates eighth graduation in Dubai

Friday, 18 September, 2026

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Ras Al Khamiah (RAK) celebrated the achievements of more than 550 undergraduate and postgraduate students at its eighth graduation ceremony, held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai on Sunday 6 September.

The ceremony marked another milestone in the partnership between ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ and RAK, which has now been working with the University for more than a decade to provide students in the UAE with access to ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ degrees.

The evening brought together graduates, families, staff, senior university leaders and distinguished guests, including representatives from the UAE and the Philippines. ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ was represented by Chancellor Sharanjit Leyl, Dr Cordelia Sutton, Dr Nasir Salari and Charlotte Moroney.

For BSU Chancellor Sharanjit Leyl, the ceremony marked her first visit to BSU RAK. She had the honour of conferring degrees and recognising the achievements of graduates across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Reflecting in a LinkedIn post, Sharanjit said:

“It’s been a memorable few days — speaking to the brilliant graduating students of ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ RAK in Dubai, to meeting the remarkable team making quality British-certified university education more accessible to the children of Dubai’s large migrant communities from the Philippines, India, Pakistan and elsewhere."

The diverse nature of the BSU RAK community was also celebrated throughout the evening, with students representing more than 30 nationalities. The presence of the Philippine Ambassador was particularly welcomed, reflecting the significant contribution of Filipino students to the BSU community.

The graduating students completed a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including MBA Leadership, MA Business & Management, MSc Cyber Security, BA (Hons) Business & Management, BSc (Hons) Creative Computing, BSc (Hons) Cyber Security and BSc (Hons) Psychology.

The ceremony also provided an opportunity to recognise achievements beyond academic success, with awards presented to students who had made outstanding contributions as student ambassadors, demonstrated leadership or achieved academic excellence. Staff contributions to both BSU RAK and ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ in general were also recognised.

Professor Georgina Andrews, ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿'s Vice-Chancellor, delivered a pre-recorded inspirational address, drawing on the story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel into space, and her ability to overcome significant obstacles in pursuit of her ambitions.

The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Dr Sheikh Majid Bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of BSU RAK and President of the Ruler's Court of Ajman, who joined Dr Raja Sajjad Hussain, CEO of BSU RAK, and senior colleagues in conferring degrees and celebrating the graduating class.

The past year's achievements were also highlighted, including BSU RAK's success in the 2026 World's Universities with Real Impact (WURI) rankings. The centre achieved global recognition across three categories, ranking 21st worldwide for Student Support and Engagement, 85th for Culture and Values, and 69th for Industrial Action.

The achievements underline the continued development of BSU RAK and its commitment to providing a supportive and globally focused learning environment for its diverse student community.

The evening also marked an important moment in the future development of the partnership, with the unveiling and ribbon-cutting of the new BSU RAK campus during the visit.

As construction of the new campus nears completion, it is anticipated that the facility will welcome students later this year. The new campus will enhance the student learning experience, create opportunities to expand the partnership's portfolio and support the continued growth of ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ in the UAE.

The graduation celebrations concluded with three graduates performing Best Day of My Life by American Authors, before celebrations continued into the evening. The song provided a fitting finale to an evening celebrating the hard work, determination and achievements of the Class of 2026.

The eighth graduation represents another significant milestone in the relationship between ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ and BSU RAK, with the partnership continuing to grow and provide opportunities for students in the UAE and beyond.