AAU Celebrates the Graduation of Its Students from the 31st Cohort for The First Semester (2023-2024)

Under the patronage of Professor Sari Hamdan, our President, the ceremony for the 31st cohort of the first semester (2023-2024) took place on the stage of Al-Arena on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The event was graced by the presence of several members of the Board of Trustees, Board of Directors, vice presidents, deans, faculty members, and administrative staff, along with a significant gathering of invitees and the graduates' families. The ceremony began with the royal anthem and a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, beautifully delivered by student Adam Al-Hadidi from the Faculty of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. A pharmacy graduate, Aya Taher Abu Fara, addressed the ceremony, welcoming the university president, the deans, and the attendees. She congratulated her fellow graduates and their families on this occasion, also expressing solidarity with the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Palestine, acknowledging them as the freemen of the world in the face of injustice and tyranny. She prayed for God's mercy and protection upon them and urged the attendees to stand and recite Al-Fatiha for the souls of the martyrs in Gaza and Palestine, as well as the martyrs of the Jordanian Armed Forces and security agencies. The University's Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Mustafa Al-Attiyyat, delivered a welcoming speech, expressing his pleasure to welcome everyone to AAU, celebrating the graduation of the thirty-first cohort of its students for the first semester of the academic year 2023-2024. He expressed pride in the university's pioneering role in Jordan's higher education since its establishment as the first private university in Jordan by the late founder, Dr. Ahmed Al-Hourani, until it became a beacon of knowledge and a center of cultural radiation. Dr.Atiyyat also prayed for victory and steadfastness for our brothers in Gaza and Palestine, and for the mercy and healing of their martyrs and wounded. He expressed appreciation for the diligent work and sacrifices made by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to support the Palestinian cause and its efforts to promote peace and achieve justice for the Palestinian people. Furthermore, Dr. Atiyyat conveyed the University's heartfelt congratulations and blessings to His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of his accession to the throne, highlighting the historical role of the Hashemites in supporting the Palestinian cause and standing by our Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom and independence. Addressing the ceremony and the audience, he said, " A[-Ahliyya Amman University bears the burden of excellence and uniqueness, embodying the spirit of the nation and the meaning of knowledge and education, thanks to the great and continuous support from Dr. Maher Al-Hurani, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Dr. Sari Hamdan, the University President, and all the university staff from the faculty and administrative sectors, making it a source of inspiration and motivation for future generations due to its proud history and promising future for its graduates." Dr. Atiyyat added that, " Al-Ahliyya Amman University has pledged to uphold its established traditions in the fields of excellence and innovation by continuously striving to raise the level of academic achievement and develop the quality of its teaching and administrative staff. It has also developed plans to improve institutional performance, educational quality, enhance scientific research, and interact with local community components, believing that excellence is our path and innovation is our goal. The university reflects a futuristic vision and commitment to academic excellence as a leading educational institution that always seeks to keep pace with the developments in science and technology, as evidenced by the introduction of many new majors for both bachelor's and master's degrees to meet the changing needs of the local, regional, and global job market." Dr. Atiyyat addressed the graduates and their families, congratulating them and expressing pride in their graduation, which is the result of the diligent efforts they have made over years of study and perseverance. He assured them that they have laid the foundation for a promising and bright future, and he was confident that they would be pioneers and innovators in their respective fields. He also expressed gratitude to the fathers and mothers who have spared no effort in reaching this day, as their support and encouragement for their children are an integral part of their success. Dr.Atiyyat concluded his speech by saying, "May God grant us all success in serving our university and serving our beloved Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and his Crown Prince... Peace be upon you, and may God's mercy and blessings be upon you." The graduate Shatha Nofan Habib Al-Wahidi from the Faculty of Educational Sciences delivered a speech on behalf of the male and female graduates, welcoming the attendees of the event. Addressing her colleagues, she said: "Today, you stand on the threshold of a flourishing future, and your presence here today is the culmination of years spent diligently studying, persevering, and hoping for this day... Congratulations on what you have sown, harvested, and continue to reap the fruitful results." She extended her greetings to the professors, saying: "Dear esteemed professors, your wise and boundless guidance was the force behind this achievement, serving as a source of direction and support throughout our journey. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and appreciate your dedication to building our future." Addressing the graduates' parents, she said: "Dear parents, at this momentous occasion, we feel proud to be your children. Your role in our achievements is indispensable, so congratulations to you on this accomplishment." She also expressed special thanks to the spirit of her departed father, who was her support, and whom she wished could see her raising her hat high and see his smile engulfed in joy. She dedicated her graduation to him, hoping to fulfill his wish and not disappoint him. Addressing her mother, she said: "My dear mother, I have longed for this day to come... and here I stand today before you to present you with my success. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am now. I pray to God to enable me to be dutiful to you as long as I live." She added: "Hearts yearn, eyes tear, and the brave march forward... They are those for whom a martyr is born every day. Every sigh weighs heavy on my heart, every grain of sand from your land, my beloved Palestine, where it's not just a homeland for its people but our hearts and the air we breathe... No matter how much joy is killed in the eyes of the young ones, and no matter how much the earth shakes beneath their feet... Palestine will remain the paradise on earth, they may consider you a thorn, but you are like a volcano erupting a revolution against its oppressors... In this blessed celebration, let us not forget our colleagues in the universities of Gaza, who did not have the opportunity to share the joy of success with us. We entrust you, O God, with our patience and our faith, and we ask Allah to provide you with the blessings of aid and support. O Allah, you are our protector, and there is no protector for the disbelievers. We ask you, with your vast mercy, O the answerer of prayers, to bestow strength, patience, determination, and well-being upon all its people, and to take their hands to safety." She concluded her speech by saying: "Remember that there is a Lord... so you have the right to wish, the ambition to strive, and the good opinion... and to God belongs the secret of timing, the secret of response... and the secret of amazement." Then, Professor Musleh Al-Tarawneh, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the university, presented the graduation statement for the "male and female graduates" of this semester from various colleges and for both master's and bachelor's degrees. Professor Sari Hamdan, along with the dean of each faculty, proceeded to hand out certificates to the graduates and awards to the top achievers among them.