Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance and President of Zayed University, affirmed that Zayed University is proud and privileged to bear the name of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who transformed the desert into a green haven.

Her Excellency added: “We at Zayed University strive to work to establish Zayed University as one of the leading centers of knowledge and scholarship, nationally and regionally, and a positive contributor to the wellbeing of the people of the UAE.”

This came in Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna’s keynote speech during the interactive discussion held at Zayed University’s Convention Center, under the theme of “Leading in a Complex World”, which was led by Her Excellency Dr. Amel Karboul, Secretary-General of Maghreb Economic Forum and Former Minister of Tourism in Tunisia.

The event was also attended by Professor Reyadh AlMehaideb, Vice President of Zayed University, Dr. Marilyn Roberts, Provost at Zayed University, Deans, faculty members, and students.

Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna said: “Our guest’s portfolio is pretty vast and diversified; it covers a wide range of very interesting key points relating to education, culture, and tourism. She is a social entrepreneur, businesswoman, author, and politician. She is passionate about working with leaders, teams, and organizations assisting them in creating breakthroughs in their thinking and transforming themselves.

She was nominated as one of top ten leading young African politicians. She recently published her newest book Coffin Corner; outlining a new leadership culture suited to the complexity and dynamics of the 21st century.”

Addressing Zayed University students, Her Excellency said: “The UAE government is very keen on developing leadership qualities in young people like you, our students at Zayed University. Part of that is recognizing that we have a smaller world, full of diversity… to become leaders, all of us need to have the wisdom, character, and social skills to navigate through this diversity.”

Afterwards, Her Excellency Dr. Amel started the interactive discussion with the “Globalization” and “Digitization” challenges that people are facing nowadays, saying: “We are in the No man’s land that creates a lot of fears, doubts and uncertainty. The past is not here and the new is not here yet.”

During her discussion with Zayed University students, Dr. Amel affirmed that leadership is not a position anymore; however, it is a process that everyone can participate in its creation and progression.

She said: “Education means the ability to learn. Not only what you learn inside classrooms, but also what you learn to be innovative and practice leadership roles. And you are all privileged here in the UAE, which has huge potential in terms of benefiting the exceptional younger generations to be innovative leaders.”

“And I see a lot of hope in our younger generations to change the world for a better place,” she added.

Dr. Amel also emphasized that self-development is not a luxury neither a choice, it is a responsibility.

“Creative and critical thinking are essential aspects of the education process and the center of effective learning. Responding to the globalization and digitization challenges- with their complex environmental, social and economic pressures, young people are required to be creative, innovate, enterprising, and adaptable, with the confidence to use critical and creative thinking purposefully,” she added.

Dr. Amel also pointed out that “social changes can take a lot of resistance. Resistance means that you are changing something. The more successful you will be, the more resistance you will meet.”

Furthermore, Professor AlMehaideb highlighted pioneering programs offered by Zayed University, which contribute to the development of students’ abilities and skills and unleash their potential energies.

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