ABU DHABI // The president of the Masdar Institute reflected on a career of milestones as he prepares to step down after seven years with Abu Dhabi’s pioneering postgraduate university.
Dr Fred Moavenzadeh was part of the team that began setting up the institute in 2007 and became its founding president four years ago.
"I must say I never would have dreamed we could have achieved so much in so little time," the Iranian-born academic said on Wednesday at his final graduation ceremony.
Academics queued up on Wednesday to pay tribute to Dr Moavenzadeh’s leadership of the institute’s research into alternative energy and sustainability, and the significance of his departure.
“It’s a real loss,” said Dr Tom Hochstettler, acting chancellor at the American University of Sharjah, who has worked closely with Dr Moavenzadeh under the University Leadership Council, which promotes cooperation among universities.
“Fred has been leading the ULC and has done a fantastic job. He has a marvellous personality, charisma, vision and management skills.”
Prof Mahieddine Emziane, an expert in material science and one of the founding academics hired by Dr Moavenzadeh from Oxford University in 2007, said: “We’ve come a long way. I’m sure he is confident that things are up and running smoothly.”
Dr Jerald Yoo, an expert in semiconductor technology, said: “It has been my honour to work with Dr Moavenzadeh for the last four years. I still remember when I was doing an interview with him.
“He made an analogy of a human body for a healthy university: student, faculty and administration is just like brain, bone and blood. All three should work in harmony in order to be healthy.
“His legacy is to implant such spirit within Masdar Institute, not to mention helping each member of the institute to be confident and proud of what they are doing.
“We will not forget his great leadership and contribution he made both to the institute and to the UAE.”
It is thought Dr Moavenzadeh, who is in his seventies, will retire.
In a glittering career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, Dr Moavenzadeh was director of the Technology and Development Programme and of the Centre for Technology Policy and Industrial Development.
He received his master’s degree from Cornell University and his PhD from Purdue University, and has been as a private consultant to the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank and various United Nations agencies including the UN Centre for Human Settlement and the UN Industrial Development Organisation.
It was this influence that helped the Masdar Institute quickly rise on to the world stage, attracting top academics from around the world and securing support from the likes of aviation leaders Boeing and Etihad Airways, the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and the government of Saxony in Germany.
Dr Moavenzadeh told graduates on Wednesday: “The quality of our faculty and that of our student body and the fact that the Masdar Institute has been able to attract both local and global industry giants to support its research initiatives is testimony that we are doing things right.
“Masdar Institute has become a major force in addressing the challenges to the diversification of the economy.”
He said this had been achievable because of the unwavering support of the country’s leadership, for which he said “we are extremely grateful”.
He left the 130 graduates with some final words to send them on their journey after two years under his guidance.
“You have a major responsibility to contribute to the country and build the knowledge economy of the UAE,” he said. “Use your knowledge not only for personal and professional gain but for the gains of society and our planet.”
Women were as prominent as men at the graduation ceremony, from which graduates left with master’s degrees in fields from water and environmental engineering to information and computer science.
Of the total number of students graduating, 53 were Emiratis and 77 were international students from 29 countries.
mswan@thenational.ae