55 Elite UAE students graduate Al Nokhba Internship Program from Singapore and Germany

55 of the UAE’s elite semiconductor pioneers successfully graduated from the Al Nokhba Internship program this past Friday. Ceremonies held at GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ manufacturing facilities in both Singapore and Dresden acknowledged the unique achievements of the class of 2011 and celebrated their role as part of a pioneering generation of young Emiratis putting Abu Dhabi on the global advanced technology map.

The interns were joined for the graduation ceremonies by distinguished guests from Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC) and GLOBALFOUNDRIES.

“Once again, we have seen an elite group of Abu Dhabi’s youth actively excel in this international program, demonstrating a commitment to bettering themselves and contributing to the future of the UAE,” said Ibrahim Ajami, CEO of ATIC. ”This program and those involved have set another valuable stone in the knowledge-based foundation that will drive the development of a world class semiconductor ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. Simply put, I am very proud of this year’s class.”

“I am glad that our students achieved a great success in Al Nokhba Summer Internship Program at GLOBALFOUNDRIES’, one of the most important semiconductor facilities in the world,” said Mona Majed Al Mansoori, ADEC’s Division Manager, Guidance and Scholarship. “Al Nokhba Internship Program is designed to align education outcomes with job market requirements in line with the highest international standards,” Al Mansoori added.

“ADEC and ATIC are keen to provide students with a unique opportunity in order to actively engage in an extensive theoretical as well as practical training to develop their skills and enable them to master the semiconductors manufacturing,” Al Mansoori pointed out. “As part of the program, students work with some of the world’s best experts in the semiconductor industry which is the foundation for the electronics industry,” Al Mansoori added.

Sponsored by Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Advanced Technology Investment Company, this year’s internship program provided the best and brightest UAE engineering students hands-on experience at the world-class semiconductor manufacturing facilities of GLOBALFOUNDRIES, the ATIC-owned semiconductor manufacturing company. The six week long internship combined lectures, in-classroom workshops, hands-on learning, as well as the opportunity to spend time in the clean-room putting their new found knowledge into action.

2011 marks the third successful cycle of the Al Nokhba Internship. 30 participated at GLOBALFOUNDRIES in Dresden, while another 25 took the opportunity to travel to GLOBALFOUNDRIES in Singapore, a new addition to the program this year.

Meaning the elite in Arabic, Al Nokhba is part of ATIC’s overall efforts to develop a strong human capital base, which will serve as a foundation for Abu Dhabi’s strategic development in the advanced technology sector.