DUBAI // Hard-up youngsters are being offered a chance to achieve their academic dreams through a Dh4 billion benevolent foundation.
The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education is one of the largest privately funded philanthropic education initiatives in the world. It was launched by one of the UAE’s wealthiest families in July last year to offer financial support to at least 15,000 students.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was on Wednesday one of the first to sign a pledge uniting the cause with Khalifa University, American University of Sharjah, American University of Beirut and American University in Cairo.
Fatema Mohammed, 19, from Sharjah, is studying HR management and public relations, with ambitions to work in the airline industry.
“Zayed University was my second choice because I wanted to study at Emirates Aviation College but I couldn’t afford it,” she said. “Such foundations would have helped me, and I’m sure will help others in a similar position in future.”
At the pledge-signing ceremony, at Zayed University’s Dubai campus, academics also announced three scholarship programmes. Each is designed to support underprivileged Arab students and equip them with skills needed to fulfil their promise.
The foundation will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education (Stem), and will also encourage voluntary work and social responsibility.
It will also offer funding for students to pursue courses overseas at universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Europe.
“This foundation is but a small contribution in return for the opportunities that our family was given by this country,” said Abdulla Ahmad Al Ghurair, the billionaire founder of Mashreq Bank, who is ranked 286 on the Forbes Rich List.
“We hope that the opportunities we provide young Emiratis and Arabs will mark the start of their journey towards greater success and philanthropic giving in the region.”
The foundation aims to invest in innovative, high-impact programmes that will help a minimum of 15,000 promising Arab youngsters from poorer backgrounds and also improve the quality of education at secondary and tertiary levels over the next 10 years.
The Al Ghurair Young Thinkers Programme will widen the pool of Emirati college-ready students through teaching in English, maths, science and innovation, while the Stem Scholars Programme will provide undergraduate and graduate scholarships to high-achieving Arab and Emirati students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics in top universities.
The Open Learning Scholars Programme will increase access to high-quality education through innovative online learning degrees and programmes offered by several highly regarded US universities.
Dubai student Asma Al Hamed, 21, who is in her final year of studying event management at Zayed University, expected the course to benefit many of her peers.
“University is expensive but education is important because knowledge can be so powerful,” she said.
“Foundations like this, that support people who may not be able to afford an education, have huge value.
“There are many people with great minds in the UAE, so it is important they get the help they need to achieve their potential.”
Student applications are now open via alghurairfoundation.org with a May 30 deadline for submissions.
nwebster@thenational.ae