Twenty students from UAE universities have been chosen for a high-profile scholars' programme that will see them travel to the US, take classes taught by the president of New York University and attend courses in English and leadership. A panel of judges from NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU New York looked over 43 applications for the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Scholars Program, now in its second year. The students come from three major UAE academies: UAE University, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology.
"They represent the very best qualities of academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, creativity, skills, and accomplishments among the top university students in the UAE," said Diane Yu, the executive director of the scholars' programme and the chief of staff and deputy to the NYU president, John Sexton. In the US, the scholars, who are in their third and fourth years of study, will visit the Supreme Court, historic locations in Washington and NYU's Washington Square Campus in New York.
They will also attend lectures in religion and government sponsored by the university and taught by Mr Sexton. Robert Shrum, the political strategist and senior NYU fellow, and James Traub, the New York Times Magazine journalist, will also lead some seminars. "The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program recognises promising UAE national students and provides them with unparalleled educational and leadership development opportunities," said Sheikha Maryam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, co-chairwoman of the programme steering committee. "The students awarded scholarships for this year should be very proud of their achievements."
asafdar@thenational.ae
