26 UAE Students Win Prestigious Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program Scholarships

Tuesday, February 28, 2023/ Editor -

● The program offers a select cohort of talented university students unique access to specially designed courses, lectures, leadership experiences, networking, and graduate school counseling

● Of the 60 applicants, 26 were selected as SMSP scholars by judges from NYUAD, NYU New York, and leaders from the local community

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 28 February 2023: NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has announced the 2022/2023 class of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program (SMSP), which offers a select cohort of talented university students unique access to specially designed courses, lectures, leadership experiences, networking, and graduate school counseling.

Established by NYUAD, in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the SMSP recruits students from the UAE’s federal institutions of higher learning: United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Zayed University (ZU), and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). Of the 60 applicants to the program, 26 were selected as SMSP scholars by a notable panel of judges from NYUAD, NYU New York, and leaders from the local community.

Co-chair of the Scholars Program Steering Committee, Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated, “the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program recognizes promising students and provides them with unparalleled educational and leadership development opportunities.” She added that “the students who won the chance to become Scholars for this year should be very proud of their achievements.”

Furthermore, Her Highness highlighted the UAE’s unwavering support as the primary force behind the selected Scholars’ continued success, emphasizing that “they are the future leaders of tomorrow who will help serve this nation, fulfill its ambitions, and ensure it is always at the international forefront.”

NYUAD Senior Vice Provost for Strategy and Planning Fatma Abdulla added: “We are pleased to welcome another exceptional class of scholars to the Class of 2022-2023. The Scholars Program recognizes promising students and provides them with unparalleled educational and leadership development opportunities, and the students who won this coveted opportunity should be proud of their achievements in being selected. The academic, leadership, and cross-cultural experiences they will experience in the coming months will not only prepare them for graduate school, but also serve them in their future careers. The faculty and staff look forward to working with them in this exciting step on their journey.”

Scholars will split into two groups to explore one of two courses. One is entitled “Challenges of the New Political Economy”, taught by the former US Ambassador to the UAE Michael Corbin. The second offering is “Crises in Context: The Forces That Shape the Great Events of Our Time”, taught by noted author and journalist James Traub. The remaining courses take courses on leadership development, public speaking and public presentations, and critical thinking and persuasive writing. The scholars will also take courses that look at leadership development, public speaking and public presentations, and critical thinking and persuasive writing.

The SMSP has been ongoing since 2008 and has seen 14 batches of students graduate during that time. From 300 alumni, 130 students have subsequently enrolled in or graduated from graduate school, with 13 students enrolling in or graduating from PhD programs, five of whom also hold graduate degrees.

The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program is one of two Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programs operated by NYUAD. The other is the NYUAD Summer Academy for recipients of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholarships for Outstanding High School Students, which is a competitively selected college preparatory academy for Abu Dhabi-based Emirati high school students entering their tenth year.

The 2022-2023 Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars are:

1. Adil Mahroof

2. Ahmed Abo El Wafa

3. Alia Sultan Obeid Dhalee Alzaabi

4. Amina Khurshid Akhtar

5. Belen Berhane Woldegabriel

6. Farah Amer Hasan Ayyad

7. Fatima Mohamed Abdulrahim Ahmed Alsheebani

8. Hamda Ali Salem Ghabish AlKhamisi

9. Hamzeh S Abu Qamar

10. Hoor Ali Kamal Mohamed Alhammadi

11. Jamaluddin Sailab