NYU Abu Dhabi announces recipients of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Programme

NYU Abu Dhabi has announced the 2017-2018 class of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars programme, which enhances the existing skills of outstanding students in the UAE and provides them with special academic and leadership opportunities.

The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars programme, established by NYU Abu Dhabi in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Education Council, draws on students in their third and fourth years of study in the UAE’s national institutions of higher learning United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University, and the Higher Colleges of Technology.

Sixty students were nominated by the three institutions to be considered for the programme. Of these, 38 were selected as finalists and were interviewed, and 24 were selected as Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars by a distinguished panel of judges from NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and leaders of the local community.

The 2017-2018 Scholars will take one of two special classes; first is on religion and government, taught by former NYU President John Sexton, and the other on US foreign policy, taught by noted journalist, James Traub. In addition, all Scholars will take courses on Leadership Development, Public Speaking, Public Presentations, Critical Thinking and Persuasive Writing.

During the year, the programme participants will travel to the US to visit government sites in Washington, DC, and hold classes at the Washington Square campus in New York while also touring cultural attractions in the two cities.

H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, co-chair of the Scholars programme Steering Committee, said that the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars programme recognises 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.

Diane C. Yu, Executive Director of the Scholars programme and Counselor to NYUAD Leadership, said, "We are delighted that these exceptional men and women will be part of this new class of Scholars. 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. They are a diverse and dynamic group, and we hope they will benefit greatly from what they will learn and experience through the programme."