Dubai: Around 60 female Emirati students from universities all over the UAE are set to travel to Scotland this month as part of Al Maktoum College of Higher Education at Dundee-Scotland Multiculturalism & Leadership Programme’s 16th session.
The programme, which will take place from August 12 to September 10, aims to strengthen ties between national and international educational institutions, enhance students learning performance and develop their multiculturalism concepts.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al Maktoum College shared some advice with the students during a press conference held in Zayed University in Dubai to orient the students and parents about the trip. “What we have here are the best 60 Emirati female students who will have the chance to take part in a month long multicultural trip,” said Al Sayegh.
“My advice to them is to think of themselves as ambassadors and not tourists or students. In this trip they will be representing their country, leaders, universities, parents and themselves and so they should act accordingly.” As part of the multicultural programme the students will take part in various workshops, lectures, discussion panels, and site tours to strengthen their leadership skills and broaden their knowledge.
Mariam Khansaheb, a 21-year-old chemical engineering student from the American University of Sharjah, who is taking part in the programme, told Gulf News about her trip expectations.
“It will be the first time that I will be travelling to Scotland, I hope that the trip will help me enhance my leadership abilities, meet different people and help me experience some independence as I will be away from my family for a whole month.”
Maitha Shoaib, a former student of Zayed University who took part in the trip last year shared some of the lessons she learned from the programme.
“It was a unique experience that benefited me on a personal level as I got to challenge myself as well as on a professional level because I have gained work experience.”
The programme, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance will include visits to the top universities such as Oxford and Aberdeen, and the landmark Scottish Parliament.
They will also get to visit the famous Sandhurst Military Academy. The program will also include meetings with some Scotland’s prominent figures and decision makers.
Students taking part in the programme are from universities that include: United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi University, the British University in Dubai, the American University in Sharjah, Dubai Women’s College and the College of Islamic and Arabic Studies in Dubai, in addition to Qatar University. For the first time the programme also included six female employees from Dubai Courts.
