Dubai: One Emirati student will be chosen for the privileged Mansion House Scholars Scheme announced Alderman David Wootton, The Lord Mayor of the City of London in Abu Dhabi last week.
The Lord Mayor spoke during a visit to Abu Dhabi Men's College (ADMC) and added the candidate will be chosen by the British Embassy in an announcement later this year.
"This scholarship scheme will allow the student to study at the very best universities and business schools in the UK for a year, gaining world leading financial skills," he said. "These are the skills that will enable the next generation to thrive in a global competitive environment."
The Mansion House Scholars scheme was established in 1997 and provides scholarships in support of overseas students for training and work experience in the UK financial services industry.
"The Lord Mayor chooses up to seven students depending on which countries he's going to be traveling to during his year in office," said Billy King-Harman, Senior Programme Manager to the Lord Mayor. "This year we are looking at two students from the Gulf, one from the UAE and another from Kuwait."
Students admitted onto the scheme are entitled to training and travel assistance, bursaries, and other financial assistance on behalf of the City of London.
The Lord Mayor is essentially an ambassador for the UK's financial services industry. He was accompanied on his visit to ADMC by a business delegation consisting of senior representatives of the City's largest financial companies.
During the visit students at ADMC were given the opportunity to attend sessions with the top industry leaders to gain insight into the world of business and finance.
"This is a key opportunity to help UAE nationals and our students to understand their career opportunities in finance," said Dr Simon Jones, Director of ADMC. "What we do here at the Higher Colleges of Technology is bring the best people from around the world and enable our students to interact with them."
The visit came as part of the Lord Mayor's mission to honour the two nation's bilateral trade agreement made during UK Prime Minister David Cameron's visit in 2010.
"The UAE is the UK's biggest market in the Gulf region; and during David Cameron's visit our two governments committed to increase our bilateral trade to £12 billion by 2015," he said. "The City of London has much to offer the UAE's growth and development but particularly it's unique expertise in financing and managing vital structures required for long term prosperity."
