UAE | Government

Give Emiratis 'scholarships in foreign varsities in UAE instead of sending abroad'

The Federal National Council (FNC) suggested that Emirati students be granted scholarships to study in foreign universities in the UAE instead of sending them abroad.

  • By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
  • Published: 10:56 June 3, 2009
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) suggested that Emirati students be granted scholarships to study in foreign universities in the UAE instead of sending them abroad.

Maitha Ghadeer, a FNC member for the Dubai, said scholarships should be granted to Emirati students to study in foreign universities in the country rather than sending them abroad, citing political events and catastrophes, which she said made families of students fear for their safety.

"Emirati students studying abroad face several dangers with little oversight," she told the House.

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said study-abroad scholarships give Emirati students the opportunity to experience different cultures and interact with different people.

"They are not studying abroad just to bring certificates, but valuable experiences and interactions with which they can benefit their country," Shaikh Nahyan said.

He said every year more than 600 students study abroad, where they gain experiences and skills they can contribute to the progress and prosperity of their homeland.

Some 762 university and postgraduate students were offered scholarships to study in the US, Australia, Canada and the UK, among other countries.

The Distinguished Students Scholarships and the Study Abroad Scholarships are granted annually by the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

These are the most prestigious scholarships in the country and are limited to fifteen to twenty of the best high school students who are drawn from an initial pool of five to six hundred candidates.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Readers' pictures
Your pictures

Readers' pictures

A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week

Community Reports

More from Community Reports