Abu Dhabi: A number of students from UAE universities participated in the UAE Youth Ambassadors (UAEYAP) for 2014 by visiting South Korea, China, and Germany in order to explore the scientific, cultural and leadership potential and skills of the university students.
The UAE Youth Ambassadors Programme was launched in 2012 under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to prepare young Emiratis to take prominent roles in strategic sectors and strengthen engagement with selected strategic partners of the UAE. It also aims to develop and equip young Emiratis to lead strategic partnerships with these countries.
Seventy male and female students completed the YAP for this year and they were from UAE University (UAEU), Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR), Petroleum Institute, and Abu Dhabi University.
Fifteen students out of the 70 participants took part in the Advanced Programme which involved advanced language training, in-depth discussions with experts from government and industry as well as individual research papers. I
t aims to advance the ambassadors’ understanding of the bilateral relationships between the UAE and host countries, through individual research projects, research topics, which have been tailored to the background of the students, where each student is paired with a local academic to guide him/her on the project, and advanced students given the opportunity for in-depth interviews with officials and experts.
A thorough and rigorous selection process is followed to select students from UAE universities. Selection criteria included academic achievements (GPA), character and leadership potential, relevant extra-curricular activities, and interest and knowledge about the host country.
