The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education (AGFE) has announced a new multi-stakeholder collaboration, the US University Readiness Programme, together with the UAE Ministry of Education, AMIDEAST and the US Embassy Abu Dhabi. The university-geared upskilling programme will develop the skills of 105 Emirati 11th-grade high school students and 33 counsellors from nearly 47 schools across the UAE to navigate the admissions process of higher education institutions in the US.
The programme aligns with the UAE Ministry of Education Strategic Plan 2017-2021of providing quality education for students and meeting future labour market demands
The 15-month-long programme seeks to improve acceptance and enrollment opportunities for Emirati students applying to colleges and universities across the US. As part of the collaboration, the students will participate in an interactive, engaging after-school enrichment programme. It will focus on fostering their English-language competencies and developing the communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills needed to achieve the required scores on standardised exams required for US university admission.
The UAE Ministry of Education, AMIDEAST, the US Mission to the UAE, and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education join hands to launch a programme
The participating students will also be guided through the many other aspects involved in the US university admissions system. This includes developing their knowledge of US educational opportunities, supporting them to navigate the application process, and equipping them with the necessary skills for test preparation. In addition to assistance with university application submissions, financial aid application support will also be provided as needed.
The collaboration will support more than 100 11th-grade students and 33 school counsellors across the UAE
Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer of AGFE, said: “This is another milestone in our university readiness programme, and we are proud of this multi-stakeholder partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education, US Embassy Abu Dhabi, and AMIDEAST. The partnership reflects AGFE’s continued commitment to providing youth in the UAE and the wider Middle East region access to quality higher education opportunities. With the introduction of this ground-breaking collaboration, our objective is to create real and meaningful impact in the lives of Emirati and Arab youth in the region for many years to come.” In addition to supporting and guiding students interested in studying in the US, the programme provides public secondary school counsellors with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with US university admission procedures and develop new skills and techniques.