Adek extends scholarship programme to unemployed Emirati graduates

Unemployed Emirati university graduates can apply for a scholarship from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge to pursue a postgraduate degree at home or abroad.

The department said it was accepting applications “for the first time” when registration for its programme opens from today to March 22. Pupils in Grade 12 are also eligible and encouraged to apply.

Candidates must have a certified bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited university, a grade point average of at least 3.0, and an English proficiency test score equal to 6.5 or higher to be considered for an interview.

Males must also submit a National Service certificate.

Pupils in Grade 12 need to achieve a minimum average of 85 per cent in the General Secondary Education Certificate, or equivalent.

The scholarship covers tuition fees, monthly stipend, annual return ticket, housing allowance, textbooks, health insurance and financial incentives for high achievers for the study period.

The programme also provides job opportunities after graduation.

Students wanting to study medicine and health sciences, mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and geology, materials science, space science, industrial chemistry, biotechnology, genetics, finance, accounting, economics and statistics are eligible to apply.

Dr Mohamed Baniyas, executive director of the department’s higher education division, said the annual scholarship programme would support a knowledge-based economy by establishing a pool of talented Emiratis.

“Scholarships are important as students will be introduced to the latest teaching and learning methods and will help to establish a well-educated national workforce specialised in different disciplines that meet the growing labour market needs,” Dr Baniyas said.

“These programmes, especially the international ones, will enrich the student experience as students will have the opportunity to engage with highly qualified faculty, and get to know the different ideas and experiences that would stimulate creativity and innovation.”

Those interested can apply online at adek.abudhabi.ae.

These programmes will enrich the student experience as students will have the opportunity to get to know different ideas DR MOHAMED BANIYAS Executive director of the department’s higher education division