Hundreds have applied for a place on a programme that aims to groom the country’s next generation of leaders, but only 20 will win a coveted scholarship.
The Dh30 million (US$8.2m) Bidaya scholarship programme is now in its second year. Bidaya means “new beginning” in Arabic and is awarded to high-school graduates who can demonstrate not only academic achievement but also character, ambition and confidence.
“We are trying to create the next generation of leaders and we are looking for students with strong personalities who want to achieve,” said Amina Taher from Zabeel Investments, which funds Bidaya along with developer Nakheel.
The programme covers studies at the American University in Dubai, the American University of Sharjah and the University of Sharjah. Students do not have to work for either of the sponsor companies when they complete their degree.
Successful candidates have their tuition paid and receive a modest living allowance. Each student is assigned a mentor, whose roll is to monitor progress and foster leadership skills. Mentors are chosen to match the degree subjects of the student with whom they are working. For example, a senior manager for a car firm has been assigned to a business student.
Part of the aim of Bidaya, Ms Taher said, was to encourage Emiratis to study subjects that traditionally few of them have chosen, such as medicine, criminal law and journalism.
“We don’t want only typical majors like IT and business. We want to see something unusual, where you don’t see nationals in these areas.”
Ms Taher said students from all parts of the UAE, some of whom lived away from the major cities, had already applied. The deadline for applications is June 6.
“You would be surprised by the talent and ambition and we have already received hundreds of applications,” she said.
Abdalla Ali, an 18-year-old from Khor Fakkan, who was selected last year and is now studying medicine at the University of Sharjah’s College of Medicine, said he could already see the results of the programme.
“It has really helped me to be creative with my ideas and the mentor has given me advice.
“Also, before, it was difficult for me to give presentations but now it is simple.”
In the past year he has taken part in a workshop with Edward de Bono, the writer and creative-thinker who coined the term “lateral thinking”.
The scholarship will cover the cost of Mr Ali’s seven-year tuition and most other associated costs. He believes that once he graduates the leadership techniques he has learnt will help him in his career.
“Later I might be able to have my own clinic or my own hospital. I won’t be able to manage it if I don’t have leadership skills. It would be very difficult,” he said.
Daniel Bardsley