Abu Dhabi, March 13: Some 180 meritorious emirati students will be receiving ‘Elite Scholarship for Advanced Technology’ from 2010 to 2012 through Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), a top official of the council has announced.
The council and Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday to offer an entirely new programme of elite scholarships to emirati students to encourage a select group of technology pioneers to pursue degrees in advanced technologies.
As per the MoU, the requirement to obtain this scholarship is a minimum grade of 85 per cent for high school graduates and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for university students.
The MoU to grant scholarships for the next three consecutive academic years for high-school graduates and bachelor students was signed between chairman of ATIC Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi and executive director of support services at the ADEC Salem Al Sayari.
The students will be selected through a selection process of ADEC that will be followed by written tests and interviews. The students will be able to pursue any of the following disciplines: Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Computer Science or Engineering, Material Science and Physics.
Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director-General of ADEC, said, “Helping students develop skills and build knowledge through hands-on experience are key features in creating qualified professionals to contribute to the labour market of the country.” This partnership symbolises not only a milestone in ADEC’s 10-year strategic plan, but also supports ATIC’s mission of strategic investments in advanced technology by investing in the most valuable resource, the human capital, Dr Al Khaili said.
According to the MoU, ATIC will ensure appointing these students after graduation at Global Foundries, an electronic microchip manufacturing company wholly owned by ATIC.
This project contributes to the provision of highly qualified Emirati engineers to work in the advanced technology industry. The scholarship programme includes summer internships and workshops at Global Foundries in Germany, Singapore and the US.
Al Muhairi said the elite scholarship is an opportunity that provides tomorrow’s technology industry leaders with world-class education and work opportunities. “Signing this MoU is an important step in ATIC’s strategy to develop emirati human capital that is well-equipped to work in the advanced technology sector. We are pleased to partner with Abu Dhabi Education Council on this programme and we look forward to a successful long-term relationship,” Al Muhairi said.
–Agencies