18-month enrichment programme prepares UAE students to university life

New York University (NYU) in Abu Dhabi

Two intensive summer courses, which prepare 32 outstanding grade 10 and 11 Emirati pupils for university life, have been launched for the third year, the New York University (NYU) in Abu Dhabi has announced.

The 18-month mixed gender programme, which will start in July this year and is likely to be around the same time next year, includes four courses focused on critical writing and thinking, mathematical reasoning for the sciences, test preparation and college admissions counselling, leadership development and public speaking.

The 32 secondary school pupils have been selected to participate in the NY Summer Academy as recipients of the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed scholarship for Outstanding High School Pupils.

The pupils were selected based on their academic excellence, English-language comprehension, motivation to attend college and other leadership and potential interpersonal skills.

“We are committed to investing in our youth and providing them with the right tools to develop into capable future leaders across all sectors,” said Shaikha Mariam Bint Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as a key adviser to the programme.

“This programme provides not only academic and intellectual development opportunities but also builds confidence and offers them a character-building life experience,” Shaikha Mariam added.

Taking place during the two summers following the 10th and 11th grades and including three semesters of online and in-person instruction throughout the academic year, the Summer Academy will introduce students to the academic standards, norms, and culture of leading international higher education institutions.

Students will study for about three weeks at NYU in Abu Dhabi and will have the chance to travel to NYU’s academic centre in Florence, Italy for an additional ten days of study during the first summer period.

The second summer session is divided between Abu Dhabi and NYU in New York as well as involving cultural activities such as visits to museums, historical sites and private meetings and conferences with local and international leaders.

“Our recent class of Summer Academy graduate students from this educational programme last year have been accepted by leading universities and colleges around the world and grown intellectually and personally.

“The programme will provide them counselling on test preparation for SAT and Toefl,” Diane C. Yu, executive director of the Summer Academy and deputy president of NYU, said.