500 UAE students off to five countries

Some of the top-performing students selected to travel to other countries as part of the summer abroad programme.

Abu Dhabi - Mohammed bin Zayed gives top-performing students chance of a lifetime

By Staff Reporter

Published: Wed 22 Jul 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Wed 22 Jul 2015, 2:00 AM

Five hundred and five top-performing students have travelled to five countries as part of this year's summer abroad programme.
The programme is a generous grant of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec).
The students were distributed among five countries - 90 boys flew to Australia; 60 boys and 105 girls flew to Ireland; 90 boys flew to the UK, 90 boys flew to the US and 60 boys flew to Canada. The five-week programme includes various educational, cultural and entertainment activities approved by Adec. The tenth edition will see students trained on leadership skills and on how to depend on themselves, as well as, to be exposed to an entirely new culture.
"The programme will help students improve their academic and personal experience and skills. It will teach them how to become self-dependent, help enhance their English language, leadership skills, and encourage them to closely interact with other cultures and become exposed to various educational opportunities," said Ahmad Al Shamsi, Adec's general services manager and project manager.
While male students will reside with carefully selected host families in order to improve their English language skills through immersion into the local community of the country of destination, female students will reside in university campuses at the host city. - reporters@khaleejtimes.com