Abu Dhabi University hosts conference announcing Multiculturalism & Leadership program at Al Maktoum College in Scotland

Five students from Abu Dhabi University will be part of a 50 student delegation from universities in the UAE and Qatar who will be travelling to Scotland on 23^rd June to attend a three-week extensive academic and social program at Al Maktoum College of Higher Education in Dundee. Titled “Multiculturalism and Leadership”, the program is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. The program aims to promote the importance of cultural interaction and respect for other cultures. The program will also develop the students’ independence and leadership skills through lectures, discussions, debates and workshops that promote interaction between people. 

The announcement was made yesterday at a press conference on Abu Dhabi University campus, in the presence of H.E Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri Chairman of Abu Dhabi University's Executive Board, H.E Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of the office of H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairman of Al-Maktoum College in Scotland, Dr. Larry Wilson Provost of Zayed University and representatives of other participating universities. 

During the conference, H.E Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri Chairman of Abu Dhabi University's Executive Board expressed the University’s pride in participating in a program under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and organized by Al Maktoum College in Scotland. Bin Harmal explained that H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s efforts in developing an educational and applied strategy for the College has yielded monumental success throughout Europe and the world. “Al Maktoum College has implemented this strategy and succeeded in becoming a bridge for cultural interaction between the East and West, conveying the values and traditions of Arab-Islamic civilization on tolerance, brotherhood and love, thus forming a system of caring for people without distinction of race, nationality or religion”, said Bin Harmal. 

H.E Bin Harmal stressed that through its activities and programs, Al Maktoum College of Higher Education in Scotland has followed the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership, represented by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, their brothers, Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, and H.H. Lieutenant General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. “Our leadership has always been keen on ensuring that each Emirati national is an ambassador who portrays the values important to UAE society; values that include the welfare of all humanity, defense of the oppressed and spreading of peace throughout the world “, said Bin Harmal. 

“The achievements of Al-Maktoum College will remain a strong tribute to the value of higher education throughout the UAE and the region. It has continuously succeeded in attracting students from universities in the country and the GCC to benefit from the College’s programs that promote mutual cultural understanding”, expressed Bin Harmal. He added: “Abu Dhabi University is proud to host this conference that marks the launch of the new academic program by Al Maktoum College which has established itself as a beacon of science not only in Scotland but throughout the world”. 

Commenting on the program, H.E Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al-Maktoum Institute in Scotland said: “We are here today to welcome 50 female students and chaperones from eight UAE and Qatar universities which include Abu Dhabi University, British University in Dubai, Dubai Women’s College (HCT), College of Arabic & Islamic Studies in Dubai, American University of Sharjah, UAE University in Al Ain, Zayed University in Dubai and Qatar University. These students will be travelling to Scotland on 23rd June to attend the Summer School at Al Maktoum College in Dundee”. 

He added: The aim of this program is to provide female students with a three week extensive academic and social program in Dundee and Oxford where they will be studying leadership and multiculturalism. The students are provided air travel, hotel accommodation and funds for other expenses whilst they are in Dundee and Oxford. 

“With this trip, there will have been a total of 480 students over the past eight years who have attended this study visit at Al Maktoum College. I take this opportunity to thank Abu Dhabi University for hosting this event and extend my appreciation to the government and people of Scotland who have always welcomed the students and their study visits, which have become part of the Scottish calendar, in particular the city of Dundee.  Scotland is rich in historical, political and cultural sites which the students always thoroughly enjoy learning about”, concluded Al Sayegh. 

For his part, Dr. Larry Wilson Provost of Zayed University explained that the students participating in the Multiculturalism and Leadership were selected for their high academic achievement and their leadership skills. He pointed out that the students who previously participated in the program came back with enormously rich experiences that benefited them in both their personal and academic lives. 

Eman Abdul Kareem, a third year student, in the department of English Literature at Abu Dhabi University also gave a presentation sharing her experience as one of the students who travelled over 3000 miles to Al Maktoum College in Scotland last February, to participate in the academic training program.

Abu Dhabi University students who previously participated in the program then presented their colleagues from Zayed University who are due to travel to Scotland this month, with a torch symbolizing the transfer of knowledge to their peers.