On
the sidelines of the activities of the second day of the 5th edition of the National Science, Technology, and
Innovation Festival (NSTI), the Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched the
"Intilaaqah" University Preparation Program at the Dubai Exhibition
Center at Expo 2020. The program has been launched in the presence of His
Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, and Dr. Amna
Al Dahak Al-Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Welfare and Capacity
Building Sector.
The
aim of the launch of the "Intilaaqah" Program is to prepare a
generation of citizen students with the necessary skills and competencies, to
be able to enroll in the most prestigious universities locally and globally.
The program also opens flexible, diversified educational horizons that
commensurate with the future needs of the labor market, nurture priority
sectors, and boost the feelings of belonging, in accordance with the strategy
of the UAE.
His
Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al-Hammadi confirmed that the aim of the
"Intilaaqah" Program was to meet the future directions of the
country; UAE Vision 2071; and the items and indicators emanating from the next
fifty-year plan. He added that they were all based on qualifying national
competencies, preparing them to engage in competitiveness, and instilling
in the school community the culture of lifelong learning by enabling the
students of public and private schools and high schools of applied technology
to enroll in leading universities globally and locally, diversifying the
scholarship countries, and providing academic guidance for outstanding
students, in line with their professional tendencies and capabilities. He
explained that the aim was to prepare national cadres capable of meeting the
needs of the UAE labor market, as well as facilitating their access to
opportunities of unconditional academic admission to international universities
and direct admission to distinguished universities in the country.
HE
said that of the aspects of the MoE's philosophy was to continue the education
journey with the student, through support and guidance. He explained that the
MoE did not only provide students with science, knowledge, and skills, but also
prepared responsible, pioneering, thinking, and constructive students and supported
them while defining their desires and tendencies based on their abilities and
knowledge. He added that in this manner, it was easy to decide what best suited
the students to be able to achieve their ambitions and the aspirations of the
country and its leadership; by ensuring that they received high-quality
education inside and outside the country.
HE
the Minister of Education sent a message of pride to the scholarship students,
who continued their education outside the country. He added that they were
ambassadors of the country, embodied the values and advancement of the society,
and carried humanitarian, moral, and civilized messages to the world. He
explained that they reflected a beautiful image of their country, while
striving and studying to hold the most prestigious and best university degrees,
returning home in pride and success.
For
his part, His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Mualla, Undersecretary of the
MoE for Academic Affairs, said that the MoE was keen on strengthening,
developing relations with local and international educational and academic
institutions, attracting, and qualifying students to join higher education
institutions inside and outside the country, in line with the needs of the
labor market. He added that the MoE aimed by launching the
"Intilaaqah" Program to invest in the students, whom the MoE regarded
as human resources, and enable them to obtain the highest degrees of
educational attainment. He explained that this would positively affect the
country's national competitiveness, provide students with multiple study
options by diversifying the scholarship countries, as well as give them the
opportunity to apply the experiences they had gained during the period of their
scholarship. He said that this would create an independent generation capable
of self-reliance and success while pursuing their future career. He added that
this would also support the future strategy to achieve the UAE Centennial 2071,
according to a methodology that sought to empower students academically and
skillfully.
HE
Dr. Amna Al-Dahak Al-Shamsi explained that the Program included the
qualification and empowerment phases. She said that the qualification phase
targeted students of grades 9 and 10 and aimed to provide students with the
basic requirements and necessary skills they must possess before choosing a
specialization. She added that the empowerment phase targeted students of
grades 11 and 12 and aimed to enable students to enroll in the best
international and local universities in a manner that would ensure their
continued excellence during their university study.
She
stressed that the "Intilaaqah" University Preparation Program kept
pace with the future requirements of the labor market, provided Emirati
students with distinguished educational opportunities that qualified them to
join competitive areas of work after their graduation, and qualified them with
the necessary skills to be leaders, creators, and innovators in various areas of
science and knowledge by providing them with the latest knowledge and skills
and qualifying graduates in various fields. She explained that this would also
be achieved by qualifying graduates with the various specializations needed by
the current and future labor market, to achieve the strategic goals and plans of
the UAE and the insightful vision of its wise leadership related to prosperity
and sustainable development and comprehensive economic development.
