fbpx
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
23rd Nov 2022

UAE sets a new tone for scholarship programmes in the Persian Gulf

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • A new Abu Dhabi-administered scholarship programme aims to fully fund degree studies in the US and Canada for 6,000 students by 2028
  • The programme relies on a 2+2 model, with students beginning their studies at a community college and then transferring to a university to complete their degrees
  • The new scholarships are targeted to the large field of students who have not been able to participate in earlier programmes that have been limited to top-ranked institutions abroad

The United Arab Emirates has launched a new scholarship programme that aims to send 6,000 Emirati students for degree programmes in the US and Canada by 2028.

The Khotwa (RizeUp) scholarship programme was announced in September 2022 and will be administered by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). The AED1.9 billion (US$520 million) programme is targeted to students from a variety of academic and social backgrounds "to enable them to achieve their full potential and contribute to the growth of Abu Dhabi’s knowledge-based economy."

Khotwa scholarships will provide full funding for participating Emirati students for their entire degree programmes, including homestay accommodation and up to a year of English language study.

The programme relies on a 2+2 model, through which students will begin their academic studies at a designated community college in either Canada or the US, and then transfer to an affiliated university to complete their degrees. The initial set of participating colleges were reportedly selected on the basis that they (a) operate their own English language programmes, (b) are partnered with degree-granting universities, and (c) offer homestay accommodations for visiting students.

In order to be eligible for a Khotwa scholarship, Emirati students must have an average of 65% or above in their final year of secondary studies, and an IELTS score of 3.0 or better. The first 170 Khotwa-funded students will begin their studies in the US and Canada in January 2023.

Where it fits

The programme stands in contrast to other scholarship initiatives in the region, some of which have sharpened their focus on top-scoring students and elite institutions in recent years. And as such it reflects a growing awareness among policy makers in the region that only a relatively small percentage of prospective students will be served by that focus on top-ranked institutions abroad.

Governments throughout the region, meanwhile, remain committed to Vision 2030 initiatives as well as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and are working to align scholarship programmes with those larger societal goals, including improving gender equity, reducing societal inequalities, and targeting fields of study to priority areas of industry demand.

Commenting on the Khotwa launch, Her Excellency Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education and Chairperson of ADEK, said:

“This landmark programme is a strategic investment by Abu Dhabi Government to continue nurturing future-ready Emirati bachelor’s degree holders. Khotwa (RizeUp) will empower students who have not benefitted from our previous scholarships to study at international colleges and universities and graduate as highly competent, effective and productive citizens capable to enrich our national employment pool and play an active role in driving forward our knowledge-based economy.”

“Building on the success of employment rates exceeding 90% among ADEK’s scholarship graduates, we recognise the potential in providing opportunities. Consequently, we have expanded the scholarship matrix to include specific academic specializations - selected in close cooperation with government, national, and private entities - that will further enhance our graduate scholars’ employability."

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • What do international students want? Read More
  • ICEF Podcast: How new technologies impact international student employability Read More
  • First-year college students in the US down by more than 6% ahead of projected “enrolment cliff” Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

First-year college students in the US down by more than 6% ahead of projected “enrolment cliff” A new data analysis reveals worrisome trends for US colleges with respect to domestic first-year enrolments. The number...
Read more
Provision of online English-taught degree programmes has more than doubled since 2019 Students looking for English-taught online degree programmes now have more options than ever. A new report from British...
Read more
Japan market report: A dual focus on attracting international students and sending more Japanese students abroad This year has witnessed a trend in some Western economies towards deglobalisation. Pressured by a conviction among large...
Read more
Report: Australian government preparing to replace controversial “de facto cap” on foreign student numbers The Australian government’s proposed ESOS amendment bill, complete with its caps on foreign enrolment, fell off the order...
Read more
New Zealand: International student enrolments up 67% in 2023 amid growing public support Update: Shortly after this post was published, New Zealand released partial-year data for 2024 indicating continuing growth in...
Read more
Australia’s enrolment cap legislation is stalled. What happens next? Australia’s next federal election is expected to be held on or before 17 May 2025. It seems clear...
Read more
Canada confirms expansion of in-study work rights and new compliance requirements for institutions In July 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) proposed a series of regulatory changes to the country’s...
Read more
Foreign student enrolment in the United States reached an all-time high in 2023/24 The 2024 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange reveals that 1,126,690 international students were enrolled at US...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links