Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed meets Khotwa Scholarship Programme Emirati students pursuing studies overseas

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has met students from Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge’s (ADEK) Khotwa Scholarship Programme.

His Highness, during the meeting, highlighted the significance of developing and enhancing UAE National youth talent across academic and vocational fields, meeting local and global labour market requirements through the provision of opportunities to complete high-quality education programmes at leading academic and vocational institutions worldwide.

He urged Khotwa Scholarship Programme students to embrace their roles as UAE ambassadors, encouraging them to act as representatives of the UAE’s traditions and values. His Highness also reaffirmed the leadership’s support of Emirati youth in enabling them to develop their academic capabilities and hone their technical skills in various sectors.

Launched under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in September 2022, ADEK’s Khotwa programme will offer higher education opportunities in the US and Canada to 6,000 Emirati students by 2028. The programme is designed to enhance students’ access to education opportunities and provide them with new academic horizons. In 2023, the programme strengthened its global scholarship partner network after collaborating with prestigious community colleges in Australia and New Zealand.

Currently, Khotwa supports 694 participants, bringing the total number of students enrolled to 1,146 through to September 2024. The fully-funded programme provides cohorts with future-ready, global-appropriate skills, and broad educational experiences, empowering them to achieve their full potential and contribute to growing the UAE’s knowledge-based economy.

The meeting was attended by a number of the programme’s current and prospective students, who highlighted the significance of the programme in developing skills and enhancing capabilities across academic and professional sectors.

After the meeting, the students extended their profound gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE’s leadership for providing unwavering support to Emirati youth, reaffirming their pride in serving as UAE ambassadors abroad.