Dubai-UAE: 27 December, 2017 –  Since its inception, the Abdullah Al Ghurair Foundation for Education (AGFE) has served the education-funding needs of 787 high-achieving students from 17 Arab countries through its scholarship programs. 

 

A status update released by the Foundation also revealed that AGFE will double the number of scholarships it awards by the end of 2018 and launch a pioneering digital education platform for Emirati youth. The overall goal of the Foundation is to provide financial support for 15,000 students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by 2026.

 

AGFE is one of the largest privately funded charitable education initiatives in the MENA region. It was launched in the UAE, in line with the Global Vision for Awqaf and Endowments adopted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in 2016, to establish Dubai as a catalyst for social endowments in the Arab world.                   

 

His Excellency Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education: 'Education is the key to modernize economies and develop stable societies. As a Foundation, we strongly believe in the role of education as a catalyst to improving the standard of living and productivity in Arab societies.'

 

“The Foundation is keen to align the STEM education fields we support with the strategic objectives of Dubai Plan 2021 and the UAE National Agenda. In compliance with the directives of our leadership, we aim to focus on building human capital in the region, capable of meeting future challenges and harnessing opportunities.'

 

The scholarships are awarded through two Foundation initiatives, the STEM Scholars Program and the Open Learning Scholars Program, to 16 leading universities, in 10 countries across the Arab world, Turkey, North America and Scotland. With an emphasis on STEM fields, 74% of scholarship recipients currently pursue engineering degrees and another 26% focus on other scientific fields. The Foundation’s status update revealed that 67% of its scholars are pursuing master’s degrees and other higher education credentials. To help empower Arab women, 38% of the total number of scholars benefiting from the Foundation’s support are female.

 

In addition to eliminating financial barriers for students, both of the Foundation’s scholarship initiatives are administered through an innovative online platform, eliminating geographic barriers as well. Applications are processed online, and the Open Learning Scholars Program offers online courses and degrees to leading universities around the world, rendering high quality education easily accessible. 

 

His Excellency Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair: “The results achieved by our scholars to date are a testimony to the desire of Arab youth to embrace educational opportunities and contribute to the wellbeing, prosperity and stability of their societies. Our focus on educational philanthropy is continually validated and our hope is for other philanthropists in the region to embrace this vision.”