Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Dubai: Arab youth anywhere in the world, even in conflict zones and refugee camps, can pursue free world-class graduate-level education with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by 2017 without leaving their homes or crossing borders.

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education on Tuesday launched its Al Ghurair Open Learning Scholars Programme in partnership with MIT that will give high-achieving Arab youth a chance to complete an online course for free from wherever they are.

“The foundation’s objective is to give high-quality education to Arab students who come from underserved, underprivileged backgrounds. They will be able to study, get their degree or certification from a top-class university without really needing to study abroad,” Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, chairman of the board of trustees of the foundation, said.

“Our goal is really not to waste time because the Arab youth have lost a lot of time already and now we want to give them access to high-quality education without being on campus. They can do it from Morocco, they can do it in Egypt, even in Syrian refugee camps,” he added.

Specifically designed by the MIT for Arab youth, the programme is a new form of credential known as MicroMasters composed of five individual online courses to earn an MITx credential equivalent to one semester at MIT. High-achieving Arabs who make it can then apply to complete a full masters degree at MIT or another university free of cost through the foundation.

Two credentials in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics sphere (STEM) will be offered. The first is in the area of Data Science Management, an in-demand course for data scientists who analyse ‘big data’ or tonnes of information about customers, products, and habits, trends and patterns that affect people’s everyday life. The job fetches an annual pay cheque of between $63,000 (Dh231,210) and $138,000 in the US, according to payscale.com.

The second MicroMasters is yet to be announced. Both MicroMasters are expected to be online by 2017 and the foundation will announce the details of the application process then.

Professor Eric Grimson, Chancellor at MIT, said the programme will ensure that world-class education is available to all smart learners everywhere who have that passion and desire to not only better themselves but also be passionate about bringing that experience back to improving the region.

Maysa Jalbout, CEO of the Foundation, said the foundation will financially support eligible students for their online degrees and exams, and also provide access to academic support and career counselling from partner universities with no strings attached.

“We are not requiring Arab youth to pay back the money or to work for a certain company. This is an investment we’re making in them in the hope that they would invest back in their country and in their region,” Jalbout said.

“The higher mission of the foundation is to contribute to the development of the region, to invest in young people that they themselves become the future leaders of this region and, hopefully, contribute substantially to the economic and social development of this region.”

FACT FILE:

What: Al Ghurair Open Learning Scholars Programme

Who can apply: Taking the courses online is free for all. However, taking the exams at the end of the courses and potentially continuing the degree at MIT if the student is really competitive is not free but the foundation will make this free to eligible Arab learners only.

When will the programme start: 2017

How to apply: Information on the application process will be posted on the foundation’s website when available.

by Janice Ponce de Leon Staff Reporter

Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.