Expo 2020 Dubai and the Ministry of Education (MoE) today announced a collaboration that will provide students of UAE public universities with exceptional opportunities to learn and develop their skills through the Expo 2020 University Visit Programme.
The programme provides university students in the UAE with the opportunity to attend The World’s Greatest Show, which runs from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, and participate in educational tours that enable them to learn and connect with experts and pioneers in various fields.
The programme aims to create a link between youth and Expo 2020 by inviting university students studying in the UAE to visit Expo and choose tours that suit their specialities and will complement their existing learning.
In a ceremony attended by Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai and His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau and Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi, President & CEO; Higher Colleges of Technology; Professor Mohamed Albaili, Vice Chancellor, United Arab Emirates University; and Professor Reyadh Al Mehaideb, Vice President, Zayed University signed agreements confirming that field visits will be organised for every public university student in the UAE to visit the World Expo on a three-day package.
The signings follow recent news that groups in the private sector and the Ministry of Education have also signed letters of commitment paving the way for four bespoke school journeys for pupils designed by the Expo School Programme to excite as well as meet the educational requirements of all ages.
The Expo 2020 University Visit Programme provides a model for practical learning by enabling students to enjoy a rich variety of experiences at Expo 2020 including exploring the architecture, innovations and culture of participating countries. It will be conducted by expert tour guides and students will receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of their visit.
The programme includes seven separate educational tours that offer learning opportunities covering many different disciplines. These tours will comprise innovation and technology, urban planning and cities of the future, media and international studies, science and sustainability, planning and running large events, design, architecture and engineering, trade and entrepreneurship.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Expo 2020 will be the largest gathering to connect minds from across the world and will offer students an ideal platform to benefit from extraordinary learning experiences. Future generations will have the chance to learn from industry experts and discover what will become the best practices for tomorrow.
“Since the beginning, we have always put the youth at the heart of Expo because they are the leaders of future. Involving university students is vital and the education sector is an important stakeholder in our plans and ambitions in contributing to human progress.”
His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills said: “Expo 2020 Dubai will be an important addition to the educational journey of university students in the UAE. Many of the areas in which our students are studying coincide with the themes of Expo 2020 and enabling students to participate in specially-curated journeys that are practical and allow them to connect with experts and thought leaders in various fields is an exceptional opportunity.”
He continued: “The Expo 2020 University Visit Programme will encourage our nation’s talented and ambitious youth to challenge their current thinking, push the boundaries of their imagination, and ultimately inspire them to become the change makers, and leaders, of tomorrow.”
Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, will serve as a platform for international collaboration, fostering innovation and creating meaningful partnerships that will live far beyond 2020 – not only for the UAE, but for the wider region and the world. It will welcome an anticipated 25 million visits over the course of 173 days, on the eve of the nation’s Golden Jubilee, and 200 participants including 192 countries.
