Sultan Al Neyadi addresses the students.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dr. Sultan Bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, emphasised the importance of connecting with students studying overseas and introducing initiatives to boost their skills.

This approach aims to establish a model educational environment that nurtures youth’s capabilities and encourages knowledge exchange through collaboration. In line with the UAE's objectives and its leadership's vision for a sustainable future, empowering the youth lies at the heart of the UAE’s national strategy.

The nation focuses on ensuring the students receive the necessary guidance to achieve academic success and are able to boost their personal development and achieve remarkable scientific goals.

The Federal Youth Authority (FYA), in collaboration with the UAE Embassy in Sydney, Australia, organised a session entitled ‘Emirati Students in Australia’. The session was attended by Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi and Dr. Fahad Al Taffaq, Ambassador of the UAE to Australia. More than 120 participants, including scholarship students, took part in the session, which discussed key themes such as developing training programmes to help Emirati students adapt to cultural and social life abroad; organising social events to enable students to exchange experiences and build relationships with their colleagues; holding guidance sessions to educate students about academic paths that are compatible with the demands of the future labour market; and the importance of choosing the right specialisation.

The event also organised sports and science competitions along with discussions about innovation and debates to enhance the competitive spirit and develop skills. An interactive electronic platform was introduced to help graduate students guide new students and enable them to integrate into society. The platform would also be used to help young students participate in academic awards and motivate them to achieve more.

National Strategy

Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi remarked: "The directives of our wise leadership underscore the significance of listening to youth’s voices and providing them with opportunities to share their ideas. Empowering the youth to engage in decision-making processes is crucial for sustainable development. By investing in human capabilities, we are equipping our national workforce with vital skills in key sectors that enhance our future ambitions and drive the success of our nation.”

Al Neyadi further noted: "This youth session offered the students an interactive platform to present their suggestions and discuss their future ambitions, acting as a catalyst in fostering communication and sharing of ideas.

It underscored our dedication to providing comprehensive support to our overseas students and ensuring an outstanding educational journey for them. By honing the skills of our nation's youth, initiatives such as this youth forum train young participants to tackle challenges and realise their ambitions, helping them contribute to the society in the long term. Such platforms play a vital role in cultivating a well-informed generation capable of leading the future."

Importants step

Dr. Fahad Al Taffaq pointed out: “The UAE’s scholarship holders studying in other countries are regarded as national assets who will play a leading role in building the future of our country.

The students can enrich their knowledge and upgrade their skills by partaking of activities and training programs along with their scholarship courses. Such programs hone their skills and also enrich their personalities and are particularly appreciated by ambitious youth who strive to achieve the leadership’s vision and are keen to enhance the reputation of their country. These students represent the UAE in the best way possible abroad.“

The young participants delved into various topics shedding light on the challenges faced by Emirati youth studying in Australian universities. Some of the topics discussed during the session included adapting to cultural and social life abroad, forging connections with peers, academic hurdles, time management and scientific career paths.

The session also dealt with global empowerment of Emirati youth; the youth’s role in representing the nation on the international stage; and how they can best leverage the opportunities provided by the UAE to help them contribute to the nation’s development goals.

The session brought together a large segment of Emirati students studying in Australia, offering them insights into best practices across diverse scientific fields.