Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has launched the third edition of its Summer Programme, targeting 200 high-performing Emirati students from grades 10 and 11 across public, private, and Charter Schools in Abu Dhabi. The initiative aims to offer these students an opportunity to participate in pathways and programmes offered by top global universities spread across seven countries on four continents.
According to Emirates News Agency, the ADEK Summer Programme empowers students to explore their academic interests and passions, fostering a global mindset and supporting their overall growth, both academically and personally. Mubarak Hamad Al Mheiri, ADEK Undersecretary, emphasized the expansion of the programme in terms of student participation, the number of countries and universities involved, and the range of programmes available, all aimed at nurturing talented students and equipping them with knowledge beyond traditional classroom settings.
The 2025 edition of the programme includes 14 distinct programmes, with nine academic and five credit-bearing options. These are aligned with key growth sectors such as Medicine, AI, Neurobiology, Biotechnology, Cognitive Science, Visual Arts and Design, and Cinematography. Notably, seven of these programmes are hosted by top 20 universities, with 65 students enrolled in leading institutions like Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cornell University, Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, National University of Singapore (NUS), and Berklee College of Music.
Participation in the programme is designed to enhance students' competitiveness for future academic pursuits, including securing prestigious opportunities such as the Abu Dhabi Scholarships Programme. The success of past participants is evident, with alumni from the 2024 programme gaining admission to top 50 global universities and securing placements in new Creative and Elite Majors, demonstrating the programme's effectiveness in developing globally competitive talent.