Two students from the UAE have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarships to study at Oxford University from October next year.
The selection committee for the Rhodes scholarship awarded two places at the university to Sara Fekri, an Emirati student at King’s College London, and Guste Gurcinaite, a Lithuanian studying at NYUAD, who is completing her BA in Political Science.
Both were selected after nominating themselves for the award along with more than 60 other students.
Ms Fekri is completing a BSc in Physics and will pursue an MSc in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics at Oxford.
Ms Gurcinaite is completing her BA in Political Science. She is hoping to complete an MPhil in Environmental Change and Management at Oxford.
They were chosen by a committee chaired by Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both students will start at the British university in October 2023.
“When I was eight, my mother told me that my father wanted me to attend one of the world's top educational institutions,” said Mr Ghobash.
“From then until I was 17, I focused solely on gaining admission at a top university. I went to Oxford and met Rhodes Scholars.
“I remember wishing that I could apply for the scholarship as an Emirati. I am so proud that the UAE has made this opportunity available to eligible students in the country.”
Since 2014, there have been a total of 18 UAE-based students who have received the scholarship.
Last year, Emirati Rashid Alrafie and NYUAD student Uljad Berdica were selected as the 2022 UAE Rhodes Scholars.
Established in 1902 by the late British businessman Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes Scholarship is one of the world's oldest awards for international fellowship and academic study. Applicants are selected through an intensive process including a written application and in-person interviews.
Top 10 international universities — in pictures
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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
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- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
No.6 Collaborations Project
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
