Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi partners with Zayed Education Foundation to develop the next generation of leaders

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is one of 12 UAE universities to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Zayed Education Foundation. The agreements were celebrated at the Foundation's "Partnerships for the Future" event, held at Zayed National Museum on 7 October 2026. 

The event brought together Zayed Education Foundation, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Great Arab Minds and the 12 partner universities around a shared ambition: to develop the next generation of young leaders in the UAE and the region. 

Through the MoU, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the Foundation will collaborate in three areas: 

Scholarships: working with the Foundation's programmes, including Ruwwad Zayed, its flagship merit-based scholarship and leadership programme. Ruwwad Zayed fully funds master's degrees at UAE universities for high-potential Emiratis and Arabs living in the UAE, alongside tailored leadership development. 

Leadership development: supporting young people as they turn their ambitions into lasting impact. 

Research: identifying shared research priorities with the Foundation and developing projects that draw on expertise across institutions and disciplines. 

The event opened with a keynote address by H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He stressed the importance of aligning higher education, scientific research and innovation with national priorities and the needs of the labour market. "Our vision for higher education centres on building a flexible system that is globally competitive and responsive to future changes," he said. 

H.E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, then joined a fireside conversation. He reflected on the leadership values of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and on his belief that people are the true wealth of nations. 

By bringing 12 universities into one community, the agreements create new opportunities for scholars, researchers and programme participants to exchange knowledge across institutional boundaries. Together, the partnerships contribute to the Foundation's ambition to create opportunities for 100,000 young leaders by 2035. 

The partner universities are: Abu Dhabi University, American University of Sharjah, Fatima College of Health Sciences, IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, NYU Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates University, University of Sharjah and Zayed University.