A part of The National Ambassadors Program, the  free-to-attend course, Estedad,  ran from July 25 till August 5

Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) announced its participation in The National Ambassadors Program – Estedad, a capacity-building initiative in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Education. Aligning with its goal of empowering scientific research and continuous innovation, MBRU will take part in the program’s research track.

MBRU’s collaboration with Estedad provides students with the scientific research methodology concepts, skills, and practical experience through undertaking a research project, allowing them to train in some of the skills needed to apply at their university studies.

MBRU, through this first of a kind program in the UAE, introduced high school students to a diverse range of learning experiences in medicine and health sciences across three elements of an integrated academic health system: education, research, and clinical practice.

This two week program, which relies on experiential virtual learning, began on July 25 and continued till August 5, and was free of charge for participants.  With the program open to twenty high school students, participants were inspired to explore different career paths in the field of medicine and health sciences.

Commenting on MBRU being part of this National Program, Dr. Laila Alsuwaidi, Associate Dean – Student Happiness and Wellbeing, Assistant Professor – Molecular Hematology at MBRU’s College of Medicine, said: “Students are highly encouraged to realize the importance of scientific research and its impact on different life’s aspects. Our collaboration with Estedad- National Ambassadors’ Program will provide students with scientific tools they may require to identify challenges, collect and analyze relevant data,  leading them to evaluate the findings and ultimately address the challenges. This process will allow them to delve into different research issues and make use of data and information they come across through their academic and personal lives.”

The Estedad program was launched in June 2020, and aims to provide high school students with the essential skills to grow in various fields including research, soft skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, and diplomatic skills. Moreover, it provides students with the knowledge and tools required to apply to universities.