Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the Harvard University South Asia Institute (SAI) and the Harvard Business School Club of the GCC have collaborated to offer a five-day intensive course for 50 underprivileged students.

With a curriculum developed by SAI and Harvard Business School professors Khanna, Lakhani and Fabbe, the programme commenced this week in The Academy at DIFC, the newly launched state-of-art executive education centre in the region’s leading financial hub.

It will be delivered by three professors from Harvard Business School, including SAI’s director, Professor Tarun Khanna. Alya Al Zarouni, senior vice president of Operations, DIFC Authority, led one of the business leadership sessions, introducing students to Dubai’s financial industries.

Offering educational opportunities and supporting the development of the UAE’s human capital is one pillar of this year’s DIFC agenda, which was established in line with the 2017 Year of Giving declared by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The programme supports the academic growth of the participating students, each of whom is the first in their family to attend university.

“Over the course of the five-day Programme, participating students will have the chance to study under the tutelage of professors from one of the world’s most prestigious universities, taking in unique insights which they will bring to bear in their diverse continuing studies and future careers,” said Al Zarouni.

“In keeping with the UAE government agenda, DIFC is committed to developing the pool of talented and passionate professionals which our economy needs for long-term growth. Opportunities like the Harvard Crossroads Summer Program open up new pathways for young people and support robust higher education, both of central importance for achieving our goal of human capital development.”

Professor Tarun Khanna said: “This is a region with bold economic ambitions and the determination to achieve them. Harvard has a longstanding involvement in helping young people here to accelerate their careers and rise to the challenges and opportunities that such a dynamic region makes available to them.” – TradeArabia News Service