Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms worldwide. In Dubai, a city known for its prosperity and rapid development, there is a commitment to addressing poverty and ensuring that economic growth benefits all members of society.

Poverty Alleviation in Dubai:

Dubai has made significant strides in poverty reduction through various social and economic programs. The government’s efforts include providing financial support to low-income families, affordable housing initiatives, job creation, and access to quality healthcare and education. These measures contribute to improving the living conditions of marginalized populations, ensuring that no one is left behind in the city’s progress.

Canadian University Dubai’s Role:

The Canadian University Dubai (CUD) recognizes its role in promoting SDG 1 within the local community. While Dubai’s overall economic prosperity is notable, CUD acknowledges that there may still be students and community members facing economic challenges. Here’s how CUD is dealing with poverty and contributing to poverty alleviation:

Scholarship Programs: CUD offers a range of scholarships and financial aid programs to ensure that deserving students, regardless of their financial background, have access to quality education. These scholarships aim to reduce the economic barriers that might prevent talented individuals from pursuing higher education.
Community Engagement: CUD actively engages with the local community through outreach programs, workshops, and seminars. These initiatives often address topics related to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career development, empowering individuals to improve their economic well-being.
Employability Skills: CUD places a strong emphasis on equipping students with practical skills and knowledge that enhance their employability. This, in turn, improves their chances of securing well-paying jobs and breaking the cycle of poverty.
Research and Advocacy: CUD faculty and researchers may engage in studies and projects related to poverty and its various dimensions within the UAE. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by low-income individuals and informs policies and interventions aimed at poverty reduction.
Community Partnerships: CUD collaborates with local organizations, government agencies, and NGOs working on poverty alleviation. These partnerships facilitate joint initiatives and projects to address poverty-related issues effectively.

In conclusion, while Dubai is known for its prosperity, there is a shared commitment to achieving SDG 1 and eradicating poverty in all its forms. The Canadian University Dubai plays a vital role in this mission by providing educational opportunities, fostering community engagement, and contributing to research and advocacy efforts that ultimately help empower individuals and families to overcome poverty and improve their economic circumstances. By addressing poverty at both the individual and community levels, CUD contributes to the broader goal of creating a more equitable and inclusive society in Dubai.

Professor Dr. Nurul Alam Discusses Benefits of Micro-finance in Developing Nations

Dr. Mohammed Nurul Alam, recently visited Kenya on a research visit involving a number of established Islamic Banks in Nairobi. In an exclusive interview with the ‘New Dawn’ newspaper, he talked about Islamic Banks promoting micro-finance to help fight poverty in rural areas.

Dr. Nurul emphasized that the biggest challenge for Islamic Banking at the moment is creating awareness, although there has been tremendous growth for the phenomenon since its inception nearly three decades ago.

“After completing my research with Grameen Bank (Brain child of Nobel Peace Prize winner (2006), Dr. Muhammad Yunus). I proposed the introduction of micro-finance in Islamic Banking to enable less fortunate individuals to access loans in a Shari’a compliant way. In my PhD thesis I had to prove that there was need for micro loans in Islamic banking and formulate a method to operationalize it.”

Dr. Nurul started his career as a teacher in 1979, as a senior lecturer at Kenya Institute of Administration (KIA) lower Kabete in Nairobi under the UNDP volunteer program. He went on to complete his Chartered Accountancy from Bangladesh before moving to Sweden to pursue his PhD in Islamic Banking. He has since then taught in Sweden, Canada and Oman.

Dr. Nurul currently teaches Accounting and Islamic Banking to MBA students at the Canadian University Dubai.

Student Council Members Attend International Leadership Symposium

Members of the Canadian University Dubai (CUD) Student Council have attended the 7th University Scholars Leadership Symposium convened by social change organization, Humanitarian Affairs.

The delegation of Student Council President, Janine Pinto; Vice-President, Abou Bakr Garba; Secretary, Asad Siddique; and Treasurer, Sulaiman Dayoub, were accompanied by communications professor Sokaina Al Haseny, to join a gathering of more than 700 participants representing 69 countries around the world.

The group heard from a lineup of inspirational speakers, including NGO founder, David Begbie; social entrepreneur, Lina Khalifeh; and former Deputy Director of the Fund for Reconciliation and Development, Dr. Susan Hammond, on the theme of humanitarian aid, efforts, and relief around the world.

Covering a wide range of humanitarian-related issues, from poverty to education, the speakers revealed their own personal experiences of societal challenges, including refugee crises, human trafficking, self-defense for women and children, and the after-effects of war.

The University Scholars Leadership Symposium is an annual event designed to provide the next generation of leaders with an understanding of key sustainable development challenges, and to motivate them to realise their potential as agents of change. The huge diversity of nationalities in attendance at this year’s gathering was evident as participants showed off their traditional dress during the week-long event.

During the symposium, the 700 delegates were also given the opportunity to visit villages, schools and hospitals, to spend time with and to help disabled children, senior citizens, war veterans, farmers, workers and other local communities. They contributed through hands-on efforts including farming, building bridges, gardening, teaching children, and developing arts and crafts.

The visit also provided the students with an insight into Vietnamese culture, art, history, dance, music, and other aspects of the country’s lifestyle and heritage, through various performances from local artists.

Speaking about the event, communications student Asad said, “This was an absolutely life-changing experience, and I would encourage as many students as possible to join next year’s conference in Beijing, China, to be part of a journey that will last a lifetime!”

CUD hosts Model United Nations Academy

March 28th – 30th: Canadian University has proudly hosted the Dubai Model United Nations Academy, in collaboration with United Ambassadors.

Teams from as far away as the Democratic Republic of Congo took part in a packed four-day program where they were treated to a magnificent Opening Ceremony followed by two days of intensive workshops and presentations. The event culminated in a keenly fought debate on the final day, addressing some of the major issues facing our world, including sustainability, discrimination, conflict resolution and world poverty.

The event was introduced by Nabila Elassa, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of United Ambassadors with contributions from Mr. Omar Hernandez, Lead Trainer and Mr. Ahmad Al Ammar, Facilitator and former MUN participant. United Ambassadors is a world-leading international Model United Nations Education non-profit organization with a mission of building the next generation of youth leaders and global citizens, through Model United Nations.

Students learnt about the importance of demonstrating effective leadership skills and having empathy with their stakeholders. During the workshops and presentations they developed skills in public speaking, writing proposals, reaching consensus, interpreting briefings, diplomacy and negotiation skills, all interspersed with a variety of fun activities.

Several of the delegates also made personal statements for their audience reflecting their determination to make an impact on their communities.

The MUN initiative was created to provide a platform for young people to learn about international issues, diplomacy and inter-government relations and to develop their capabilities in critical thinking, research and debate. The model simulates the United Nations forum itself, with each group of students representing a country in the debate over a range of issues from health and social progress to the economy and global finance.

Speaking after the event, Mr. Omar Hernandez, Lead Trainer with United Ambassadors, praised the standard of commitment and debate displayed by the delegates. He said, “this is a remarkable opportunity for young people to gain a unique perspective on how diplomacy works. The skills they are learning will help them make a difference in their future lives, and with the delegates coming from different backgrounds and culture, they are able to appreciate the importance of tolerance in today’s world.”

Eszter Meszaros, Administrative Coordinator for United Ambassadors in Dubai said the purpose of the event was to help the leaders of the future realise how they could make a difference.

The event concluded with presentations to the delegates and a series of presentations from the leaders of each group.

Faculty of Management webinar ‘Championing the Agenda for Sustainable Development: Youth for SDG’

Calling all Faculty of Management students to attend the FREE student webinar titled ‘Championing the Agenda for Sustainable Development: Youth for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)’ on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the ultimate blueprint to achieving a sustainable future for all. The SDGs touch upon pressing topics such as inequality, climate change, poverty and more through their 17 goals that are intertwined with each other.

Organized by Pearl Initiative in collaboration with AIESEC, this webinar will help you discover the role of youth in effectively implementing the SDGs framework in your future careers and in contribution to building a sustainable society.

Learn how the youth of today have a responsibility to demonstrate their leadership, organization, advocacy and determination in order to achieve the ambitious SDGs by 2030!

Webinar speaker: Simarna Singh, Chief Sustainability and Impact Officer, Coco Veda

Click here to register

We look forward to your participation!

Canadian University of Dubai Students Sleep Rough for Charity

Students at the Canadian University Dubai raise money for charity by sleeping rough on campus.

For the first time female students are taking part in Five Days For the Homeless, a Canadian initiative which aims to create awareness of people living rough on the streets and raise money for good causes.

Eight male students have been sleeping on campus under the stars, from March 9th to March 13th. The eight female students have not been sleeping outside, but have been helping to collect money from generous fellow students in a bid to raise over AED15,000 for the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.

“Donations have ranged from one dirham coins to 200 dirham notes,” said 19-year-old public relations student, Judy Shebib. “We are thankful to everyone who has donated and we are hopeful that we will hit our target because it is for a very good cause.

“I saw the students doing this last year and I was keen to get involved then, so when the opportunity came up to do it this year, I was really excited,” she added. “It is great that we can get involved as female students because it is going to a women’s charity and we have a strong empathy with that.”

Some of the students are taking part for a second and third year. E-business student, Tiwaloluwa Omope, has been involved in Five Days for the Homeless for the past three years admits that it is a topic close to his heart.

“When I lived in Ghana I saw poverty and homelessness every day,” he said. “It is a terrible thing to see and for people to go through and when I heard about the scheme when I first came to the university I knew I had to be involved.”

The students are joined by Aziz Mulay-Shah Canadian Ambassador from the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development who is on sabbatical at the university – who supported the students by sleeping rough for one night.

“It’s a wonderful initiative and it is great to see these students showing a sense of social responsibility and community,” he said. “It’s important therefore that we show some solidarity with them and do what we can to support them.”

The Five Days For The Homeless initiative was launched at the University of Alberta School of Business in 2005. The sixteen students from Dubai will be joined by students from over 24 universities in Canada, with the Canadian University in Dubai being the only place outside Canada to take part.

Scholarships at Canadian University Dubai

At Canadian University Dubai, we pride ourselves on our commitment to providing a quality, Canadian education for all. We understand the importance of difference and diversity, and we do not want financial limitations or special needs to get in the way of your enrollment. To alleviate some of this concern and to reward high academic achievers, CUD offers the following scholarships:

Disclaimer:

All statements in this publication concerning requirements, amounts, conditions or other matters are for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice.

Undergraduate

Academic Excellence Scholarship

Overall Terms and Conditions

To be considered eligible for the Academic Excellence Scholarship, students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Scholarships awarded for the fall semester are valid for one year, provided that the CGPA is maintained as per the information below and provided the student registers for at least 12 credit hours per semester.
Scholarships awarded for the spring semester are valid for one semester only.
Deadlines for the fall semester (July 7th) and spring semester (December 20th) must be met.
Scholarships do not apply for summer semesters.
Applicants must email their scholarship application forms along with all supporting documentation to scholarship@cud.ac.ae by July 7th (fall intake) or December 20th (spring intake).
Late or incomplete scholarship applications will not be considered by the scholarship committee
Academic Excellence Scholarship Allocations

50% tuition waiver

High school students need to have attained an academic average of 99%* or above to apply for a 50% tuition waiver.
For current CUD students renewing their scholarship, the semester CGPA at the conclusion of the semester must be 3.98 or higher to continue receiving a 50% tuition waiver.

40% tuition waiver

High school students need to have attained an academic average of between 95 – 98.9%* to apply for a 40% tuition waiver.
For current CUD students renewing their scholarship, the semester CGPA at the conclusion of the semester must be between 3.95 – 3.97 to continue receiving a 40% tuition waiver.

30% tuition waiver

High school students need to have attained an academic average of between 90 – 94.9%* to apply for a 30% tuition waiver.
For current CUD students renewing their scholarship, the semester CGPA at the conclusion of the semester must be between 3.9 – 3.94 to continue receiving a 30% tuition waiver.

20% tuition waiver

High school students need to have attained an academic average of between 85 – 89.9%* to apply for a 20% tuition waiver.
For current CUD students renewing their scholarship, the semester CGPA at the conclusion of the semester must be between 3.85 – 3.89 to continue receiving a 20% tuition waiver.

10% tuition waiver (returning students only)

High school students who were granted an automatic 20% tuition waiver for their first semester at CUD and have maintained a 3.8 – 3.84 CGPA, may be eligible for a 10% tuition waiver on the subsequent semester.

* UAE Secondary School Certificate or equivalent

New Students (1st semester)		Returning students (2nd semester and beyond)
High school degree	Tuition waiver	CGPA	Tuition waiver
–	–	3.8 – 3.84	10%
85% – 89.9%	20%	3.85 – 3.89	20%
90% – 94.9%	30%	3.90 – 3.94	30%
95% – 98.9%	40%	3.95 – 3.97	40%
99% – 100%	50%	3.98 – 4.0	50%

The Guiding Principles for Canadian University Dubai scholarships must be met.

Sports Scholarship

This scholarship is meant for elite and talented athletes from any sport who have competed and achieved success at least at a city level. Sports Scholarships are awarded based on the applicant’s sports achievement level and their academic performance. A tuition waiver of up to 40% can be applied accordingly.

Overall Terms and Conditions

Sports Scholarships are valid for one semester only.
Students can reapply each semester to continue their scholarship.
Deadlines for the fall semester (July 7th) and spring semester (December 20th) must be met
Sports Scholarships do not apply for summer semesters.
For high school applicants to be eligible, they must have a minimum academic achievement of 70%.
Returning students are required to achieve a minimum of a 3.0 CGPA to be eligible to apply/ reapply for the Sports Scholarship.
Successful applicants will be required to support the sports department in different events and will be required to contribute up to 15 hours per month of community service as part of their commitment to the University.

Applications for the Sports Scholarship must include:

Completed application form
Brief bio including relevant sport accomplishments
Scanned copies of references from the applicant’s coach and/or PE teacher on institutional letterhead
Scanned copies of certificates relevant to the sport the applicant is applying for
The Guiding Principles for Canadian University Dubai scholarships must be met.

Financial Hardship Scholarship

The objective of these scholarships is to promote access to higher education to students facing financial hardship. A tuition waiver of up-to 40% can be applied as evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Overall Terms and Conditions

Financial Hardship Scholarships are valid for one semester only.
Students can reapply each semester to continue their scholarship.
Deadlines for the fall semester (July 7th) and spring semester (December 20th) must be met.
Financial Hardship Scholarships do not apply for summer semesters
For high school applicants to be eligible, they must have a minimum academic achievement of 75%.
Returning students are required to achieve a minimum of a 2.8 CGPA to be eligible to apply/ reapply for the Financial Hardship Scholarship.
Successful applicants will be required to contribute up to 15 hours per month of community service as part of their commitment to the University.

Applications for the Financial Hardship Scholarship must include:

Completed application form
Current rental contract
Bank statements
Employee certificate and salary statement for each employed family member
Copy of passport and visa for all working family members (or both parents)
Certificates of educational tuition fees for each sibling
All documentation will be kept confidential. Any application with incomplete documentation cannot be considered by the scholarship committee when awarding the Financial Hardship Scholarships.
The Guiding Principles for Canadian University Dubai scholarships must be met.

Special Needs Scholarship

We at Canadian University Dubai pledge to provide an inclusive learning environment and to support the cognitive, emotional and creative development of students with disabilities. Special needs may be justified by physical or other disabilities.

Students eligible for a Special Needs Scholarship will benefit from a tuition reduction of up to 40%.

Overall Terms and Conditions

For students applying for the Special Needs Scholarship at the point of admission to the University, the academic average will be considered by the scholarship committee on a case-by-case basis.
For current students, a minimum CGPA of 2.0 is required to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.
Deadlines for the fall semester (July 7th) and spring semester (December 20th) must be met.
Special Needs Scholarships do not apply for summer semesters.
Students are required to provide an up-to-date professionally documented diagnosis that will be kept confidentially.
The scholarship application is reviewed by and subject to the scholarship committee’s discretion.
The Guiding Principles for Canadian University Dubai scholarships must be met.

Special Talent Scholarship

This scholarship is meant for elite and talented individuals from any field who have competed and achieved success at a city level or beyond. Special Talent Scholarships are awarded based on the applicant’s achievement level and their academic performance. A tuition waiver of up to 40% can be applied accordingly.

Overall Terms and Conditions

Special Talent Scholarships are valid for one semester only.
Students can reapply each semester to continue their scholarship.
Deadlines for the fall semester (July 7th) and spring semester (December 20th) must be met.
Special Talent Scholarships do not apply for summer semesters.
For high school applicants to be eligible, they must have a minimum academic achievement of 70%.
Returning students are required to achieve a minimum of a 3.0 CGPA to be eligible to apply/ reapply for the Special Talent Scholarship.
Successful applicants will be required to contribute up to 15 hours per month of community service as part of their commitment to the University.
Applications for the Special Talent Scholarship must include:
Completed application form
Documents supporting accomplishment within the applicant’s talent field
Certificates relevant to the applicant’s talent
Recommendations from teachers, trainers or professionals from within the applicant’s talent field
The Guiding Principles for Canadian University Dubai scholarships must be met.

Canadian University Dubai Announces Canada Day Scholarship Awards

Canadian University Dubai (CUD) has announced its third annual Canada Day scholarship awards to coincide with Canada’s national day on 1st July.

The University, in partnership with the Canadian Embassy, is inviting applications from Canadian nationals starting their first year of undergraduate studies in Fall 2015. The scholarships will support two students to embark upon an accredited degree program at CUD.

The Canada Day scholarships were established in 2013 to celebrate CUD’s bonds with Canada, and are awarded annually on the basis of academic attainment and financial need. This year’s recipients will be presented with their scholarship by Canadian Consul General, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Kamarianakis at a ceremony at the start of the Fall semester.

To be eligible for the scholarship, a candidate should hold a Canadian passport, starting first year of undergraduate studies and meet all the requirements for admission to the University. Preference will be given to candidates with a high CGPA and those in financial need

University Chancellor, Mr. Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, said, ‘When we established CUD, our mission was to help give back to society by bringing the world-renowned Canadian education system to the UAE. Promoting and celebrating academic endeavor is a core value we share with our Canadian counterparts and the Canada Day scholarships are a fitting way to acknowledge our shared values and celebrate this important date.’

Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Mr. Arif Lalani, said, “I am grateful for these generous scholarships. The Canadian University Dubai exemplifies the commitment to excellence and education that both Canada and the UAE share. These scholarships offer Canadian nationals a unique opportunity to study and develop in an exciting and innovative environment here in Dubai.”

President of CUD, Dr. Karim Chelli added, “It is a source of great pride for us to celebrate our strong connections with Canada, and in doing so, support Canadian students to benefit from its education system here in Dubai. Each of our programs is built upon Canadian curriculum and learning principles and we are delighted to be able to provide this unique educational opportunity to new students through these scholarships.”

Canadian University of Dubai Creates Scholarship to Support Government Staff in Higher Education

DUBAI, 28 April: Canadian University Dubai and Dubai Health Authority have begun a progressive new partnership that promotes higher education to its administrative staff.

In support of Flag Day, an initiative by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to ‘blend the sense of nationhood with loyalty to the country to preserve its achievements and inculcate the concept of good citizenship’, the newly created Chancellors Scholarship annually grants one of Dubai Health Authority’s employees a permanent place in the Canadian University Dubai’s popular Masters of Business Administration Program.

The Program is ranked #1 in Dubai by Forbes Middle East and gives one student each academic year the chance to broaden their education and advance further in their career.

The partnership began with Mr Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, Chancellor of Canadian University Dubai, presenting Engineer Essa Al Haj Al Maidoor, Director General of Dubai Health Authority, with the certificate at their Headquarters.

The first recipient of the Chancellors Scholarship will attend the Canadian University Dubai this coming academic year.