The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has introduced ‘NextGen Summer Program’, aimed at equipping high school students with the knowledge and hands-on experience in AI and emerging technologies.
The week-long program, hosted at the MBZUAI campus in Abu Dhabi, engaged 38 high-performing students from across the UAE in workshops and expert-led sessions. These students were chosen from over 150 applications, highlighting the program’s competitiveness.
The participants worked together on projects requiring real-world AI applications across various key sectors such as healthcare, mobility, climate and the creative industries.
Under the guidance of MBZUAI faculty and industry mentors, students utilized advanced platforms like Python, Google Colab and Kaggle to work with real datasets and gain insights on how AI models are designed, tested and evaluated.
Rawdha AlMeraikhi Director of Outreach – MBZUAI
“We designed NextGen to spark curiosity, build skills, and give students a realistic glimpse into the future of AI, not just as a technology, but as a tool to create meaningful change. It’s a unique opportunity for students to build confidence, explore their potential in one of the world’s most impactful fields, and potentially become the next MBZUAI students and future leaders in AI.”
The program also included sessions that explored AI ethics, bias and future career paths, aimed at raising awareness among students about the broader societal impact of these technologies.
NextGen Summer Program aligns with the UAE’s broader vision to nurture national capabilities in advanced technology, supporting the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which aims to cement the country’s position as a global leader in AI innovation and adoption.
Furthermore, the program also contributes to the Abu Dhabi’s ambition to emerge as the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027.
