Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, part of the Zayed Legacy Foundation, has awarded a $12.8 million grant to McGill University in Canada to implement a future leaders development program between the UAE and Indonesia in the field of education.
This program aims to support sustainable development in Indonesia
and enhance leadership and educational capabilities across various vital sectors.
The agreement was signed during the World Government Summit 2026 in Dubai,
in the presence of Dr. Mugheer bin Hareb Al Khaili, Secretary-General of the Zayed Legacy Foundation.
Promoting community development in Indonesia
The program focuses on developing educational, health, and engineering infrastructure,
as well as training teachers and strengthening leadership skills among educational leaders,
thereby contributing to the advancement of community development in Indonesia.
The program is implemented through a joint collaboration
between McGill University in Canada, the Indonesian Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,
and the University of Indonesia, along with the participation of Emirati universities:
United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University, University of Sharjah, and Khalifa University.
The program includes scholarships, ongoing teacher training programs, research awards,
knowledge-sharing initiatives, and educational leadership development programs.
Humanitarian and development priorities
Dr. Mugheer bin Hareb Al Khaili affirmed that this initiative is part of the UAE’s efforts to support beneficiary countries
and communities in line with national policies and humanitarian and development priorities,
focusing on strengthening vital sectors such as education, health, energy, environment, and infrastructure.
For his part, Professor Abdul Muti, Indonesia’s Minister of Primary
and Secondary Education, emphasized that developing teachers
and educational leaders is one of the most sustainable and effective investments, noting that the collaboration
with the UAE and McGill University aims to enhance educational practices and improve learning outcomes.
The five-year program focuses on building national capacity in health and sustainability,
providing postgraduate programs and postdoctoral fellowships, and developing the executive
and administrative leadership skills of Indonesian faculty members and researchers.
