The Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance has announced the launch of a new program, the “Discover Talented Students” initiative, at the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Giftedness and Creativity. The program is designed to identify and support talented students from grades 4 to 12 in public and private schools across the UAE, using the “Hamdan Talent Rubric,” a set of advanced and standardized scientific tools.
Students can be nominated for the program in two ways: through self-nomination via the program’s website, or through collective nomination in collaboration with schools and institutions. Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, the Secretary-General of the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, explained that the initiative is part of the Foundation’s efforts to support a culture of talent and innovation, and that the program aims to identify and nurture gifted students and involve them in suitable educational programs that cater to their abilities and skills.
The program will use the latest standards to identify candidates’ talents and skills, in preparation for their acceptance into the center’s programs. The initiative aligns with the UAE’s leadership vision to support outstanding students, foster talents, develop innovations in all fields, and prepare them for future responsibilities in elevating the country’s status and contributing to supporting the UAE’s position as a hub for creativity, innovation, science, and technology.
Largest number of talented students
According to Dr. Al Suwaidi, the “Discover Talented Students” program aims to identify a wide range of talented students and match them with suitable programs. The program also aims to raise awareness about the latest methods and practices used in identifying talented students within the community.
The program uses a comprehensive and integrated system to identify talented students, starting with the nomination process and continuing through to their integration into suitable programs based on their abilities. The assessment methodology used is scientific and adheres to modern standards, measuring a range of cognitive skills and special abilities of gifted students.
If a student passes the assessment, they can participate in various gifted programs, such as technology, science, mathematics, engineering, and others, based on the conditions and standards applied at the center. Dr. Al Suwaidi noted that the “Hamdan Talent Rubric” is one of the best and most advanced Arab assessment tools recognized globally. It was developed by a specialized scientific team from prestigious international universities in Germany and Saudi Arabia, according to the latest scientific theories and best global practices in the field of talents.
