Expanding Arab access to MITx MicroMasters in supply chain management

Earlier this year, MIT’s Office of Digital Learning (ODL) and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education formed a collaboration to expand the reach of digital education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Out of this relationship comes a remarkable new scholarship opportunity from the Al Ghurair Open Learning Scholars Program.

The program aims to make some of the world’s best STEM education available to Arab youth through innovative online and blended learning accredited degree programs and recognized credentials. The first scholarship offered supports the MITx MicroMasters in supply chain management (SCM), and applications are now being accepted.

A semester of MIT coursework, anywhere in the world

The MITx MicroMasters in SCM is a five-course series comparable to one semester's worth of coursework in MIT’s top-ranked SCM master’s program. Online learners explore supply chain analytics, design, technology, dynamics and end-to-end supply chain management — and gain an advanced, professional, graduate-level foundation in this rising field.

To earn the MicroMasters credential, students must pursue a verified certificate, complete all five online courses, and pass the final capstone exam. Successful students can then apply to complete a master’s degree at MIT or another university, or more competitively seek employment opportunities anywhere in the world.

The logistics behind moving products across the global supply chain is critical, and the need for qualified candidates has never been higher. According to the Center for Supply Chain Research at Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business, demand for SCM professionals exceeds supply by a ratio of 6 to 1 – with a 20 percent increase in demand projected over the next decade. This dearth of candidates has led global companies to offer high-paying salaries to those with the right skills and training.

A scholarship to support Arab scholars pursuing SCM

The Al Ghurair Open Learning Scholars Program, designed for Arab youth who are passionate about developing STEM skills but are unable to travel or leave their job, is a natural fit with the MITx MicroMasters. While SCM is one of the hottest, most lucrative fields internationally, taking a year off work — or relocating from Kuwait to Cambridge — to complete a full-time master’s program, is not an option for most young people. Instead, students can complete all MicroMasters courses online and on their time.

"We are thrilled to be working with MIT to make its world-renowned supply chain management courses available to Arab youth,” says Maysa Jalbout, CEO of the Al Ghurair Foundation. “Making the best education accessible to every Arab youth who aspires to improve their prospects is precisely why we developed the Al Ghurair Open Learning Program. We hope it will be the beginning of a movement to remove the barriers of cost, location and other circumstance to preparing Arab youth for jobs of the future.”

“Imagine that anyone, anywhere with an Internet connection can have access to an unparalleled learning experience at low cost”, explains Eva Ponce, executive director of the MITx MicroMasters in supply chain management. “In addition to creating a learning environment, our online courses also provide a comparable, accurate, and honest assessment of each learner's skills and capabilities, as part of the credential process.”

The Al Ghurair Foundation provides high-achieving, underserved Emirati and Arab students with the opportunity to study with a top university and pursue a future in a STEM-related field. The new scholarship program focuses on open learning, a movement that makes learning more flexible and allows students to take university-level courses for free online. The foundation aims to empower Arab youth to seek higher education in supply chain management, no matter where they live, by providing the following financial support:

• full reimbursement of the total MicroMasters cost following successful completion of the program (five courses and capstone exam);
• opportunities to access internships (if needed); and
• access to a network of Al Ghurair Scholars across the region.

The foundation will also provide a full scholarship for Al Ghurair Open Learning Scholars who successfully complete the MITx MicroMasters in SCM and are accepted into the MIT Blended Supply Chain Management Program, which requires a semester on MIT’s campus.

To be eligible for the Al Ghurair Open Learning Scholars Program scholarship, you must be:

• an Arab citizen who does not have another citizenship;
• up to 30 years old; and
• proficient in English to standards acceptable by top universities.

Applicants must live in one of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Preference will be given to those who have lived in an Arabic or Islamic nation for at least 12 years of their life.

The scholarship application deadline and start of the MicroMasters program is Nov. 2. Learn more and apply now. 

Interested individuals may also learn more with a free info session webinar on Oct. 28.

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