Khalifa University鈥檚 Youth Well-Being program connects undergraduate students in the United Arab Emirates and the United States. It explores American and UAE lifestyles, the multidimensional components of well-being, and how institutions鈥攕uch as the economy, families, and communities 鈥� affect the global challenge of improving well-being. Students develop interpersonal competencies through small-group discussions and periodic synchronous sessions with peers. By participating in group research projects and conference presentations, students gain valuable research experience, collaboration skills, and communication skills.
Spring 2025: This 4-week mini program focuses on youth well-being, offering an engaging and interactive learning experience through three core modules. Participants will engage in 5 sessions across the four weeks, including 2 synchronous sessions (each lasting 1 hour and a half) and 3 asynchronous sessions (each lasting 2 hours). Each module includes virtual lectures and discussions, complemented by asynchronous activities such as video lectures and group work tasks. Synchronous sessions via Zoom or Teams encourage active participation and real-time collaboration. Participants will explore key aspects of youth well-being in a supportive virtual environment, gaining valuable insights and skills to enhance their understanding and application of the subject matter.
Summer 2025: This 4-week mini program focuses on youth well-being, offering an engaging and interactive learning experience through three core modules. Participants will engage in 5 sessions across the four weeks, including 2 synchronous sessions (each lasting 1 hour and a half) and 3 asynchronous sessions (each lasting 2 hours). Each module includes virtual lectures and discussions, complemented by asynchronous activities such as video lectures and group work tasks. Synchronous sessions via Zoom or Teams encourage active participation and real-time collaboration. Participants will explore key aspects of youth well-being in a supportive virtual environment, gaining valuable insights and skills to enhance their understanding and application of the subject matter.
Fall 2025 & Spring 2026:听There are two phases in the program. In phase one, all activities follow an eight-module curriculum examining youth well-being. Each module includes virtual lectures and discussions. Asynchronous activities consist of video lectures and group work tasks. Synchronous activities are conducted via Zoom or Teams. In phase two, a smaller group of participants work with their research teams to formulate and answer a research question. The project work is organized through Zoom or Teams, and students utilize freely available online platforms such as Google Drive and Google Docs to share resources and drafts. Participants also engage in synchronous sessions, meeting with their faculty and working on the group research project with other team members听in real time, allowing for immediate feedback and collaboration. Upon completing their research projects, students are invited to showcase their work at an international virtual conference.
Phase One (Fall 2025): 14 weeks (Two hours of asynchronous activity/week or one hour and a half of synchronous activity/week)
Phase Two (Spring 2026): 14 weeks (one hour of synchronous activity/week)
Professor, Public Health and Epidemiology
Lecturer, Public Health and Epidemiology
Program Coordinator, Public Health and Epidemiology
All participants are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity and professional conduct.
Any violations of KU鈥檚 code of conduct, including disruptive behavior, harassment, or cheating, will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
All applications must be submitted by the deadline for the respective program cohort.
Selected applicants will be notified on the following dates.
Participants will receive important updates via email, so they should regularly check their student email accounts.
This is an unpaid opportunity, and there are no fees or charges听required to participate in the program.
If a student needs to withdraw due to extenuating circumstances, they must notify the program coordinator as soon as possible.
Upon successful completion of the program, participants will:
5 CS Training Hours – Spring 2025/Summer 2025
9 CS Training Hours – Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Please contact the program coordinator at rukaiyat.mansur@ku.ac.ae听for any questions or more information on the program.
SPRING 2025 APPLICATION
The Stevens Initiative, a program of the Aspen Institute, is an international leader in virtual exchange, which engages young people from different places in dialogue and discovery through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative is building a better tomorrow by preparing rising generations of leaders and advancing the field of virtual exchange.
Virtual exchange uses everyday technology to connect young people from around the world for learning and collaboration, immersing them in digital spaces to gain practical skills and build friendships along the way.
Mission:听Connecting rising generations of leaders to build peace and prosperity through virtual exchange.
Inspiration:听U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens devoted his life to building bridges through open and respectful dialogue and person-to-person diplomacy. As a young man, he taught English in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer. Morocco was his gateway to a life as a diplomat. He served the majority of his Foreign Service career in the Middle East and North Africa, a region he grew to love, and eventually served as U.S. Ambassador to Libya. The Stevens Initiative, conceived and developed in close partnership with Ambassador Stevens鈥� family, seeks to give a generation of young people the kind of meaningful international experiences that shaped Ambassador Stevens as a young man.
Learn more:
Khalifa University鈥檚 Youth Well-Being is funded by the Stevens Initiative, which is housed at the Aspen Institute and is supported by the government of the United Arab Emirates.
