The $12.8 million in funding, provided by the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, will establish the UAE-Indonesia Future Leaders Program – a five-year scheme designed to support talent development in sustainability, infrastructure, health, and teacher education.
It signals the growing emphasis on the transnational partnerships that connect the Gulf’s philanthropy, Southeast Asian development priorities, and North American higher education expertise.
The academic and organisational partnerships developed will capitalise on the important ties between Indonesia and the United Arab EmiratesDeep Saini, McGill University
“The impact of this new program will be far-reaching, across disciplines and countries, and the academic and organisational partnerships developed will capitalise on the important ties between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, while building on McGill’s expertise and international reputation,” stated Deep Saini, president and vice-chancellor of McGill University.
For more than 50 years, McGill University has worked with Indonesian institutions on academic exchange and research collaboration. This latest initiative formalises and scales that engagement, positioning the Canadian institution as a hub for training Indonesian educators, researchers, and sector professionals while also fostering stronger institutional ties with Emirati universities.
The program will be implemented by McGill University in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and the University of Indonesia, with the participation of UAE University, Zayed University, University of Sharjah, and Khalifa University.
This includes scholarships, professional development for teachers, and research awards.
Through skill development based on McGill University’s international leadership in education and administrative development (ILEAD) curriculum, the program seeks to improve the abilities of educators, school principals, and administrators.
The initiative will concentrate on enhancing faculty competencies at the University of Indonesia, supporting graduates’ transition into the private sector, building national capacity in health and sustainability, and offering graduate and postdoctoral programs, joint master’s and doctoral fellowships, research fellowships, executive leadership development, and advanced training to Indonesian researchers and postgraduate students.
This closely aligns with Indonesia’s domestic development agenda, particularly in strengthening education systems and building workforce capacity in strategic industries. A core component that will target teachers, school leaders, and administrators, who will take part in the leadership training delivered through McGill’s education faculty.
By focusing professional development rather than only postgraduate mobility, the scheme aims to extend its impact beyond universities into schools and local communities.
“High-quality teachers and school leaders are among the most cost-effective and enduring investments a nation can make. Through this collaboration with the UAE and McGill University, we aim to strengthen teaching practice, school leadership, and learning outcomes by expanding structured professional development for educators and administrators,” said Abdul Mu’ti, minister of primary and secondary education, Indonesia.
“Together, we will build a pipeline of high-calibre Indonesian education professionals who will deliver change and deepen people-to-people ties among Indonesia, the UAE, and Canada. We will ensure this next generation of professionals is not limited to university researchers, but extends to primary and secondary education, so that knowledge gained at McGill reaches schools and communities across Indonesia.”
Indonesia’s government is supercharging its education landscape, with President Prabowo Subianto saying he wants to see more university campuses focussing on medicine and STEM in the country, as well as signalling an openness towards TNE partnerships with other countries.
