NYU will collaborate with University of the People to identify disadvantaged youth who are eligible for admission to one of the most selective institutions in the world, NYU Abu Dhabi.

NYU Partners with UoPeople

 New York University (NYU) will collaborate with University of the People (UoPeople) to identify disadvantaged youth who are eligible for admission to one of the most selective institutions in the world, NYU Abu Dhabi.

“NYU Abu Dhabi has distinguished itself not only by the quality of its students and the selectivity of its admissions, but also by its broad international reach,” said John Sexton, the president of NYU. “That diversity is part of what draws young people of such talent to NYU Abu Dhabi.  We admire that UoPeople is seeking to bring higher education to so many of the world’s disadvantaged, and we anticipate a productive collaboration between them and NYU in identifying exceptionally bright and ambitious young people worldwide who could join our Abu Dhabi campus.”

High performing students who have studied for at least one year at UoPeople and meet the standards of admission will be eligible to apply for admission to NYU Abu Dhabi.  Successful applicants who qualified would also be eligible for financial aid to help enable them to attend. Gaining admission to NYU Abu Dhabi is highly competitive: This year, NYU Abu Dhabi received 5,854 applications, and extended 196 offers of admission – an acceptance rate of 3.3 percent.

"We are thrilled to have this collaboration between NYU and University of the People,” said Shai Reshef, Founder & President, University of the People. “Most of our students had no alternative to higher education before we opened the gates for them, and now the most successful may be able to further pursue their dreams by attending one of the best universities in the world. Once we level the playing field, I am confident that all students – whether from Sub-Sahara Africa or New England – are all capable of bettering our world.”

Currently, University of the People has accepted over 900 students from over 115 countries.

Academic programs and administrative leadership at UoPeople have included distinguished NYU faculty and administrators since the organization launched in 2009.  These include Dr. Russell Winer – the William H. Joyce Professor of Marketing and chair of the Marketing Department at NYU’s Stern School of Business – who serves as chair of UoPeople’s Department of Business Administration Department; Dr. Alexander Tuzhilin – a professor of information systems and an NEC Faculty Fellow at NYU’s Stern School – who serves as chair UoPeople’s Department of the Computer Science; and Paul Affuso – the Associate Dean for Administrative Services and Facilities at NYU’s Stern School – who serves as UoPeople’s Chief Financial Officer.

About New York University

Founded in 1831, NYU is one of world’s foremost research universities and a member of the selective Association of American Universities. The first Global Network University, it has degree-granting university campuses in New York and Abu Dhabi, and has announced a third in Shanghai; has  a dozen other global academic sites; and sends more students to study abroad than any other U.S. college or university.  Through its 18 schools and colleges, NYU conducts research and provides education in the arts and sciences, law, medicine, business, dentistry, education, nursing, the cinematic and performing arts, music and studio arts, public administration, social work, and continuing and professional studies, among other areas.

About University of the People

Founded by educational entrepreneur Shai Reshef in January 2009, University of the People (UoPeople; www.UoPeople.org) is the world’s first tuition-free, online academic institution. Based on the principles of e-learning and peer-to-peer teaching, coupled with open-source technology and courseware, UoPeople is designed to provide universal access to college studies, despite geographic and economic constraints.

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John Beckman
John Beckman
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