The Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment has launched the third edition of the 'Mustadam' programme, as part of its efforts to build an integrated national platform for preparing a generation of qualified national competencies capable of leading the future of sustainability.
The programme aims to introduce schoolchildren to the environment, sustainability, and food security sectors through interactive educational and field experiences that develop their knowledge, enhance their skills, and inspire them to explore future academic and professional pathways.
The third edition features an expansion of the programme's scope through the introduction of a specialised marine environment track, alongside the livestock and food security track — a step that reflects the continued development and broadening of the programme to cover a wider spectrum of sectors related to the environment, sustainability, and food security, in line with the Ministry's vision of entrenching a culture of learning by doing and empowering students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to achieving the UAE's sustainability and innovation targets.
Her Excellency Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dhahak, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said: "Investing in people is the fundamental pillar for achieving national strategic targets across various sectors, and the 'Mustadam' programme is a translation of the wise leadership's vision to prepare a generation that possesses the knowledge, skills, and capacity to innovate in order to lead a more sustainable future.
"We believe that building national competencies begins with giving students the opportunity to gain practical experience and to become acquainted with the vital sectors that will shape the contours of the economy of the future."
She added: "The programme embodies an effective model of integration between government entities, academic institutions, and strategic partners, stemming from our belief that building national capacities is a shared responsibility, and that empowering young people with knowledge, practical experience, and the benefit of specialists' expertise is a long-term investment in the future of the UAE and in its ability to continue its global leadership in sustainability, climate action, and food security."
Al Dhahak affirmed: "In every edition of the 'Mustadam' programme, we are keen to develop its content, enrich its tracks, and select its topics in a way that keeps pace with national priorities and our future directions in the areas of environment, sustainability, and food security. The introduction of new tracks this year is an extension of this approach, with the aim of broadening students' horizons and providing applied educational experiences that acquaint them with vital and diverse sectors."
The programme runs in two phases: it begins with the marine environment track from 3 to 6 August 2026, targeting students in grades 9 to 12, where students participate in applied experiences including exposure to marine ecosystems, ocean sciences, scientific research, water quality monitoring, and fish farming, in addition to laboratory experiments, field visits, and scientific projects.
This is followed by the livestock and food security track from 17 to 20 August 2026, designated for students in grades 6 to 8, which allows participants to become acquainted with the livestock and food security system through practical workshops in veterinary medicine.
The workshops also cover biosecurity, food production quality, and food manufacturing, and conclude with a hackathon that encourages students to develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing the sector.
The programme is distinguished by an educational methodology based on learning by doing, through engaging students in real-world experiences, meetings with experts and specialists, and applied activities that enhance critical thinking, innovation, and teamwork, contributing to deepening their understanding of environmental challenges and developing their capacity to devise sustainable solutions.
The 'Mustadam' experience is not limited to the summer programme, but extends across an integrated innovation journey that begins with exploring challenges and developing ideas, moving through a mentoring and development phase, and culminating in participation in an innovation challenge and the presentation of projects on specialised national platforms — reinforcing the programme's lasting impact and supporting a culture of innovation among young people.