Community-based Global Learning

Community-based learning is a key pillar of NYU Abu Dhabi’s liberal arts education, offering undergraduates the opportunity to “read” the natural and human landscapes of the UAE, the region, and the world as critical texts for their classes.

In the age of artificial intelligence, these carefully curated, immersive learning experiences are what make an NYUAD education distinctive. We equip students with the tools and shared experiences they need to act with ethical intelligence as responsible citizens and leaders in their communities, both in the UAE and globally.

Community-based Learning in Abu Dhabi and the UAE

With a diverse tapestry of cultures, the UAE is one of the most international countries in the world – a living representation of global cooperation and co-existence. 

From boardroom meetings in DIFC to the shores of Fujairah, NYUAD courses take students to various locations in the UAE, each experience serving as a curricular and pedagogical laboratory led by exceptionally talented faculty.

Overview from Academic Year 2024-2025

Field Visits in the UAE as part of Community-based Global Learning

Our Partners

Recognizing its civic and social responsibility as an institution of higher education, NYUAD strives to be a vibrant and dynamic contributor of knowledge, resources, and skills to the communities of which it becomes a part. It is equally committed to listening and learning from the expertise and insight of the different communities with which it engages.

Over the last decade, our students have engaged with over 200 local organizations from cultural institutions and research labs to humanitarian agencies and grassroots initiatives. These partnerships ground their learning in relationships, responsibility, and social impact.