At The British International School Abu Dhabi (BIS Abu Dhabi), being part of Nord Anglia Education (NAE) opens doors to learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. Through exclusive collaborations with MIT, The Juilliard School, UNICEF, and IMG Academy, our students access global opportunities that nurture creativity, innovation, leadership, and wellbeing, while achieving exceptional outcomes.
Innovation Through MIT: Inspiring Future Problem-Solvers
Our partnership with MIT brings advanced STEAM learning to BIS Abu Dhabi students, connecting classroom learning with real-world challenges. From origami engineering used in medical research to problem-solving in zero-gravity environments, students are encouraged to think critically, creatively, and collaboratively.
For Year 12 student Sai, this meant taking her interest in medicine and applying it to space-age technology. Inspired by MIT’s interdisciplinary approach, Sai developed a project for a biometric bracelet designed to detect early symptoms of cancer and anxiety. By collaborating with an international group of students, Sai started thinking from multiple perspectives and exploring different methods for solving problems.
For Year 12 student Sai, this meant taking her interest in medicine and applying it to space-age technology. Inspired by MIT’s interdisciplinary approach, Sai developed a project for a biometric bracelet designed to detect early symptoms of cancer and anxiety. By collaborating with an international group of students, Sai started thinking from multiple perspectives and exploring different methods for solving problems.
Experiences like this highlight how global exposure enables students to apply academic learning in meaningful, forward-thinking ways.
Creativity Through Juilliard: Elevating the Arts and Shaping Futures
The Juilliard collaboration enriches the arts curriculum at BIS Abu Dhabi, giving students access to world-class artistic guidance and professional insight.
For 2024 graduate Karolina, this partnership played a key role in shaping her future. The performing arts opportunities, particularly the Juilliard collaboration, were a major part of her journey. These experiences encouraged her to to stop viewing the arts as just a side interest and instead see them as a serious career choice for her future.
Through theatre productions and creative projects, Karolina developed confidence and clarity in her ambitions. She found that the most important lesson was the value of pushing past her comfort zone to try new things. Working with Juilliard helped her build a foundation in teamwork, self-discipline, and creative problem-solving, skills that she now relies on daily in acting and film production.
Karolina is now studying Film Production at FAMU in Prague and working on a Czech TV show, applying the skills and mindset she developed at BIS Abu Dhabi to professional creative environments.
The Juilliard collaboration enriches the arts curriculum at BIS Abu Dhabi, giving students access to world-class artistic guidance and professional insight.
For 2024 graduate Karolina, this partnership played a key role in shaping her future. The performing arts opportunities, particularly the Juilliard collaboration, were a major part of her journey. These experiences encouraged her to to stop viewing the arts as just a side interest and instead see them as a serious career choice for her future.
Through theatre productions and creative projects, Karolina developed confidence and clarity in her ambitions. She found that the most important lesson was the value of pushing past her comfort zone to try new things. Working with Juilliard helped her build a foundation in teamwork, self-discipline, and creative problem-solving, skills that she now relies on daily in acting and film production.
Karolina is now studying Film Production at FAMU in Prague and working on a Czech TV show, applying the skills and mindset she developed at BIS Abu Dhabi to professional creative environments.
Purpose Through UNICEF: Building Changemakers
Through Nord Anglia’s partnership with UNICEF, students engage deeply with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and learn how collaboration can drive meaningful change. At the UNICEF Global Summit in Houston, BIS Abu Dhabi students worked alongside peers from around the world on projects focused on mental health and sustainability.
This year’s selected students’ takeaways were clear: connecting with peers from across the globe to work on common goals showed them the real power of collaboration, when everyone contributes their own unique ideas and backgrounds. They discovered that a person's sense of purpose isn't something that stays the same forever, but instead shifts and develops as it grows and as their surroundings change. Most importantly, seeing others their age already running projects that made a difference helped them realise that they can also start making a change exactly where they are, as long as they are willing to take that first step.
These experiences help students develop empathy, leadership, and a strong sense of responsibility as global citizens.
This year’s selected students’ takeaways were clear: connecting with peers from across the globe to work on common goals showed them the real power of collaboration, when everyone contributes their own unique ideas and backgrounds. They discovered that a person's sense of purpose isn't something that stays the same forever, but instead shifts and develops as it grows and as their surroundings change. Most importantly, seeing others their age already running projects that made a difference helped them realise that they can also start making a change exactly where they are, as long as they are willing to take that first step.
These experiences help students develop empathy, leadership, and a strong sense of responsibility as global citizens.
Wellbeing and Leadership Through IMG Academy
Our newest collaboration with IMG Academy strengthens student wellbeing and leadership development through elite sports training and performance programmes. Through IMG Academy Elevate camps and IMG Academy+ Essentials, students access expert coaching, mental performance strategies, and leadership development that support both athletic and personal growth.
The focus on resilience, mindset, and wellbeing ensures students are equipped to succeed in high-pressure environments, both in sport and in life beyond school.
The focus on resilience, mindset, and wellbeing ensures students are equipped to succeed in high-pressure environments, both in sport and in life beyond school.
Connected Everywhere, Belonging Here
Whether innovating with MIT, developing artistic excellence through Juilliard, leading change with UNICEF, or strengthening wellbeing with IMG Academy, BIS Abu Dhabi students benefit from experiences that broaden perspectives and build confidence.
These collaborations do more than enhance learning, they empower students to define their own pathways, apply their knowledge with purpose, and achieve outcomes that reflect both global exposure and personal growth. At BIS Abu Dhabi, international opportunities are part of everyday learning, ensuring students are prepared not just for the future, but to shape it.
Whether innovating with MIT, developing artistic excellence through Juilliard, leading change with UNICEF, or strengthening wellbeing with IMG Academy, BIS Abu Dhabi students benefit from experiences that broaden perspectives and build confidence.
These collaborations do more than enhance learning, they empower students to define their own pathways, apply their knowledge with purpose, and achieve outcomes that reflect both global exposure and personal growth. At BIS Abu Dhabi, international opportunities are part of everyday learning, ensuring students are prepared not just for the future, but to shape it.
