AI streamlines scholarship applications to two documents, three steps and four fields, cutting the process to minutes.
Dubai: Students seeking scholarships in the UAE can now complete their applications in as little as five minutes through a new AI-powered platform launched by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The streamlined system significantly reduces paperwork, with fewer documents, application steps and fields to complete, giving students more time to focus on preparing for their studies.
The platform forms part of EduHub, the unified digital portal for higher education services, which provides access to a range of Ministry services, the Ministry announced on Thursday.
Through EduHub, users can access registration and admission services for higher education institutions, apply for scholarships, obtain information about universities and academic programmes outside the UAE, and submit and track exemption requests.
The platform marks a major shift in how the Ministry delivers services through its website, with a simpler and faster process designed to support its digital transformation, reduce bureaucracy and make greater use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and streamline the customer experience.
Less paperwork
Rashed Karam Al Kaabi, Director of the International Education Support and Scholarships Department at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said the new platform is directly connected with several government entities, allowing much of the required information to be retrieved automatically.
“The new scholarship platform is built on digital integration and direct connectivity with several government entities, including the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, the National Service and Reserve Authority and the Ministry of Education,” he said.
“This integration has reduced the number of documents required from customers to just two, while eliminating the need for applicants to provide personal information or high school transcripts for students following the government curriculum, as this information is retrieved automatically through the system.”
Al Kaabi said the application process has been reduced from five steps to three, while the number of fields students need to complete has fallen from 22 to just four. These changes have cut the minimum time required to submit an application to just five minutes.
He said the improvements are designed to simplify administrative procedures and reduce the amount of time scholarship applicants spend on paperwork, allowing them to focus more on preparing for their studies.
AI does the work
Artificial intelligence is also being used to read and verify documents and automate procedures that previously required applicants to take additional action.
Scholarship agreements can now be signed fully electronically, while students who have been awarded scholarships can submit required documents digitally without relying on traditional communication channels or visiting Ministry offices.
Applicants also receive instant notifications and regular updates on the status of their applications, while a direct messaging feature allows them to communicate with the relevant department.
The system makes applications easier to track, helps prevent duplicate submissions and allows staff to follow up more efficiently. Electronic integration with government entities also reduces the risk of manual errors.
Challenges addressed
The platform has been designed to resolve several challenges applicants previously faced, including difficulties tracking applications through email, having to visit the Ministry when technical issues arose and lengthy procedures for signing documents.
The entire process is now digital, from application to document processing, helping improve both the speed and reliability of the service.
In the next phase, the Ministry will assess the platform’s performance and its impact on users by monitoring factors such as service completion times, the number of steps required, the proportion of transactions processed digitally and customer satisfaction.
The findings will be used to evaluate the overall experience and guide further improvements to the platform and its services.
