Dubai Lynx Academy, sponsored by Leo Burnett, reveals its selected students

The academy, which launched today at the region's largest advertising festival, is an industry initiative to support the future of advertising.

From across the region, universities and colleges proposed students who they felt would be most deserving of a place within the Dubai Lynx Academy. As a consequence the selected students will be part of seminars, debates and lectures from industry luminaries.

The students came from Egypt, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE and of the 21 selected, 3 students who show exceptional promise will be offered an internship with the advertising agency, Leo Burnett.

Safeya Al Suwaidi, one of four Emiratis selected for the Academy and who attends Sharjah Women's college said, "I have always been creative and insisted on a career relating to design and the media, so this is not only a privilege but a major stepping stone to achieving my career objectives. It will be an invaluable experience and I thoroughly look forward to learning all I can from the very best in the advertising business."

At the press conference, which celebrated the launch of the Academy, Philip Thomas, CEO of the Dubai Lynx Festival said, "The students are all incredibly passionate but they have not experienced the industry first hand or learnt from award winning creatives. That is why this is such an invaluable opportunity for them."

Raja Trad, CEO of Leo Burnett Middle East added, "In these difficult economic times our focus can become otherwise distracted but we must continue to invest in the future of the industry and make sure there is no dearth of talent in the years to come."