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Dubai Smart Government Signs MoU with KHDA to Support Electronic and Smart Services

UAE, November 9, 2015 – Dubai Smart Government Department (DSG) and Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which DSG will offer the necessary support for its electronic and smart shared services provided to KHDA in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for Dubai government services to be available round the clock.

The services which KHDA benefits from include the Government Resources Planning Systems (GRPS), Government Information Network (GIN), MyID, ePay, Government Service Bus, Correspondence Tracking System, SMS Dubai, eSurvey, Happiness Meter, eHost, eComplain, eSuggest etc.
The MoU also stipulates that the levels of this support and the priority-based response period should be specified with a view to fulfilling the leadership’s vision that efforts should be combined to achieve Dubai Vision 2021 and the ultimate goal of bringing happiness to customers.
Commenting on the MoU, H.E. Ahmad Bin Humaidan, DSG Director General, said: “DSG works as per a clear strategy aimed at reaching a connected and collaborative smart government by meeting the needs of all government entities in implementation of the smart government objectives as announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, for prompt transformation to smart government for Dubai to become the smartest and most innovative city in the world and for the UAE to consolidate its lead in smart transformation worldwide.”
Bin Humaidan added: “We have signed an MoU with KHDA based on our commitment to employ our enablers including advanced infrastructure, smart services, systems and high-level technical support with a view to improving the readiness of the smart services which KHDA benefits from as well as developing them and ensuring their sustainability based on our belief in the important role played by KHDA in building a high-quality educational sector for the happiness and improved satisfaction of customers.”
Meanwhile, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said: “This MoU is a significant step towards ensuring the sustainability of KHDA’s services as per the world’s best standards, benefiting from the high performance of the shared services provided by DSG.”
Al Karam believed co-operation between the two sides would serve the interests of customers including schools, universities, students, parents, educational staff, investors and government partners for building a high-quality educational sector keen on bringing happiness to its community.
Al Karam affirmed that KHDA is working on achieving the prudent leadership’s vision for all efforts to be combined in order to fulfil the UAE vision and Dubai transformation to the world’s smartest city, valuing DSG’s role and unique transformations of all Dubai entities. He also praised DSG’s methodology of work, which serves in consolidating the transformation to smart government, reiterating that KHDA is proud to strengthen its partnership with DSG and appreciates working with it.

Earlier, DSG has been awarded an ISO 20000:2011 Certification for IT service management, which proves its commitment to the global IT standards for improving the performance of services in general, and makes it highly qualified for effectively providing support services to government entities.
DSG has recently launched at Gitex Technology Week 2015 new smart shared services: Dubai Government’s CloudOne, which provides a smart shared infrastructure that enables Dubai government entities to easily access many IT resources, thereby saving the expenses and efforts needed to build these resources individually, and Watson interactive system, which employs artificial intelligence for the public dealing with government services. DSG has also launched Dubai Now that, combines a large number of smart government services for 22 Dubai government entities participating in the app so far. 
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Al Hammadi: “UAE is leading global trends towards modern education systems”

UAE Minister of Education: “We will continue to integrate basic IT skills & digital literacy in school curriculum.”
Ministry of Education’s Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services: “Modern designs for schools & attractive learning environment for teachers, administrators & students.”

UAE, June 9, 2015 – H.E. Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, has announced that the five principles to unleash the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) agreed upon at the International Conference on ICT and Post-2015 Education held recently in Qingdao, China, are the same as those guaranteed by the UAE’s Constitution and Legislations. These principles are in line with the development strategy of UAE Vision 2021, the UAE National Agenda, and the Ministry’s Education Development Plan 2015-2021.
H.E. Al Hammadi pointed out that since the declaration of the Union, the UAE has realized the value of five principles, namely, the right of education, equity, integration, quality education and lifelong learning, which formed the main themes of the conference. The UAE also realized early on and proactively that it is important and necessary that everyone gets good, equal and comprehensive education in order to build modern, sustainable, inclusive and knowledge-based societies.  
H.E. Al Hammadi expressed his views at the conference where he headed a high-profile official delegation from the UAE that included H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services. The International Conference on ICT and Post-2015 Education was inaugurated by Liu Yandong, Vice-Premier of the State Council of China, in the presence of the Ministers of Education, a host of senior educational officials, experts and specialists representing over 90 countries.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Al Hammadi said that the global educational system is witnessing rapid transformations and long-term directives that are directly related to major advances in ICT, cognitive revolution, and the knowledge-economy society. This was evident throughout the conference, where various topics were discussed during the specialized panels. He emphasized that the UAE enjoys a leading position in terms of providing education systems that keep pace with the changing time as confirmed by UAE Vision 2021. The vision calls on the need to invest in science, technology and research at various levels with special emphasis on education and its development to provide students with the knowledge and skills of the 21st century to increase specialized scientific abilities in the present and the future.
H.E. Al Hammadi revealed that attendees focused on e-Learning, and the UAE, as it seeks to achieve the highest global competitive rates, talked about ‘smart’ learning and post smart learning. The country has also adopted a series of development programs that support this renewed type of education in its curricula, teaching methods, assessment and exam systems, infrastructure, and extracurricular activities. These, along with the support of an elite list of educators and administrators, will support the Ministry in developing a school environment that incubates creativity and innovation while stimulating ingenuity. These concepts have been adopted by the global education systems now and were revisited during the deliberations regarding the future of education and technology beyond 2015.
H.E. Al Hammadi confirmed that ICT for learning and other fields is no longer a specialized skill, but is the basis for success in modern societies. He noted that the Ministry of Education adopts what was affirmed by the conference about the importance of integrating basic ICT skills and digital literacy in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools. Moreover, it provides many unprecedented educational opportunities to enable Emirati students to use digital devices to enhance their familiarity with modern sciences, knowledge, and specialized research. Additionally, the Ministry focuses on developing students’ administrative, educational and technical skills that will help them in utilizing knowledge to keep abreast with the latest technology by inventing smart teaching tools, reflecting the distinctive capabilities of the UAE’s educational arena.
H.E. Al Hammadi pointed out that the UAE Ministry of Education, in cooperation with its strategic partners and institutions concerned with the education sector, is developing comprehensive National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Systems in order to provide sound evidences to formulate policies on recruitment and use and measure the impact of ICT in education. He also added that through these joint efforts the Ministry aims to enhance the management of the educational system, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of educational practices and strengthening the planning, implementation and follow-up process, in addition to promoting sustainability concepts in education.
H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services, said: “The Ministry of Education is intensifying its efforts to create new opportunities to utilize all available capabilities which represent the core of the educational process and the backbone of development. These capabilities include human resources, infrastructure, educational equipments and tools, school facilities, auditing, evaluation, and follow-up systems along with other logistic factors that support the efforts to develop the education sector and achieve sustainability within school community.”
He added: “The Ministry is focusing on providing professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and staff in schools, as they are the pillars of the education sector. We believe that investing in human capital is of great significance due to its vital role and that its development requires the implementation of high-level educational practices as well as conformity with the highest standards of professionalism to ensure optimal management of the development process by qualified personnel. The Ministry looks forward to strengthening existing partnerships with leading consulting firms as well as with the universities and educational institutions in the UAE which can share their experience in implementing and supervising various training programs.”
H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi stated that according to the China Conference, the requirements of educational development include good education, quality of educational services related to modern educational and service facilities, advanced equipments, and innovative educational techniques and technology. He said that these requirements are the most important elements for positively changing school operations. They are also effective tools for supporting the Ministry’s objective of enhancing schools in the UAE and making them attractive for students, teachers and administrators.
“The Ministry has approved new designs that aim to develop modern schools in the UAE. We look forward to opening the new schools soon in line with our efforts to achieve the objective of our development plan and keep pace with global movements. The schools will include sustainable facilities developed according to the highest standards of Green Buildings, an institution developed in accordance with the special specifications of smart learning systems, as well as special-purpose facilities such as rooms for learning resources and enrichment activities. The modern schools will also include technical and scientific laboratories that are being developed in line with the requirements of advanced curricula and innovative teaching methods. The Open Classroom is one of the highlights of the modern schools, as they support the objectives of the educational development plan aimed at providing high-quality service and educational outcomes to enable students to enroll in the best universities in the UAE and abroad without prior preparation,” H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi added.
H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi said that the Ministry is aiming to enhance the operational efficiency of schools in the UAE through a series of roles related to administrative and financial affairs, pointed out that the step will facilitate the educational process, meet the daily needs of the schools in accordance with the applicable regulations and in a flexible manner, to achieve the objectives of Q-Scale Project and other leading initiatives. The final statement of the conference emphasized the importance of encouraging lifelong learning, promoting innovative and advanced Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) methods, and supporting the concept of accountability. It also reflected the urgent need for adopting the principles and methods of online education, and activating the role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in improving learning paths and enabling all segments of society, especially those with special needs, to gain access to educational services.
The statement also highlighted the significance of ICT-based innovative educational tools as main contributors in maximizing employment opportunities, especially in the fields that require certified skills.
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Ministry of Environment and Water Successfully Concludes Activities of National Environment Day

Closing ceremonies highlighted with launch of National Strategy on Environment Education and Awareness
UAE, March 5, 2015 – His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, attended the concluding activities for the UAE’s celebration of the 18th edition of National Environment Day held today (Thursday, March 5, 2015) in Abu Dhabi. The event which is held every March 4th under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, was attended by government and private institutions, civic organizations and members of the local community.

Also present during the event were Dr. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi, who is more popularly known as the ‘Green Sheikh;’ Mohammed Saleh, Director General, Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA); Ali Mehad Al Suwaidi, Acting Undersecretary, Ministry of Education; Riyadh Bin Aylan, Director General, Sharjah City Municipality; Khaled Huraimel, General Manager, Bee’ah; Dr. Ali Mohamed Ibrahim, Chairman, Environment Friends Society (EFS); Dr Mohamed, MENA Regional Director, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and a number of officials and representatives from different government agencies.
During the ceremonies, Dr. Bin Fahad stressed on the importance of National Environment Day, which has been celebrated for the last 18 years. The event, as he pointed out, has been implemented along with other government programs and initiatives with the objectives of increasing environmental awareness and encouraging UAE nationals and residents towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. In his speech, the Minister also pointed out the need for greater attention at the national level and greater integration and harmony between efforts, programs and awareness strategies rolled out by the Ministry and other environmental authorities.
H.E. Bin Fahad shared that this year’s event has received both broad and formal public interest, which was widely reflected in the overwhelming response generated from the planned activities and events that were held as part of the annual celebration. He further added that the events highly excelled in innovation and creativity, reflecting the backbone of knowledge for the ministry. For the first time in 18 years, a separate website was created for National Environment Day—featuring information about the event itself, related activities, the environment, green economy and particularly focused on innovation in addressing critical environmental issues.
The Minister stressed that education and awareness are considered essential factors for the efforts towards environmental preservation and development. An important part of these policies depends on key criteria like culture, awareness and the decisions and actions made by individuals or groups on the environment and its resources.
Towards the end of his speech, H.E. Bin Fahad expressed his gratitude and appreciation to government agencies, various media organizations, public welfare associations and environmental authorities who have helped in organizing this year’s National Environment Day celebrations.
The ceremony also featured a short film presentation about innovation and its importance in the move towards preserving the environment. Engineer Mariam Saeed Hareb, Director of Environmental Education and Awareness, Ministry of Environment and Water, gave a summarization of all the events that transpired during National Environment Day. This was followed by a graduation of a group of environmental ambassadors from the seven emirates who participated in a series of intensive training and workshops on various environmental issues. The initiative, which is a project organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education, was sponsored by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Corporation. 
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the launching of the National Strategy on Environment Education and Awareness—an initiative that follows the Ministry’s commitment towards raising the level of environmental awareness in the UAE. The strategy, which will be implemented from 2015 to 2021, represents a unified qualitative step towards ecological awareness and efforts to preserve the local environment.
H.E. Bin Fahad emphasized that the strategy represents the ongoing efforts to raise more awareness in saving the environment, which also falls in line with the vision and objectives set by UAE Vision 2021.
Engineer Hareb explained that the strategy is focused on six key objectives that were based on international standards and guidelines of the parties involved. The program aims to educate the country’s younger generation and encourage them to lead the UAE towards a sustainable future and strengthen the community’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The launch also aims at encouraging active participation from the public and private sector; educate governments and key stakeholders on environmental issues and to ensure the integration and effectiveness of environmental awareness campaigns.
Lastly, Minister Bin Fahad toured the ‘Wall of Knowledge,’ an initiative that aims to raise the awareness and knowledge on key environmental issues and concerns with the use of the latest technologies available today. ‘The Wall of Knowledge’ features the ability to connect more than one smart device at a time to create an internal network that integrates elements of the real world with the digital world, using more than 25 electronic minds.
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Autodesk Makes Design Software Free to Schools Worldwide

Design Software Leader Expands Reach of Free Education Offering to Prepare an Industry-ready Workforce
DUBAI, UAE, December 8th, 2014 — Fulfilling its promise to expand access to its professional design software in education, Autodesk, Inc.(NASDAQ: ADSK) has made its industry-leading design, engineering and entertainment software free* to students, instructors and academic institutions worldwide.

With this new education business model, more than 680 million students and educators from over 800,000 secondary and post-secondary schools in 188 countries can take advantage of free access to Autodesk’s professional software and services for use in classrooms, labs, and at home.
“The way we make things is changing rapidly, and we need a workforce ready to design for new manufacturing and construction techniques. By providing free professional design tools to students, faculty members and academic institutions around the world, we’re helping get industry ready for the next phase,” said Carl Bass, CEO, Autodesk.
Following its announcement of free software for academic institutions in the United States earlier this year as part of President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, Autodesk has gradually expanded free access to its leading design software to academic institutions across Asia Pacific and Europe.  The leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software is also helping schools move to the cloud by providing academic institutions with its full suite of next generation cloud-based design products, cloud services such as the A360 collaboration platform, as well as maintenance subscription for free.
From students as young as 13 years old leveraging Fusion 360 to conceptualize and 3D print prosthetic devices, to college teams developing environmentally sustainable homes using BIM 360 Glue, young talent are pushing the boundaries of design and innovation both inside and outside of the classroom using the same design software used by professionals every day.
“Our students are using Fusion 360 to design an Energy Scooter which we are bringing to market via Kickstarter, and they’re only in 8th grade! If we can help more classroom teachers incorporate learning through design in their curriculum, and technologies that engage students in problem-solving through engineering, students will see how math and science are springboards to careers as future innovators and entrepreneurs,” said Karen Kaun, Founder of Makeosity.
To facilitate the integration of design tools into curricula, Autodesk also offers free project-based learning content and resources including the Digital STEAM Workshop and Design Academy.
“Closing the digital gap in education starts by providing European schools with common access to the same advanced technology being used by industry professionals today. Autodesk’s pledge to provide our schools, students and teachers with free access to its professional 3D design software will enable educators to introduce design thinking into our classrooms; equip digital natives with the design tools to learn to solve real-world challenges in new creative ways; and prepare the next-generation workforce with the 21st century skills to meet industry demands and advance our economies,” said Neelie Kroes, formervice-president of the European Commission.
To learn more or to request free educational access to Autodesk software, visit http://www.autodesk.com/education.
About Autodesk
Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.
Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, A360, BIM 360 and Fusion 360, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
© 2014 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Free Autodesk software and/or cloud-based services may only be used for educational purposes and are subject to acceptance of and compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license agreement or terms of service.  Details and restrictions available at http://usa.autodesk.com/legal-notices-trademarks.  
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UAE Steps Up Efforts to Address Book Piracy in Schools

Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance honors Abu Dhabi DED for its pioneering efforts in battling book piracy
UAE, November 08, 2014 – The Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAA), the leader in combating piracy within the GCC region, recently honoured the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED) for its significant contributions in the battle against book piracy in the UAE. The AAA lauded the agency for implementing the Middle East region’s first ever campaign against book piracy. In recognition of these efforts, the AAA presented a special plaque of appreciation to the Abu Dhabi DED in a special meeting also attended by representatives of the publishing industry.
Abu Dhabi DED ran a successful campaign against book piracy across schools in Abu Dhabi—conducting inspections to see if pirated books were used in these schools. The inspections resulted in the discovery and seizure of pirated books that were in violation of the UAE copyright law.
Ola Khudair, Deputy CEO, Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAA), said: “We commend the Abu Dhabi Government for acting strongly on our call for measures against book piracy, particularly being the first time ever in the middle east for actions directly at the schools. The Abu Dhabi DED’s initiative to combine cooperation with Abu Dhabi Educational Council, in particular reflects the emphasis placed by the government in finding solutions to this growing social and economic threat.  The degraded quality of the pirated books severely affects the students’ ability to maintain the text books for an average life period during the term, as well put unwanted burden on the parents to repeatedly buy the books.  The Publishers put in lot of efforts to develop content of text books and pirates steal these text books without any return to the Publishers for investing into the development of the text books.”
Emma House, Director of Publisher Relations, The Publishers Association (PA) UK, “The PA and its publisher members are very grateful to the Abu Dhabi DED and the Abu Dhabi Education Council for their support in combating book piracy. The recent initiative of conducting school inspections ensures that schools and students are aware of the fact that pirated books are poor in quality and violate UAE copyright laws. The protection of copyright also ensures that publishers are able to continue producing quality educational products in the region at fair and affordable prices without unfair competition from illegal sellers. Rest assured, PA’s publisher members and its anti-piracy teams will continue to work with the local authorities and the AAA to ensure that their aims are met.”
The Dubai-based Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance is dedicated to curbing piracy in the Middle East region through the implementation of a comprehensive anti-piracy program that includes strategic activities like public awareness campaigns, aggressive lobbying and legal action against IPR offenders. The Alliance, which evolved from the anti-piracy program established by the Motion Picture Association in 1996, currently has full time operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, where its Operations Managers closely coordinate with governments to safeguard against copyright and trademark infringements.
The Publishers Association (PA) is the leading trade organisation serving book, journal, audio and electronic publishers in the UK. 
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“School Leadership Programme” Heralded Success by Pearson and UAE Ministry of Education

142 Emirati School Leaders Graduate from Internationally Recognised Programme 
Dubai, UAE, 2nd October, 2014 – The Emirates’ Ministry of Education is on track to achieve its goal of raising school leadership standards in the UAE, with 142 educators graduating from the School Leadership Programme (SLP).
Graduates of the “School Leadership Programme”
The graduating class made up the second cohort of educators taking part in the internationally accredited programme, which is being run jointly by the Ministry and Pearson. The programme forms part of the UAE Government’s wider education reforms aimed at fostering a highly diversified, knowledge-based economy.
Organisers of the SLP have been impressed by the dedication of the participants, who achieved an overall attendance rate of over 97 percent, with no participants falling below the required attendance rate of 85 percent. 58 participants achieved 100 percent attendance for the programme, which is run over 400 hours.
Mrs Fawzia Bin Ghareeb, the Under Secretary Assistant at the UAE Ministry of Education extended her congratulations to the graduating group, noting the inspiring standard the 2014 cohort have established for future participants:
“The future of UAE learners looks bright, with our schools to be led by such a remarkable collection of educators and administrators. I commend the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the participants of the 2014 School Leaders Programme, and am confident that they will lead inspiring change in the country’s schools going forward. Given over 700 educators from across six Emirates will undertake this programme in total, the impact of the SLP on the overall education system will be significant”.
Graduates of the “School Leadership Programme”
The programme includes a 50 hour internship placement at a high performing school, providing participants with an opportunity to learn from the country’s best performing schools. Pearson’s Professional Development Manager, Amanda Collins, says that it is this focus on real-world learning that is at the heart of the programme’s success:
“The internship is a fundamental part of the SLP, allowing participants to engage in professional dialogue with school leaders and colleagues, and consider ways in which their own leadership practice might change as a result of what they have learned. The internship also provides participants with practical behaviours and activities that they can go onto implement in their own schools, having a long-term positive impact on students and staff”.
Ms Collins says that while the programme has proven to be a great success, Pearson and the Ministry of Education are keen to ensure future participants benefit from ongoing improvements:
“A recent Review of the School Leadership Programme’ found that while overall the SLP had performed well against international standards, there were areas where improvements could be made. 2015 participants will therefore enjoy greater flexibility and choice in their learning, and have increased access to best-practice schools, with internship time extended. In addition, we are negotiating with local and foreign universities to have the SLP programme recognised as a pathway to a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Pearson and the Ministry are dedicated to making this programme as effective as possible given the importance of school leadership to creating a world-class education system in the UAE”.
About Pearson:
Pearson is the world’s largest learning company, operating in more than 80 countries around the world, bringing powerful learning solutions to millions of learners every year. Pearson takes learning personally. Our courses and resources are available in print, online and through multi-lingual packages, helping people learn whatever, wherever and however they choose. Our education imprints combine 150 years of experience and include online support for every learner.  Our innovative and dynamic digital learning products and services are changing the learning landscape all around the globe and our qualifications are positively transforming the futures of learners of all ages and backgrounds.  Pearson can boast a comprehensive English Language offering that consists of engaging content and cutting edge testing solutions. To find out more, visit www.pearson.com.
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Autodesk Empowers 16-year-old Emirati Girl Students to Design Next Generation Mini-F1 Cars

Al Shohub Private School’s ‘Wild Fire’ design team leverages software and training from Autodesk to design, analyze, create and test their creations for ‘F1 in Schools World Finals 2014’
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, SEPTEMBER 08, 2014 — Autodesk, a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software is empowering a team of 16-year-old Emirati girls from Al Shohub Private School in Abu Dhabi in their quest for the top spot at the ‘F1 in Schools World Finals 2014.’ The all-girls team from Al Shohub Private School will use professional 3D design software such as Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Flow Design to design a scale-model Formula One (F1) car of the future for this year’s edition of the competition.  As the technology partner, Autodesk is helping the team with technical support and the software tools required for the project.

‘F1 in Schools,’ is an international competition that challenges teams of school students to design and build their own Formula 1 team and run it as a mini-enterprise project. As the premier software partner for F1 in Schools, Autodesk provided all participating teams with free access to its full portfolio of creativity applications and professional 3D design software to bring their ideas to life in the virtual world and create their race car model made from balsa wood.
Shaikha Al Jawder, Team Manager, Al Shohub Private School holds the prototype version of the F1 car designed by the team.

Team ‘Wild Fire’ from Al Shohub Private School in Abu Dhabi is the first all-girl Emirati team in the competition, is composed of Shaikha Al Jawder, Team Manager;  Amna Al Romaithi, Car Designer; Haya Al Khaled, Deputy Car Designer; Noora Al Saian, Pit Display Designer and Mariam Al Saian, Marketing Manager. They are one of the four UAE teams that will represent the region and compete against teams from around the world in the Championships at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on November 16 – 19, 2014.

“It’s inspiring to witness the amount of creativity, skill and talent that the four UAE teams participating at the F1in Schools World Finals possess, and it’s especially wonderful to be able to be able to equip an all-girl’s team from Al Shohub Private School with our professional 3D design tools Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Flow Design to help them clinch a spot in the World Championships,” said George Abraham, Director of Education, Autodesk. “F1 in Schools gives us a glimpse of the promising future generation of engineers and designers. We commend the F1 in Schools competition, which has grown year on year since it started in 2000, successfully proving to be an excellent outlet for young talent and in helping students realize their potential.”

Paul Bray, F1 in Schools Program Consultant, Yas Marina Circuit; Laura Crosse, ‘F1 in Schools’ Programme Manager, Al Shohub Private School; Shaikha Al Jawder, Team Manager, Al Shohub Private School; Ayman Nicola, Technical Engineer, Autodesk Middle East.
The final leg of the competition will take place ahead of the 2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This year’s event will also include an evening gala awards dinner ceremony where high profile figures from Abu Dhabi and Formula 1 will be in attendance. Winners for the competition will be awarded the Bernie Ecclestone World Championship trophy and crowned F1 in Schools 2014 World Champions. The winning team will also be given the opportunity to attend the 2014 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and experience the real world of Formula 1.
“The F1 in schools program not only allows students to experience their creations but has also helped change perceptions of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by creating a fun and challenging learning environment for them. The initiative has greatly inspired today’s young people to further develop their technical skills and spark more interest in pursuing careers in engineering, science, and technology. We believe that programs like this are integral to the future of the UAE and we affirm our continued support for similar initiatives,” concluded Abdulla Al Shammari, Youth and Community Manager, Abu Dhabi Motor Sports Management.
About F1 in Schools
F1 in Schools™ is a not-for-profit company established with committed partners to provide an exciting yet challenging educational experience through the magnetic appeal of Formula One™. F1 in Schools is rapidly realizing its potential of becoming the only truly global educational program that raises awareness of Formula One among students and school children in every region, in every country, on every continent. Spanning age ranges of 9 to19 its main objective is to help change perceptions of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) by creating a fun and exciting learning environment for young people to develop an informed view about careers in engineering, mathematics, science, Formula One, marketing and technology.
The founding constitution of F1 in Schools stipulates that it is, and shall remain, a not-for-profit organization. Funds raised through sponsorship are invested in administering, developing and expanding the challenge. All income is deployed in accordance with guidelines laid down by Formula One Management.
   
About Autodesk
Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit www.autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.
Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Flow Design are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
Free Autodesk software and/or cloud-based services may only be used for educational purposes and are subject to acceptance of and compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license agreement or terms of service.  
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Ministry of Education Announces List of Top Students and Results for 12th Grade Examinations

Al Qatami: The ministry is working hard to make the school environment more conducive to learning
2014 exam results yield 89.4 per cent for the scientific section and 67.8 per cent for the literary section
UAE, July 1, 2014 – The Ministry of Education announced the examination results for the 12th Grade this Academic Year 2013/2014, which was taken by more than 37,000 students. The passing rate in the literary and scientific sections was 67.8 per cent and 89.4 per cent, respectively.  The results also listed the top 33 male and female students. Emirati student Mariam Ali Ashour Murad ranked first in the literary section, obtaining a grade of 99.92 per cent, while Ahmed Abdul Razzaq Metwally Chahine from Egypt, on the other hand, was the overall first placer with a grade of 99.85 per cent.

The results were announced during a press conference held yesterday in Dubai by H.E. Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Minister of Education. Also present in the event were H.E. Marwan Al Sawalih, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education; Ali Mehad Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Special Education; H.E. Amal Al Qous, Assistant Undersecretary for Sector Activities and School Environment; H.E. Khawla Al Mualla, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Policies, Ministry of Education; H.E. Fawzia Hassan Gharib, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Operations; and a number of managers and directors of different departments.
In addition to the press conference, H.E. Al Qatami, for the first time, also made the announcement on the United Arab Emirates (YouTube) channel. He congratulated the students and their parents and teachers as well as their schools for their accomplishments.
He also extended the ministry’s gratitude and appreciation to H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses members of the Supreme Council of the Union. He said the ministry is grateful to the UAE leadership for supporting the sector and for making education as one of their top development agenda.  He said their support has a positive impact on the education sector.
Per the exam results, 21 top students came from the public schools, while 10 top 12th graders were from private schools. A total of 20 students from public schools made it to the list of top performing students in the scientific section, while 11 of public students were top performers in the literary section. 19 of the top performers were females, while 12 were males. The number of successful public schools increased by 91.4 per cent as compared to 88.1 per cent in the private schools. The passing rate in the adult education and home education was 53.6 per cent and 27.8 per cent, respectively.
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Children aged Four to Six years Given Lessons about Environmental Best Practices

Imdaad initiates Be’ati School Program at School of Research Sciences
Dubai, UAE, June 23, 2014 – Imdaad, a leading provider of integrated facilities management (FM) solutions in the GCC, recently implemented its Be’ati School Program–a Green campaign targeting school children with an aim to inculcate the importance of a sustainable environment, at the School of Research Sciences, a leading Dubai-based school established to fulfill the educational needs of ambitious children. Under the program, the FM company will demonstrate the benefits of a green living for a healthy present and a better future to students between the age of four and six years. The highly successful campaign has been rolled out earlier in other schools.

Be’ati School Program is in line with Imdaad’s policy to take its expertise and leading position in areas of environment and recycling operations to grass root level in order to make a bigger impact on the society. Deeply committed to its meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, Imdaad targets school students so that the message spreads at a quick pace, not only among young children but also within their families and the community. The program works on the principle that educating school children and making them active partners in the campaign will make them responsible for the protection of the environment.
Jamal Abdullah Lootah, CEO, Imdaad, said: “As responsible citizens, each one of us has a social commitment to protect our environment so that we can hand over a beautiful tomorrow to our coming generations. Teaching children about green environment and eco-friendly practices is an assurance that they will cultivate a healthy habit at a tender age and observe it lifelong.  Imdaad has always lead by example and the Be’ati initiative reaffirms this commitment in helping to protect and conserve the environment and promote sustainable practices. We thank the School of Research Sciences in partnering with us in our latest campaign and giving us an opportunity to reach out to school children for the success of our drive.”
Imdaad introduced its flagship CSR program – Be’ati which means ‘My Environment’ – in 2009 to spread awareness among school children about environmental concerns and the importance of recycling waste. Be’ati is committed to making children active partners in campaigns held to protect the environment. As part of the initiative, quizzes, short films and competitions are being organized in schools across the country.
The School Of Research Science, on the other hand, is playing an active role in empowering its students with knowledge, skills and attitudes. This empowerment will enable them to become national and global citizens and leaders of the future equipped to demonstrate environmental, economic and civic understanding at all levels.