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MBRSC opens the space centre at KidZania

MBRSC brings space science & technology to children with a unique and engaging satellite manufacturing project

Dubai, UAE, December 26th, 2016 – The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has officially opened its section within KidZania®, the award-winning children’s edutainment centre managed by Emaar Entertainment in The Dubai Mall. The new MBRSC space science and technology section enables the young visitors to join a team in designing and manufacturing their very own observation satellite, before witnessing the launch and then controlling the satellite as it orbits the Earth. Continue reading “MBRSC opens the space centre at KidZania”

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Out of the 14 Outstanding Schools in Dubai, 10 follow the British Curriculum

British Council’s ‘Schools Now! Conference’ concludes in Abu Dhabi
Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP) inducted 13,500 UAE nationals into the UAE private sector over 10 years; Goal is to reduce unemployment rate to less than 1 per cent, from the current 2.6 per cent says Executive Director
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2 March 2016 – There are more than 350 private schools in the UAE catering to over 470, 000 students, of which 81,000 (17%) are Emirati. Interestingly, of the top 14 outstanding schools in Dubai, 10 follow British Curriculum.

These statistics were highlighted on the concluding day of the ‘Schools Now! Conference’ organised by British Council in Abu Dhabi.
The concluding day of the international event revealed that 32 percent of UAE private schools follow British Curriculum, which, according to Adrian Chadwick, Regional Director MENA, British Council, speaks volumes for the value parents place in a British curriculum schools in the UAE.
‘Schools Now! Conference’ organised by British Council in Abu Dhabi.

The opening session on the second day was attended by Ros Marshall, CEO of Taaleem Schools, UAE, and Essa Al Mulla, Executive Director, Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP), among other decision makers from the field of education from across the world.

Al Mulla revealed that ENDP has inducted 13,500 UAE nationals into the UAE private sector over the past 10 years.
He said Emiratisation is a top priority for the UAE, and added that ENDP has a goal of reducing the UAE unemployment rate to less than 1 per cent, from  the current 2.6 percent (according to Dubai Statistics Centre figures) by 2021.
He lauded the British Council’s role in bringing innovative, world-class and highly relevant topics into the education arena.
The conference featured a number of keynote speeches, plenary papers, panel discussions and short paper presentations. The three Plenary sessions on the concluding day were “Redefining School Leadership– Challenging the status quo”, “Measuring Effectiveness, Improving Outcomes – what do examinations tell us?” and “Student Insight”.
The second day highlighted that for a school to be successful, the traditional head teacher/ teacher/ student hierarchy needs to be revisited and challenged. Head teachers cannot be the only leaders; teachers must do more than impart knowledge and students need to be able to take responsibility for their learning as well as the environment and culture of their school.
“We are glad that the conference has achieved its goals of focusing on contemporary approaches to empowering school leaders and teachers around the world” added Chadwick. “From the discussions that took place in Abu Dhabi over the past two days, and from the insight and relationships shared and created, the British Council will continue to work with ministries and school leaders across MENA to support greater quality in the classroom, and better learning outcomes for all.”
The conference focused on the importance of measuring effectiveness and improving outcomes as participants underscored that assessment is essential to allow learners to get the appropriate educational support and interventions and to evaluate the effectiveness of different educational pedagogies. The conference said that with the advent of new technologies, examinations should serve their role in measuring a learner’s mastery of knowledge as well as chart the ongoing growth and development in learning over a period of time.
The conference also tackled highly relevant topics such as the changing role of an academic leader as an educationalist, the leadership dynamics of contemporary schooling and the emerging role of school leaders as security administrators as well as the importance of quality assurance.
The conference in its final plenary presented the student perspective on key issues and opportunities. Speakers urged academic leaders, policy makers and employers to sit up and listen to each other for the benefit of all.
Among the participants in the ‘Schools Now! Conference’ were global leaders and experts from the British Council offices from across the globe, as well as prestigious international organisations such as Pearson, Cambridge International Examinations, UK; Royal Society of Arts (RSA), UK; Presidium Group of Institutions, India; HSBC Bank Middle East Limited plus many others. Local entities from the UAE also took part in the event, including Taaleem, UAE; Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP); INJAZ – UAE and Heriot-Watt University Dubai.
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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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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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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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Ministry of Education’s Social Media Sites Log Interactions with 26,000 Students and 40,000 Parents and Specialists

UAE, June 19, 2014 – More than 26,000, 12th grade students – nearly 70 percent of the total student candidates for the final high school exams – interacted on the social networking sites of the UAE Ministry of Education, During their first three days of exams, the young respondents actively answered an official Ministry questionnaire aimed at achieving overall satisfaction in the conduct of exams and the performance of examinees. The questionnaire, which also sought to obtain various observations and opinions from students, was posted on the Ministry’s Twitter and Facebook sites.

Official statistics also showed that over 40,000 parents and education specialists engaged with the Ministry’s media sites on a daily basis. From the start of the final exams for the third semester until the present, this particular group has kept pace with breaking news and information related to the examinations and disciplines. They also read through tips and guidance for students as well as other pedagogical subjects.
 

UAE Ministry of Education Facebook page.

The Ministry has provided unique ‘smart’ and electronic services before and during examination days targeted at all students but with a particular focus on 12th– graders. It has offered various forms of electronic training for all subjects to prepare students well for their exams. Telephone hotlines have also been made available in educational zones to respond to student inquiries as well as media questions related to the evaluation and administration of exams. The hotlines can also provide information on any comments received by the Ministry from media.

In return for the unique services it provides and its commitment to quality standards, the Ministry has asked 12th-grade students to answer a set of open questions posted on its Twitter and Facebook accounts. Respondents were requested to comment on the extent to which the exam considers individual differences, the time allotted to answer and review each exam item, their personal evaluation of the general environment provided by schools during exams, and the role of parents in motivating students to achieve success and excellence. Student expectations on results and success rates were asked as well.
Students expressed their satisfaction over the general atmosphere provided by the exams committees at schools. They also confirmed the Ministry’s success in ensuring that exam questions are clear – whether in terms of language or formulation – and consider individual differences. Other groups of students commented on how the examination dates coincided with the World Cup games.
Some humorous statements from students reflected their passion for sports and football, saying how they preferred to postpone exams and watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches instead. Other more serious comments showed the eagerness of students to take advantage of every minute for the final review and their expectations of excellent exam results.
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H.E. Humaid Al Qatami visits Dubai Schools to Inspect on Examination Procedures and Facilities

UAE Minister of Education stresses on importance of preparing for the future of today’s students by instilling more awareness on excellence and creativity
UAE, June 16, 2014 – H.E. Humaid Mohammad Al Qatami, Minister of the UAE Ministry of Education stressed on the importance of instilling today’s students with more awareness on the importance of excellence and creativity – key foundations in preparing them for their future – during his recent visit to various schools in Dubai to inspect examination procedures and facilities allotted for students. Minister Al Qatami pointed out the significance of implementing thorough examination procedures along with the development of efficient examination papers, which has greatly helped in the ministry’s objective of identifying learning levels of each student and the skills that they have acquired. The administered examinations are used as key index points in evaluating the education process and interaction of each student from a classroom level.

 H.E. Humaid Mohammad Al Qatami, Minister of the UAE Ministry of Education  – visiting school.

Minister Al Qatami lauded the ministry’s various departments, educational zones and the administrative officials of schools for their efforts in providing students with rooms that are conducive to executing the examinations for students. Moreover, he urged the students to continue with the drive to achieve success and practice a culture of excellence—adhering to the set curriculum and training programs offered by the MoE. He also reminded students to use only accredited and recognized literary materials in studying, particularly in preparation for their examinations.

H.E. Humaid Al Qatami visits Dubai school

Minister Al Qatami was accompanied by Mouna Ahmed, Deputy Manager of the Dubai Educational Zone during his visit to schools in the emirate, which included the Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein School for Girls, the Al Maaref High School for Boys and the Sukaina Bint Hussein School for Girls. The minister was given a briefing on exam procedures and how the three schools will be administering the examinations. The Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein School for Girls will also serve as an examination venue for students of Al Alam Al Jadeed School, while Al Maaref High School for Boys will serve as the examination venue for students from Al Ahlia School and Al Thuraya School.

On hand to meet Minister Al Qatami during the inspection were, school principals Salama Bu Shibab, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein School for Girls; Mohammed Al Mass, Al Maaref High School for Boys and Sharifa Azzam, Sukaina Bint Hussein School for Girls. The MoE minister noticed that the students taking the examinations this year looked more determined and performed comfortably when moving from one question to another. 
A total of 37,000 high school students took their Physics and History examinations for the third trimester on Saturday, June 14, 2014. Looking to inspire the students before the actual examinations, Minister Al Qatami talked about the future, including the scientific disciplines required for sustainable development and the importance of success and excellence. He further encouraged them to use their talents and capabilities and to work hard to achieve a better future for them and for their country as they contribute in its growth and prosperity.
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Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program wins World Summit Award in Geneva

Ministry of Education says feat is an unprecedented international achievement
UAE, June 11, 2014 – The UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program, which aims to launch ‘smart classes’ in public schools in line with UAE Vision 2021, has won a World Summit Award during the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva, which is being held under the patronage of the UN International Telecommunication Union. The program won recently in the team work category of the Government Excellence Award.

The program’s success was highlighted in international reports of major technological institutions that were published earlier this year during the Education World Forum in London. Reports made by leading technology and software companies Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Samsung showed that it is the first program applied comprehensively in schools based on the evaluation system and international measuring indexes. They said the UAE is the only country among 11 advanced states in the world that considers ‘smart learning’ as part of its national vision and move towards economic development.
The Smart Learning Program is created by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in mid-April 2012. It is considered as one of the unprecedented programs of development in the region. The program was implemented by 14 schools last year and 123 schools this year in different educational zones. Its successful implementation had encouraged leading computer and software companies such as Samsung, HP and Microsoft to form strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Education. The project is implemented by The Ministry of Education and supported by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
H.E. Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Minister of Education, said: “The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program is the future of UAE’s education sector. It has been recognized at the Education World Forum in London as highly valuable. All other countries in the world should follow this achievement and benefit from its approach and goals. The success of this program reflects the strong commitment of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and H.H. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the members of the Federal Supreme Council,” he said.
“After winning the Government Excellence Award, the program became an international success thanks to the ongoing efforts and hard work of all teams in terms of planning and implementation. The teams are composed of directors of educational zones, school principals, supervisors, and teachers. Both parents and students are also supporting the program’s main objective to position the UAE as the leading country in providing excellent modern education,” he added.
H.E. Al Qatami said the Ministry of Education appreciates the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s strong support as it provides telecommunications sector development fund. He noted that it plays a significant role in the education system.
The awarding ceremony of the World Summit Award was attended by H.E. Mohamed Al Ghanim, Director General of the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority, H.E. Dr. Abdulqader Al Khayat, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Fund, Hamad Al Mansouri, Deputy Director-General of the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority,
Mohammed Gheyath, Director General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program, and Rashid Bin Lahej, Director General of Abu Dhabi systems and Information Center. 
Mohammed Gheyath said: “The success achieved by the program in a short time is inspiring. The program management, team, and all officials are determined to further improve the program by exerting all efforts to attain our goals. The program will be implemented based on high standard mechanisms to achieve all the objectives.”