Dina Johnny (Dubai)
On the occasion of the International Day of Education, which falls on January 24 of each year, the Ministry of Education affirmed that the most important characteristic of the education development strategy in the UAE is achieving a qualitative leap that will be transferred to the knowledge economy, to be the main element in the growth of the country’s economy as an alternative to the oil economy, in keeping with A modern technical infrastructure and a highly skilled human component.
In order to achieve the UAE Centennial 2071, and in implementation of the national directives on the necessity to prepare proactive plans to ensure the achievement of readiness in preparation for the next 50 years, the Ministry of Education, in coordination with all partners, identified the most prominent features of the future of education in the country, by analyzing the current situation and the exceptional circumstances that the world is going through and making benchmarking for countries. Which has achieved high levels of leadership.
The ministry set 10 axes, representing its future directions in preparation for the fifty, and for strengthening the structure of the knowledge economy. The early education theme focuses on the sustainable development of human capital in childhood, and the optimal investment of technology and artificial intelligence to effectively manage knowledge and data to achieve the best early childhood care and achieve the best early education system in the world. And a holistic, proactive and sustainable system to discover talented people, stimulate competitiveness and production, and establish an attractive, incubating and supportive environment for talented people.
The most prominent elements that form the focus of higher education and scientific research are quality and governance, the efficiency of institutions and leadership and academic bodies, alignment of outputs with the future labor market, and supportive and stimulating legislation for scientific research, funding, and distinguished research cadres.
With regard to vocational and technical education, the Ministry of Education is moving towards creating an educational environment with international technological specifications, and a sustainable educational system that enables individual learning, takes into account the talented and promotes the concept of citizenship and future skills, in addition to providing education compatible with the country’s centenary in special technical education, meets the needs of society groups, and promotes Partnership with the government sector encourages investment and maintains a dynamic economy.
The Ministry did not neglect the People of Determination axis, by supporting it with enhanced and developed technology, a sustainable service system, starting from early detection to leading the future, and a community-based system for lifelong learning. The education sector productivity axis includes qualifying and attracting the human element that supports the economic movement in light of the exemplary future transformations, and the environment conducive to attracting and maintaining highly skilled and talented people.
The axis of well-being and quality of life is among the axes of the future directions of the Ministry of Education, which will be implemented through an integrated system of programs and policies that support the development of enhanced technology for individuals, including the development of frameworks and standards for the use of technology, the governance of its uses, and the investment and research programs that enhance it, which supports the achievement of well-being. In addition to the previous seven axes, the axes of the National Qualifications Authority, advanced educational technology through mobile education anywhere enhanced with virtual reality, and qualitative innovation and entrepreneurship in education.
Larger system
Mohammed Abdullah, President of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation and General Director of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, says that the educational system in the Emirates and its achievements are part of a larger system that includes all walks of life, linked and interacts with them to serve the development process, of which the knowledge economy is one of the most prominent titles.
The UAE has worked to establish an infrastructure that enables the knowledge economy to grow and develop, and for that purpose it has built specialized cities, such as Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, which specialize in education and training. The same is true for the fields of technology, communications, life sciences, and other areas on which the knowledge economy depends. Dubai cities for the Internet, outsourcing, media, studios, production, science, the Dubai Design District, and other complexes prepared to build a professional business environment attract the largest global companies included in the Fortune 500 Index. . As well as the entrepreneurial companies that rose from Dubai to become billionaires (unicorn) companies, small and medium companies, and entrepreneurs who we receive in business incubators or provide them with a business license (Go Freelance), and we take their hand to move forward, and we are keen on their success in the journey of establishing their business.
He added: “In our turn, we have worked in Dubai Academic City to attract the best international universities, and we are constantly and continuously working to attract academic institutions that offer study programs that intersect with the national strategy for innovation in the UAE aimed at stimulating innovation in seven sectors that depend mainly on innovation in achieving its strategic goals. They are: renewable energy, transportation, education, health, technology, water, space.
The government sector in the UAE plays an important role in terms of issuing legislations and laws that encourage expertise and talents to come to the UAE and settle in it, and we recently witnessed the start of the granting of ten-year golden residency for several groups that contribute to the state’s renaissance, including those with scientific expertise, and the state is also working to provide a structure Infrastructure of transportation and logistical services, facilitating the arrival of investors and providing a lifestyle that attracts everyone to the Emirates, makes them want to live in it, and helps them in that, the private sector, which is a key partner in the process of construction and development, and both the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai extends great help to ensure that the highest academic standards are adopted and that they are well adhered to. ”
Knowledge economy
Mary Saad, Senior Director of School Development at GEMS Education, explains that it is not possible to develop a knowledge economy without a modern and efficient educational system. The competencies needed to participate effectively in the knowledge economy include the ability to produce and use information and communication technologies effectively, problem-solving and teamwork, as well as the ability to lead and continuous learning, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Lifelong learning, improving skills and acquiring knowledge are also key features of successful countries. The UAE National Agenda 2021 attaches great importance to the state’s role in achieving a knowledge economy, as it aims to become the economic, tourism and commercial capital of more than two billion people by moving to a knowledge-based economy, and promoting innovation, research and development.
GEMS Education in this field seeks to provide effective and innovative education for its students to become self-taught learners, business men, women and knowledge producers. GEMS students engage in learning opportunities that include robotics, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving at a very young age, by following pedagogical best practices and continuous professional development for teachers.
GEMS Education has also established five pioneering Centers of Excellence specifically designed to provide students with distinct experiences in the fields of technology and innovation to prepare them for a rapidly changing world. These centers provide multiple game-changing opportunities in areas including artificial intelligence, robotics, digital industries, sustainability, aviation, space, performance technologies, theater and entrepreneurship.
Students of GEMS Schools of Education gain exclusive insights into the skills and jobs of the future through project-based training. These centers also cooperate with major players in the public and private sectors, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, Wamda Ventures, and Siemens to provide opportunities for students to interact, be inspired and refine their skills, which cannot be achieved without the hard work and perseverance of all parties, including government, teachers, parents and of course students.
Achievement of goals
Professor Mohamed Salem, President of the University of Wollongong Dubai, said that the university continues its commitment to achieving the goals of the UAE Vision 2021 with the intention of transforming into a knowledge-based economy. In light of our academic distinction extending for 27 years in the UAE, we want to continue to play an important role in higher education by supporting innovation, learning and research – connecting minds to create the future. As part of our relentless endeavor towards excellence in the academic sector, he said we are proud to launch the new “Future Campus” on an area of 200,000 square feet, which will provide a supportive educational environment that includes modern residential facilities, innovative learning spaces, workshops and advanced laboratories that will provide students with world-class education based on curricula Flexible courses based on the utilization of technology, to meet the need for the skills required in Expo 2020 Dubai and in the future as well.
Bet on education
Abu Leila said: The UAE won the bet on education, which is the product of the plans and visions of the rational leadership and its officials, which are based on trust in the human being and the individual in society and overcoming all difficulties and obstacles to the renaissance of education. At the end of his speech, Abu Layla confirms that the teaching profession has instilled a set of qualities in every teacher, the most important of which is leadership, stressing that education is a trust in every teacher’s neck, and education is a blessing for every student.
The world is changing
On the teaching profession, Abu Layla asserts that teaching is a suffering profession because it is a trust, and it has negative repercussions on the student reality if not performed correctly, and thus negatively affects the reality on the ground.
He said: The teaching profession is suffering, but it is an eternal message, and it is sufficient for the generations and parents to remember us now. Our relationship with many of them is still strong, and the state has not failed to provide education for everyone.
He went on to say: “Education today has completely changed from the previous one. The world is changing and many things change with it, and many challenges arise for the teacher, the student, the school and the guardian, as they are all linked to the educational process. Nevertheless, changes and developments must be kept pace with the pace of development and progress, whether In the field of education or in many other fields, which are in the interest of the homeland and the citizen, and this is what the wise leadership seeks to provide for the development of education in the country, and it was among its priorities and its permanent bet on our students, as they are the bright tomorrow and the real dream that is achieved day after day, And it is apparent to us through the achievements, innovations and innovations that are visible day after day ».
Corona challenges
Sonia bin Jaafar, Executive Director of the Abdullah Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, indicated that with the Foundation’s celebration of the International Day of Education, which is held under the slogan “Restoring and revitalizing education for children of the generation affected by Covid-19”, it is necessary to address the challenges posed by the “Covid-19” crisis. On students all over the world, which forced them to adapt immediately to models of education via the «Internet», even in the absence of the necessary means to do so. This tremendous shift in educational means and ensuring students’ access to education services has imposed on us a large number of challenges that threaten our march as a single community towards achieving the fourth goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which provides for ensuring quality, equitable and inclusive education for all, and enhancing lifelong learning opportunities. .
She said: Our mission is to raise the standard of living of Arab youth, by providing them with high-quality education, so that we are able to contribute to the sustainable development efforts that the region is witnessing. We also focus our efforts on providing access to high-quality education to a larger segment of young people in the post-Covid-19 pandemic. We recently partnered with the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates to form a coalition of UAE universities for high-quality “online” learning, in a move aimed at enhancing the availability of online education programs for a larger segment of students who lack this type of services in the UAE and abroad. . The coalition seeks to bring about institutional change at the university level to provide the main stakeholders in the field of “online” education with the technical expertise necessary to design and implement high-quality programs via the “Internet”, so that they ultimately benefit students and help them to excel during their educational journey.
.
