All public and private schools take part in activities related to the Week of Innovation (20 – 26 November 2016), announces ADEC
As part of the UAE Innovation Week, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has partnered with schools, universities and industry leaders to promote a culture of innovation across both public and private schools.
The UAE Innovation Week was announced by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai on August 5th 2015. Ever since, ADEC has been highlighting the importance of developing and nurturing young innovator skills, while ensuring that students, teachers and parents are actively involved in interactive activities in alignment with eight Innovation initiatives, namely: innovation centers, programming for life, young scientist competition, Abu Dhabi innovates, innovation clubs, innovation ambassadors, innovation standards and innovation leaders.
H.E. Dr. Ali Al-Nuaimi, ADEC’s Director General, said that ADEC has launched a number of initiatives and programs to help students innovate and become the UAE’s future generation. “ADEC’s contributions are driven by its strategic plans which focus on developing an integrated education system that helps produce knowledge through focusing on STEM subjects. ADEC’s strategy is based on encouraging students to carry out research activities, motivating them to read and investigate, while enhancing the innovative approach in diverse educational areas, which would contribute to turning Abu Dhabi schools into innovation hubs.”
Dr. Al Nuaimi pointed out that students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, as well as students from across higher education institutions, will be encouraged to take part in different STEM related skills through various innovation initiatives introduced by ADEC.
“ADEC’s initiatives reflect the prudent leadership’s vision to focuses on enabling Abu Dhabi schools to play an effective role in establishing a knowledge-based economy as part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision,” said Dr. Al Nuaimi.
ADEC’s Director General added that the government is striving to explore new horizons to transform knowledge and innovation into viable economic resources that would ensure achieving sustainable development.
“ADEC has been entrusted by our nation’s prudent and wise leaders to help students acquire the necessary skills and knowledge that would allow them to face future challenges. ADEC is keen to enhance student skills while maintaining and promoting national identity, loyalty, traditions and values,” concluded His Excellency.
During the week, students, teachers and parents will be exposed to new and innovative approaches organized by both public and private schools, whether through taking part in whole school displays, interactive workshops, informative seminars, innovative laboratories or motivating competitions.
One of the main drivers that has helped promote innovation in daily school lives through defining innovation standards, includes the UAE School Inspection Framework. Speaking about its importance, Engineer Sanad Humaid Ahmed, Chairman of the Innovation Committee and Acting Director of the Knowledge Management Division at ADEC said: “Inspections demonstrate how students, teachers and school leaders innovate through exploring, interacting, collaborating, communicating and learning. It is the community’s overall responsibility to encourage youth to ask questions, become inquisitive and find solutions to certain answers, that’s the first step towards stimulating creativity and developing the entire innovation ecosystem.”
Apart from select private schools hosting an innovation forum, where students and teachers speak about their innovation projects from 20th November to 23rd November 2016, Cycle 3 students are due to visit TechShop Abu Dhabi from 20th November to the 24th November 2016, where they will be exposed to design and computational thinking, and be offered the opportunity to engage in STEAM and innovation concepts.
Both public and private schools will be taking part in innovation activities across the day in all schools during ADEC’s Innovation Day, which will take place on the 22nd November 2016, where students will participate in a range of activities across all curriculum areas.
Additionally, ADEC in collaboration with Mubadala is organizing the “2016 Make It competition” has been designed during the innovation week to attract the UAE’s best and brightest new talent into manufacturing and engineering fields. The event takes place 21st November at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi and 23rd November in UAEU in Al Ain. The event will bring together 13 and 14 year old students in Grades 7 and 8 from schools across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, who worked in teams to create, cost and market a new product which they pitched to a panel of industry experts from Strata and BAE Systems. A total of 190 students and 25 teachers have participated in this program.
Furthermore, Boeing and ADEC have partnered to bring “Explore Science With Your Family” to the UAE, where students from Grades 3 to 5, will be exposed to STEM learning through hands on engineering design challenges, each of which presents a few fundamental science or engineering concepts and asks students to use simple materials to come up with possible solutions. The gathering will take place on 21st November from 5 to 7pm at Khalifa A School.
Finally, the Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF), which is part of the UAE Innovation Week, is running from 17th November to 26th November for the sixth consecutive year. The science engaging event has been proven to stimulate youngsters from all age groups, while encouraging them to engage with STEM related fields.
“ADSF and other events related to innovation week are a testament to ADEC’s ability to bring together industry leaders across the UAE to support our vision to develop human capital in STEM related fields, which will surely enhance curiosity amongst our youth and the general public. We wish everyone an inspiring and fruitful week during this creative period of time,” concluded Engineer Sanad.
– ADEC Media
