Leading speakers on learning will take part in a discussion on the future of education in the digital age at the inaugural Qudwa teachers’ forum in Abu Dhabi this week, where approximately 3,500 educators from across the UAE and GCC are expected to attend.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and presented by the UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the one-day forum coincides with World Teachers’ Day on Wednesday, October 5, where teachers will be honoured for their outstanding contribution in nurturing and shaping the next generation of UAE students and leaders.
MOE and ADEC are connecting with global voices in education and technology with a view to engage UAE government leaders, teachers and young people on further developing curriculums, teaching methods and classroom settings to connect with students in the new digital age.
The event will also look at the emerging education landscape and how change makers within education can collaborate, with a view to preparing students for the future.
Notable speakers at the forum include HE Minister Hussein Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education; HE Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Director General of ADEC, who will address the key role that moral education will play in the development of future generations; Dr. Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Keynote speakers include Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Minister of Education of Finland, who will speak on the significance of building teachers’ capacities in developing education systems. As Minister of Education in the home of one of the top-ranked school systems among developed nations, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA),Ms. Grahn-Laasonen leads delivery of the Ministry’s Strategy 2020, which aims to enhance Finland’s knowledge base by responding to emerging trends in education.
One of two plenary sessions in the forum will explore the critical role teachers play in the evolution of education. The session serves as a platform for key local and regional figures who will discuss the role of teachers as inspirational figures in the lives of the future generation.
Participants include HE Dr. Zaki Nusseibeh, Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, and a key player in the development of Abu Dhabi’s cultural strategy; Dr. Karima Al Mazroui, Acting P-12 Executive Director, advisor to the Director General of ADEC, and named the 2016 Middle
East Woman Leader in Education; and Nafez Al Dakkak, founding CEO of Edraak, a leading provider of free, high-quality online and blended education to Arabic speakers across the region.
The forum will feature a special educational exhibit that allows attendees to explore a hands-on experience with new technologies and teaching techniques that are already changing the education landscape. Created in partnership with leading providers of learning solutions and services for academic institutions, governments and companies, the forum showcases innovations such as The Internet of Things, Robotics the NAO Humanoid Robot, 3D Printing and 3D Computing, Virtual and Augmented Reality and Coding and Programming.
The UAE Space Agency, Masdar, the Masdar Institute and Strata will also take part in the exhibition. All of the entities have invested heavily in advancing STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education across the country to inspire future business leaders who will help drive the UAE economy.
