H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah witnessed on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Sharjah Education Academy (SEA) the launch of the first educational forum of the Academy, which was held under the title “The future of education between opportunities and challenges”.
Sharjah Ruler was briefed on a number of innovative projects for students of the distinguished schools of Sharjah, the students provided detailed explanations about their projects, and he listened to the solutions and innovations they offer.
Dr. Jeanine Romano, Executive Director of the Sharjah Education Academy, delivered a speech stressing the importance of the first educational forum organised by the Academy.
HE Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Education Academy and Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority, delivered a speech addressing the experience of private education in the Emirate of Sharjah during the pandemic.
During the inauguration ceremony, Prof. Dr. Paul LeMahieu, Senior Vice President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, spoke about the history of the Carnegie Foundation in developing education by focusing on, developing and promoting innovative ideas, he gave a number of examples of the work of the Foundation.
Via video call, Dr. Timothy Knowles, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, discussed the future of education and rebuilding it in the classroom. He pointed to the importance of the role of parents in stimulating and improving the learning environment for children, as well as the role of teachers and educational leaders in improving teaching and learning.
Student Abdullah Al Kaabi from the Victoria International School in Meliha delivered a speech in which he expressed his thanks to the Ruler of Sharjah for his support of students and for providing the best schools and education in the Emirate of Sharjah.
A panel discussion led by Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy, Director of the Centre for School and System Improvement, ACER explored the need for an urgent transformation of education, in order to make it fit for the post-pandemic world. During this panel discussion, Dr. Hunanda Kanbar, Founding Chief Learning Officer and Assistant Professor at the Sharjah Education Academy commented that; “Inspiring advanced education for the future starts within the classroom and is sustained through a culture of learning to improve across all levels of the educational system.” Dr Kanbar was at the forefront of the planning and execution of this ground-breaking forum.
More than 30 leading educational institutions and universities, including the University of Helsinki, Monash University, Harvard University, the International Baccalaureate, and school development institutions, including ACER, Cambridge, a group of distinguished schools in the Emirates, and more than 200 educational development experts and leaders participated in the forum.
During the forum ceremony, Sheikh Sultan inaugurated the Sharjah Educational Platform. Sheikh Sultan also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Sharjah Education Academy and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, signed by Dr. Muhadtha Al Hashemi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Education Academy, and Prof. Dr. Paul LeMahieu, Senior Vice President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
The forum was attended by Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology.
 the launch of the first educational forum of the Academy, which was held under the title "The future of education between opportunities and challenges".){kind=link}