Posted on

Strategic Partnership Between UAE Ministry of Education and Dubai Media Incorporated Results in Launch of E-Gate Initiative

New service aimed at giving private school officials a faster and more convenient way of ordering textbooks for students
UAE, June 22, 2014 – The UAE Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), has launched a new E-Gate initiative that has been designed to give private school officials a faster and more convenient way of ordering school textbooks for the coming academic year. The launch took place yesterday during a press conference held at the Ministry of Education headquarters. Present during the event were H.E. Marwan Al Sawalih, Undersecretary, Ministry of Education; H.E. Khawla Al Mualla, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Policies, Ministry of Education; and Faisal Bin Haider, Executive Director, Printing and Distribution, DMI, along with a number of representatives from both DMI and the Ministry of Education.

The new E-Gate program offers a wide range of services, primarily allowing private schools to place purchase orders and receive invoices for Ministry of Education approved textbooks in a faster and more efficient manner. The system also features comprehensive information about the books—including prices and available quantities—which helps school officials in relaying much needed information to parents, students and teachers.
H.E. Marwan Al Sawalih, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, said: “The E-Gate Project is part of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to make use of modern technologies and smart tools in order to improve the quality of its services. This new service complements what H.E. Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Minister of Education has said regarding the expansion of quality services, which also aims to cover the private education sector as a strategic partner for public education.”
Al Sawalih also pointed out that the E-Gate program is based on a suite of smart applications that have been developed to identify what books are needed by each school, facilitating the ordering process and delivering them directly in the shortest time possible.
Faisal Bin Haider, Executive Director, Printing and Distribution, DMI, said: “The E-Gate program is a leap forward in the development of logistics solutions in book ordering for private schools. This also represents the beginning of the development of this sector–resulting in more productivity and efficiency as compared to how books were traditionally ordered before. The main objective of this new initiative is to best serve the teaching and education segment of the UAE.”


Posted on

University Partners with University of Madrid to Host Lectures on Architecture

 Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4thJune, 2014 – ALHOSN University hosted delegates from the Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM) for a series of 3 lectures on architecture. The knowledge-sharing event was the first of its kind since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two universities in October 2013. Students and faculty had the opportunity of sharing with world-renowned Spanish professors and architects in-depth lectures, seminars and discussions of major academic interest.
The event opened on Monday afternoon with a talk on The Modernity of Al Hambra by Dr. Miguel Jaime, Assistant professor of the Department of Architectural Engineering, ALHOSN University, he said, “The Islamic Palace of Al Hambra is a masterpiece of architecture. The Alhambra is part of the lost history of the contributions of Islamic culture to western modernity. Owen Jones, the founder of British design, was so obsessed with the palace that he derived the principles of modern design from it. Le Corbusier based his famous “Architectural Promenade” on Arabic architecture and it is at the Alhambra that this inspiration is clearest. In Spain, La Alhambra inspired the reinterpretation of modern international style giving birth to some of the best contemporary Spanish architecture”
Professors from UEM followed Dr. Jaime with their seminars on recent developments in the sector of architecture and education. Dr. Pedro Pablo Arroyo, Academic Director of Architecture, Building Engineering and Civil Engineering UEM conducted a talk on Building the Cities of the Future: Contemporary Golden Age of Spanish Architecture. It was followed by a seminar on Metacities and the Education of the Future by Dr. Jose Luis Esteban Penelas, Chair and Professor UEM & Director of the AIR Labs Research Group, and Nestor Montenegro, Assistant Professor UEM, Director of the Tricontinental Masters in Integrated Architectural Projects.
ALHOSN University is honoured to have the opportunity to host these acclaimed professors of UEM. They have many awards and achievements to their name. “The topics for the seminar are pertinent and a reflection of the growth in industry. The sessions have been of great benefit to our students as they develop a deeper understanding of architecture from a multicultural perspective This is the first step of many to further to the relationship between the two universities, and a prelude to many more mutually rewarding opportunities.
=====ENDS=====
About ALHOSN University:
ALHOSN University currently consists of 3 Faculties: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, which includes the Department of Education, English Department and Social Sciences Department; Faculty of Business, which includes the Departments of Business Administration and Management Information Systems; and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which includes the Departments of Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Interior Design, Software Engineering, and Urban Planning.
ALHOSN University is in Al Musalla- Abu Dhabi, it was founded in 2005. It followed a segregated learning system with separate study buildings for men and women. Since its conception, ALHOSN University has introduced exciting programs in a variety of disciplines that are in great demand nationally, regionally, and internationally. 
About the speakers from Universidad Europea de Madrid:
Dr. Pedro Pablo Arroyo: Director of the Department of Architecture, UEM. Educated in Spain, Argentina, Japan and UK (2 PhD degrees + Postdoc), Dr. Pedro Pablo has professional practice offices in Shanghai and Madrid. Has published and exhibited his work in in USA, Japan, Italy (Venice Biennale) and Spain. His research has focused mainly on bridging the gap between art and architecture, public housing, CAD, and heritage. His practice has received several awards in China, Spain and USA.


Posted on

All-Female Team of Emirati Students from Zayed University Grabs Top Prize at Business for Better 2014

    Shamma Alfahim and Sumaia Alharthi’s business plan of Multi-Gym facility for pregnant and elderly women wins AED 90,000 worth of scholarship
Teams from Manipal University and Abu Dhabi University stood second and third place respectively,  2014 edition introduces three new categories–‘Most Innovative Idea,’ ‘Most Socially Responsible Business’ and ‘Best Presentation Skills’

 

UAE, June 3, 2014 – An all-female team of Emirati students from Zayed University in Abu Dhabi won top honors at this year’s Business for Better competition for their business concept of a Multi-Gym facility for pregnant and elderly women. The winning team, comprising of Shamma Alfahim and Sumaia Alharthi took home AED 45,000 worth of scholarships each. The competition, which is organized by Western Union, a leader in global payment services, and Al Ansari Exchange, a UAE-based foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer company, held the awards ceremony recently at the Address Hotel, Dubai Marina. The winners were determined after 13 shortlisted teams that represented various reputed universities from the UAE, presented their business concepts to a panel of judges earlier in the day.
The 13 student teams made detailed presentations of their plans for sustainable business. Judges reviewed the presentations based on the criteria of ‘Originality of the Idea,’ ‘Business Concept and Description,’ ‘Proposed Implementation and Methodology,’ and ‘Financial Planning and Corresponding Budgets.’ Aside from Hatem Sleiman, Regional Vice President, Western Union, and Kamal Asif, Head of Business Development, Al Ansari Exchange, and the judging panel comprised of Imad Ghandour, Founder & Managing Director, CedarBridge Partners and Lisa Labonte, Founder & Chief Executive Office, Arab Youth Venture Foundation.  
Rashed Ali Al Ansari, General Manager, Al Ansari Exchange, said: “We are very proud of the students who have joined this year’s ‘Business for Better 2014’ competition, whose entries have demonstrated creativity, potential and key marketability. Al Ansari Exchange has remained true to its commitment of implementing CSR initiatives. This year’s competition has allowed us to work closely again with our partners at Western Union to provide practical guidance to all participating students to help them shape their entrepreneurial skills and try to make a difference in the UAE’s education and business sector. We congratulate all the winners and wish them great success in theor academic and professional careers.”
Hatem Sleiman said: “All the participants in ‘Business for Better 2014’ competition presented viable business plans and it was a tough call for the judges to select the three winners. The winning team had successfully identified the need for a specialty gym with a focus on expectant mothers and elderly women. They presented their business concept effectively, covering all aspects of a thriving business such as the implementation of the idea, marketing plan, and a well thought off revenue model.”
“At Western Union we understand that education is one of the surest paths to financial inclusion. The Business for Better competition which we have organized for the 3rd year with our Agent Al Ansari Exchange demonstrates our commitment to support education, grow young minds and to create opportunity for all. We are proud of the achievements of the UAE’s students and thank all the participating universities and their students for their enthusiastic engagement with the competition. We congratulate all the winners for a job well done” Sleiman continued.
Eight universities, including the American University in Sharjah, the American University in Dubai, Zayed University, Heriot Watt University, Abu Dhabi University, University of Sharjah, Amity University and Manipal University participated in the ‘Business for Better 2014’ competition. Beside the shortlisted teams and judges, the family and friends of the students, university representatives, and senior executives from Western Union and Al Ansari Exchange, also attended the award ceremony.
The winning concept was the business proposal for a multi-gym especially for pregnant and elderly women along with teenagers and children. The proposed gym offers fitness programs, including yoga, aerobics and weightlifting for expectant mothers in order to keep them fit and healthy all through their pregnancy. In addition, there are specially designed Wii game programs for children and teenagers suffering from obesity. Other special features include exercises for elderly ladies to help fight age-related ailments such as arthritis and osteoporosis, fish pedicure, and a child center.
Grabbing second place was the team composed of Ahmed Abdur Rahman, Abdul Jabbar and Muhammed Anas from Manipal University, who were awarded AED 30,000 each as the prize money. The Abu Dhabi University’s team of Israr Ahmed, Muhammed Abdulla and Waleed Ihsan was placed third in the competition and received AED 20,000 each. The judging panel also handed over special awards for ‘Most Innovative Idea’ to the team of Khaled Gaber and Ahmed Elsayed from the American University of Sharjah, ‘Most Socially Responsible Business’ to the team of Nikhil Kumar, Meghna Nambissan and Shyair Ganglani from American University in Dubai and ‘Best Presentation Skills’ to the team of Yasmeen Rwaished and Mohanad Rwaished from American University of Sharjah. Participating students were presented with Certificates of Participation and Certificates of Appreciation in recognition of their efforts. 


Posted on

ALHOSN University Accepted in the Association of Arab Universities

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 1stJune, 2014 – ALHOSN University proudly announces its acceptance in the Association of Arab Universities. Members of the board, staff and fraternity take pride in the achievement as the Abu Dhabi based education institution attained its rightful recognition. A total of 240 universities from 22 countries are members of the association, working to support and connect universities in the Arab world, and to enhance cooperation among them. The recent honour for ALHOSN University marks the continued efforts it has made in the education sector.

The university is distinct in many ways. Further to the royal name that it derives from Abu Dhabi’s historic Al Hosn Palace, the university stays true to its name by giving the best to the students and the community. Since its inauguration in 2005 the university has become an acclaimed hub of knowledge sharing and growth. Respected for the high-quality, value-based education that it delivers, ALHOSN University currently offers 18 undergraduate and 11 graduate programs under the Faculties of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Business, and Arts and Social Sciences.
The motto of ALHOSN University, “Global Knowledge with Local Vision”, is much more than just a slogan. It is a philosophy and a firm belief in the values of global knowledge combined with local traditions which are steeped in history. Dr. Munther Momany, Vice Chancellor and CEO of ALHOSN University said, “I think it is imperative for us as education providers to shift our focus. The most important objective of education should be to teach the students to know how to use, relate, implement, and expand their knowledge responsibly.  By sustaining the student in his process of acquiring the savoir-faire,  education will enable individuals to be valuable contributors to the economy as well as leading innovators differentiating as such their nations. Education should teach the students how to produce actions and reactions adapted to human society and the environment.”
Munther Momany, Vice Chancellor and CEO of ALHOSN University with Prof. Sultan Abuorabi Al Adwan Secretary General of Association of Arab Universities (AAU)

“We encourage thought and learning. Student activities like art, science and book clubs engage interaction and exchange of ideas. We want to strive to create in our students a fire to achieve. These youngsters are the future of our nation. While it is necessary to earn a living and common to aspire for the good things in life, education should be beyond that. It should expand the mind and foster values and beliefs that lead to a responsible world and life views. Our students are therefore being honed with deeper layers of knowing how to serve others, to discern if it is for the greater good, or to be sensitive and responsive to the needs of the society,” he added.

ALHOSN University believes in educating professionals to be leaders for a modern community. As an institution of higher education, it prides itself on being a creative agent for change and diversity. It pledges to emphasize a faculty-student learning community that promotes the value of service and research and employs collaborative educational strategies that develop teamwork, utilizes real-life experience, fosters caring, and prepares for the realities of the marketplace of the future. ALHOSN University envisions becoming internationally recognized as a university where all of its members are committed to producing graduates with a solid foundation of career and life skills. In order to accomplish this, AHU intends to create a community of learners, where a learner is an individual who is empowered, informed, and responsible. “The different committees and student bodies that we have are proactive in the frequent workshops and field trips that we conduct. The Services and Activities Committee (SAC) of the Faculty of Business organized two field trips to NEOPHARMA recently. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences arranged its first informatory lecture titled “Sustainable Development and Green Path” by Dr. Ali Al Amoudi, UAE Environmental Consultant and Senior Environmental Engineer at TAKREER – ADNOC. The Mechanical and industrial engineering Department invited Dr. Mabrouk O. Allagi, a nuclear energy expert and a radiation specialist to speak on the Nuclear Energy application in the UAE. These are all initiatives we take to give our students a fuller and more hands on understanding of how the industries on the ground work and what the pressing issues that need the attention of the next generation are,” said Dr. Marko Savic Provost for Quality Assurance and Development “For education to be complete, there has to be a holistic approach.   Students and graduates are more than employable minds whose corporate careers are the only yardstick for being successful.  They should also exhort themselves to learn and to grow towards responsible citizenship.  Therein lies the big difference – the former is merely what it means to be schooled, and the latter is how it is to be educated.”

AHU has been in close association with the Australian Council for Educational Research ( ACER)  on the recently conducted graduate destination survey for Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC). “This was the first of its kind study done in the region and the survey response rate from ALHOSN University graduates was 74.2% which is high above the mean (50.8%). This fact puts our results in a very high reliability range. Furthermore, the overall employment rate among our fresh graduates is 77.9% which is far higher than the overall or indeed our peer institutions average (overall mean is 60.8%, and private institutions mean is 69.9%). Building on the trust of our patrons we are currently inching forward with our expansion plans in Dubai. We want to develop and grow from the strong foundation of repute that has been established,” added Dr. Savic. “An awareness has to be on what is and can be. With the support of media and the community we can spread the word about our endeavors and ideology. A better know how of our system of education and administration will give higher appreciation for the progress that we are steadily making,” he concluded.
About Al HOSN University
ALHOSN University currently consists of 3 Faculties: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, which includes the Department of Education, English Department and Social Sciences Department; Faculty of Business, which includes the Departments of Business Administration and Management Information Systems; and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which includes the Departments of Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Interior Design, Software Engineering, and Urban Planning.
ALHOSN University is in Al Musalla- Abu Dhabi, it was founded in 2005. It followed a segregated learning system with separate study buildings for men and women. Since its conception, ALHOSN University has introduced exciting programs in a variety of disciplines that are in great demand nationally, regionally, and internationally. 


Posted on

The University of Salford Launches Plans to Help Drive Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision

New representative office will make teaching, research and professional development in vital skills more widely available across Abu Dhabi
  
UAE, May 13, 2014 – In the presence of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, The University of Salford (United Kingdom) last night (12 May) launched plans to significantly increase its impact and presence in Abu Dhabi over the coming months, with the aim of driving the development of public and private-sector skills within Abu Dhabi to meet the demands of the 2030 Economic Vision.

Speaking at the launch of the University’s representative office in Abu Dhabi, attended by senior business people and officials, Salford’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Hall announced plans for the development of a wider portfolio of postgraduate and CPD programmes, new educational and industry partnerships, collaborative projects and research initiatives in close consultation with industry and government.
Inaugural cake cutting ceremony: Salford’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Hall,   H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
A newly-focused suite of postgraduate and professional programmes will be developed for Abu Dhabi, to be delivered through a combination of on-line and face-to-face learning. This will cover areas in which Salford has an international reputation for excellence – the built environment, business, energy, healthcare, media and digital, and science and technology – and will include:
  • The expansion of postgraduate programmes in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Integrated Design, to drive the development of the highly-skilled workforce required to meet the goals laid out in the Smart City agenda. Since the degree was launched, a number of the large engineering firms transforming the region have received training from Salford in this leading-edge technology, including Arup, whose projects have included the development of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council HQ
  • A suite of programmes in key skills areas, including Construction Law and Practice, Construction Management, Clinical Gait Analysis, Financial Services Management, Global Management, Marketing, Occupational Therapy, Quantity Surveying and Fashion Innovation
  • A wider range of professional-development courses, from business and law to health, media and energy, and the built environment, which will be made available to both individuals and organisations 
Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford, said: “The launch of our representative office will significantly enhance our rich history of working with educational partners and industry in Abu Dhabi, to deliver high-quality, postgraduate professional education in priority areas for the region and our own areas of expertise.
“Over the past 15 years, we have contributed to the region’s knowledge economy by providing robust degree programmes in partnership with other prestigious universities, government bodies, hospitals, charities and major firms from the private sector. Our academics are ideally positioned to equip the Abu Dhabi’s public and private-sector organisations with the skills they’ll need to respond to the demands set out by the 2030 Vision, which is why we have committed to greatly expand our presence and investment in the region over the next few months.”
The university will also embark on new, cutting-edge collaborative research that addresses the real-world problems of today and tomorrow and helps industry to harness research and development for the future competitiveness of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Professor Hall added: “As the city seeks to respond to the pace of technological change and harness the capabilities of research and development for future competitiveness, there has never been a greater industry requirement in Abu Dhabi for real-world research.
“Our increased presence in Abu Dhabi will also mean wider access to our modern, dynamic and exceptionally-equipped research centres and support from our teams of highly-experienced academics.”
Employees from firms in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the wider Middle East, regularly come to Salford to attend executive summer schools and block-intensive CPD delivery. On-site delegates can train at the Salford campus and unique digital learning, teaching and research space in MediaCityUK – home to the BBC and one of the hotbeds for creative and digital innovation in Europe.
Industry partners within the Abu Dhabi over the past few years have included Malfraq hospital, to which Salford specialists have provided consultancy and training to ensure best practice and management of diabetic foot-care, to the significant benefit of the local population.


Posted on

UAE Ministry of Education Launches Integrated National Learning Standards Project

Program aims to prepare and provide students with skills needed for the 21st century
UAE, April 19, 2014 – The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) announce today the launch of “Creating the General Framework of the Integrated National Learning Standards”, an unprecedented project under the theme “National curriculum towards a high class education” that aims to equip young Emiratis with world-class skills and knowledge that are in line with the UAE’s educational objectives and requirements geared towards attaining sustainable development and future growth. The program, which is one of MoE’s key initiatives, will determine clear scientific indicators to monitor the progress of public high school students in various stages. It will define the set of skills and capabilities that they must acquire for each level before graduation.
The framework will include general standards and learning outcomes, subject matters that should be integrated into all curricula and a comprehensive list of competencies that will make all public high school students competitive in the 21st century. It will also cover performance indicators, teaching and assessment strategies, professional development and training courses, study plans and recommended manuals, and evaluations, teaching and learning methods and resources.

H.E. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, Minister of Education, said: “MoE is on the verge of a very important stage in preparing Emirati students to become competitive in the international arena. We have implemented measures to improve the quality of scientific knowledge, abilities, and talents of our students, with special focus on innovation and creativity. Our final goal is to train future UAE leaders and scientists in various fields and disciplines.”
He explained that world-class curricula, state-of-the art technology and equipment, and paradigm shift in education – all of which will be incorporated into the final Integrated National Learning Standards – are essential in achieving this goal. 
Al Qatami stressed that the program will ensure that students – from kindergarten to high school – will gain scientific expertise and necessary skills and abilities early on to prepare them in their college education and future careers.
H.E. Khawla Ibrahim Al Mualla, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Policies, Ministry of Education, has already started working on action plans and reviewing the suitability of education outputs and requirements of some universities, colleges and related organizations to determine the qualifications of high school graduates needed to prepare them in practical life.
She stated that MoE is encouraging active participation of school management and officials, faculty members, business owners, government institutions, parents, community members, and stakeholders in developing the project plan. The ministry has also started implementing a series of special workshops in order to reach the final framework of the Integrated Learning Standards. The first workshop was conducted in early January of this year to develop the standards for the first group of the target students. The second workshop for the second group was held in March.
The final phase of the project work plan will witness a framework of National Learning Standards (for Curriculum and Assessment) for each subject, grade level and classroom.  This includes subjects that should be merged in all curricula as well as lists of skills for 21st century high school students. It will also identify the characteristics and attributes of an ideal public high school graduate, degrees of perception ability, performance indicators, and criteria of estimating this performance. 


Posted on

GETEX Spring 2014 Offers Tailor-Made Sponsorship Opportunities to Global Education Services Providers

Leading international educational institutions looking to benefit from UAE’s AED 10.2 million private education sector
UAE, March 31st, 2014 – According to recent reports, the GCC student population has witnessed a steady growth and is predicted to reach 11.3 million by 2020. The UAE’s private education sector is the biggest in the region with an estimated value of AED 10.2 million. With greater emphasis by the government on enhancing education standards in the country, through various progressive strategies and policies, the UAE boasts a lucrative investment landscape for leading regional and global education institutions.  
GETEX, the Gulf Education & Training Exhibition, Middle East’s longest running student sourcing event, presents a host of value-added sponsorship opportunities for international education providers, academic institutions and ancillary service providers. Running from April 9 to 11, 2014 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), the region’s most renowned student recruitment fair will serve as an effective gateway for education providers to achieve maximum brand exposure as well as instant market penetration into the UAE’s education market. Besides ensuring brand visibility to a mass target audience, GETEX sponsorships encompass a longer brand recall that transcends beyond the duration of the show itself.  
A new feature of the show, sponsoring the Counsellors Forum will provide an easy passage for education providers to reach out to practicing student counsellors in the UAE, who play the role of influencers and specifiers in shortlisting higher education options for students. Aside from the benefit of being noticed and endorsed for a study program, there will also be a speaking slot for sponsors at this forum. 
Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), explained the value of the various sponsorship opportunities at GETEX: “As organizers of GETEX, we have over the years, become more and more attuned to our clients’ ongoing marketing challenges as they encounter progressively higher competitive pressures and constraints in communicating their marketing messages to a specific target audience. Having been involved with the sector for over a quarter of a century, we realize that Education is increasingly becoming ‘marketing-driven’. We are pleased that GETEX sponsorship programmes have always delivered great value to education and training institutes, owing to their unique, customized quality of taking into account the specific branding needs of the sponsor and offering them a targeted value in return for their investment. Brand visibility, an event-based focus and instant networking opportunities are just some of the benefits associated with GETEX sponsorship offers.”
GETEX 2014 is supported by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the Dubai Knowledge Village and the Dubai International Academic City. Spread across an area of 14,000 square meters, the event will facilitate the interaction between students and educational institutions from India, Australia, USA, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Turkey, Lebanon, Ireland, and all over the world. It will enable over 30,000 students to know more about 2,500 featured programs from universities worldwide. For more information, log on to: http://www.mygetex.com/.  


Posted on

Nord Anglia Education – Abu Dhabi

English is one of the most spoken languages in the world with over 500 million speakers. It is also the official language of more countries than any other language. As a result, many countries  If you have children and plan to send them to school in Abu Dhabi, then it’s in your best interest to ensure that English is a part of the curriculum. Our capability to learn languages is at its peak when we are younger and children have a natural aptitude for languages that can flourish in the right environment. In Abu Dhabi, learning to speak English is an incredibly important life skill, one that can have a significant impact on your future.

For example, if you want to enter university in Abu Dhabi then you need to know the English language. In the case of Abu Dhabi, the Head of the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Culture, Youth and Social Development Nahyan bin Mubarak stressed the importance of its citizens maintaining a bi-lingual culture between Arabic and English. He believes that knowing English allows Abu Dhabi to remain connected to other parts of the world, and he’s not wrong. The English language has played a huge part in the world of international business and often serves as a common language between countries, and there’s a huge array of jobs and opportunities out there for bi or multi-linguists. Knowing more than one language is a sure fire way to open doors in Abu Dhabi.  
Because this focus on language is so strong, this means that every application to university is subject to being rewarded the relevant score for your course. Students will not be able to start their degrees unless they pass the English test and there are no plans for this to change any time soon. Thankfully this focus on languages has resulted in the installation of excellent linguistics programmes in the country’s schools. After all, if it’s a national requirement to know English in order to attend university then it’s in the country’s best interest to ensure that this is happening. Nord Anglia Education, for example, has a school in Abu Dhabi that offers a comprehensive linguistics programme as part of their curriculum, which includes English. Knowing English will allow your children to succeed in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere, helping them to find good work as well as offering them fantastic opportunities overseas. Essentially, learning English is a requirement if you’re interested in further education, one that is to be taken very seriously. Securing your child a place in one of these schools is an absolute must.
 
As you can see, English is a language of equal importance to the native Arabic in modern Abu Dhabi, and it’s one that’s playing an increasingly key part in its residents’ lives. If you have children and are raising them in Abu Dhabi, then you should be considering whether this is being in their education at present or what your long-term plans are for when your children do begin school.


Posted on

Regional Education 2020 Forum Debuts in Abu Dhabi

Expo, TOFE to facilitate state-of-the-art learning environments in Middle East
Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 29th, 2014 – The Education 2020 Conference & Exhibition, a holistic education showcase event catering to growing education and training sector needs in the Middle East, makes its debut today (Wednesday, January 29, 2014) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in the UAE capital. Running until January 31st2014, the much-anticipated event offers an ideal business-to-business platform for education leaders and academic professionals, suppliers, vendors, and solution providers, to bring a positive change in the educational landscape of the region.
The Education 2020 Conference will be held in conjunction to the exhibition and it will address regionally-based teachers and academic leaders on a diverse range of topics, including the Reformation of Education, the Development of 21st Century Skills for the Delivery of Education, Multimedia and Mobile Learning, the Effective Use of Technology in Classrooms, Content and Language Integrated Learning and other issues pertaining to today’s learning environment. Supported by TESOL Arabia, the Conference will provide hands-on experience to the teaching community to equip them with techniques to educate future generations. 
Education 2020 will also host a dedicated section on ‘Industry-Ready Education’ under the banner Technical, Occupational and Further Education (TOFE) for students who are looking for affordable and certified study options. This segment will highlight the importance of occupational education in developing talent and enhancing expertise at the workplace.
Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), said: “The UAE is poised to develop a state-of-the-art educational infrastructure to professionally equip and groom its youth for the dynamic job market of the country. The growing economic prosperity of the UAE along with the upcoming World Expo 2020 will create abundant job opportunities in the next decade. This will require a workforce that is appropriately qualified to take up the challenges of new jobs and vocations. Education 2020 and TOFE will showcase Education in the New Age and spotlight educational programs and courses for students as well as technology-driven means of delivering education for education providers, all in all promoting the dynamic education landscape of the UAE.” 
Education 2020 is expected to attract visitors from across the Middle East who will visit the show to examine products, discuss issues critical to education delivery and network with the region’s education fraternity. For more information, please log on to http://www.educationabudhabi.com/and http://www.tafeuae.com.