6 out of Every 10 Students from UAE Who Study Abroad Choose the US

Referrals to US universities begin at home, says Consultancy’s MD
Dubai, UAE, 15 July 2014 – Carian College Advisors, an American education consultancy based in Dubai, has revealed that 6 out of every 10 UAE students currently studying in the US were strongly encouraged by one of their parents or siblings to pursue their undergraduate and/or graduate degrees in America.
The consultancy says that these students have their hearts set on studying in the US; that is their foremost concern, deciding which institution is secondary. In most cases, the choice has a lot to do with the opinion of parents or elder siblings who convey their first-hand experience and thereby inspire the students follow in their footsteps.

“The most desirable study options among UAE students this year are Business and Management, Engineering, and Math and Computer Science”, explained Peter Davos, Managing Director, Carian College Advisors.
Davos said: “Among UAE nationals, we see a definite trend of choosing the US for higher education, influenced by their parents or siblings. This is clear evidence that many of the referrals to universities begin at home and this is a direct endorsement of the US education system.”
He added: “It is remarkable how older UAE students (parents or siblings) maintain connections with their peers even after they leave universities or reconnect through social media. Most of them retain an emotional attachment to the place where they studied many years ago and take pride in referring their children to same university or state.”
Commenting on criteria for choosing the US as an education destination, Davos said: “Based on recommendations from fathers or siblings, UAE nationals look at quality of education as a main factor when selecting their destination of study as well as the prevailing cultural milieu.”
With over 4,000 degree-granting institutions of higher learning in the US in 50 states, Carian College Advisors caters to the varied needs and preferences of UAE students. Davos’ consultancy offers a range of admission counseling services for UAE students targeting the US for further studies.
Davos stated: “There is strong emphasis in the US on the holistic development of the individual and this is passed on to aspiring students by their parents who endorse that US education sharpens students’ personalities, broadens their views, and widens their vision and perspective on life.”
American universities encourage self-exploration and self-development and view them as an inherent part of an undergraduate education. Students at American universities are allowed to choose a minor, double major, or triple major of their choice, as long as they fulfill the stipulated course requirements. It is this freedom of choice that most attracts students to study in America.
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Editor’s Note:
Carian College Advisors is a specialist US education consultant that offers a range of admission counselling services for students in the UAE. Headed by Peter Davos (MSt Oxon, MDesS Harvard), Carian College Advisors is one among the few education consultants in the country that specialises in offering admission-counselling services for universities exclusively in the United States. Carian College Advisors can assist with the entire or specific parts of the application process, such as college list creation, the submission of a personal statement, supplemental essays, letters of recommendation, summary list of extracurricular activities, description of past summer experiences, and the completion of a college interview.


Space Experts Highlight the Role of Dubai Sat-1, Dubai Sat-2 & Khalifa Sat in Country’s Progress

EIAST successfully holds workshop at RTA to promote outer space technology in UAE
UAE, July 14, 2014 The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), successfully conducted a workshop at the head office of the UAE Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently as part of its strategic initiatives to promote the institution and its milestones as well as raise public awareness of outer space technology. The workshop was held at the RTA Auditorium and was attended by officials and employees from RTA’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Center.

During the workshop, space experts Ammar al Muhairi, Mohamed Bin Neshooq, Hessa Al Matrooshi, Eman Al Tunaiji, and Ghariba Salem made presentations about EIAST, its space programs, and its two fully functioning satellites – the Dubai Sat-1 and Dubai Sat-2. Their discussions revolved around various topics such as the remote sensing change detection, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Dubai Sat-2’s image specifications, image classification, and EIAST’s image enhancement and analysis tool. They also shared the 3D images captured by the satellites with the audience.
Further, the delegation tackled EIAST’s ongoing Khalifa Sat project, which is being developed by a team of Emirati engineers. Khalifa Sat will be launched into outer space in 2017. At the end of the workshop, an open forum was held to enable EIAST personnel to address questions and clarifications from the participants.
H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST, said: “The recently concluded workshop staged at the RTA was one of the many initiatives that we plan to do to raise public awareness of space science and technology. At EIAST, we want to educate the public about the role of space science in their everyday lives and how crucial it is in Dubai’s overall development and progress. During the event, our delegation did not only tackle EIAST’s landmark achievements but also how RTA could use and apply the data being captured by Dubai Sat-2 in its operations. Through this workshop and future events, we hope to generate the interest of the general population, especially the young Emiratis, to join us in our ultimate goal to position UAE as a global leader in the field of science and technology.”
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 to encourage scientific innovation and technological progress in Dubai and in the UAE. It also aims to develop the scientific skills and knowledge of Emiratis. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.


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.”


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. 


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. 


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/.  


HBMeU to Discuss Latest Technology & Quality Frameworks at 6th Conference on e-Learning Excellence in the Middle East

University supports National Agenda’s goal of transforming conventional education into smart learning
Dubai, UAE, January 27, 2014 – Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU) has announced that it will be hosting the 6th Conference on e-Learning Excellence in the Middle East taking place as part of HBMeU Congress 2014 running from March 3 to 5, 2014 under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMeU, under the theme “Leading Transformation to Sustainable Excellence”.
The 6th Conference on e-Learning Excellence in the Middle East is being organized with the theme “Leadership, Design, and Technology for XXIst Century Learning,” and it reflects HBMeU’s full support for the implementation of the UAE Vision 2021 development agenda which prioritizes the transformation from conventional education to smart learning.
Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, notes that the upcoming Conference on e-Learning Excellence in the Middle East is a key addition to support the National Agenda that gives special importance to adopt the concept of smart learning. He explains that UAE Vision 2021 supports smart learning as an effective means to develop a high-level educational system based on the latest smart systems and state-of-the-art devices.  The goal, he says, is to enable learners to leverage modern technologies and keep pace with rapid changes within the knowledge society to hasten the country’s comprehensive development.
“HBMeU is firmly committed to offering the necessary elements to shape the foundations of e-learning.  We intend to facilitate the creation of an educational environment that keeps pace with rapid technological development. This will foster a highly-qualified generation that will promote the nation’s growth and help position it among the leading countries of the world by 2021,” said Al Awar.
“The event provides an interactive platform for researchers, academics, e-learning experts, senior government officials, business leaders and international representatives to discuss the best online practices for promoting the use of modern technologies and techniques in education. It will also highlight the latest and best strategies for integrating advanced technologies into the learning setting to promote educational efficiency. This will help achieve sustainable e-learning excellence in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” he added.
The e-Learning Excellence Conference will include two discussion panels on “Cloud Campus/Social Online Learning” and “Benchmarking Best Practices in Technology-Enhanced Education.” It will also feature a series of workshops on key topics such as “Quality in e-Learning”, “GCC e-Learning Initiative”, “UNESCO Project on ICT in Primary Education” and “Publishers Material Integration.”
HBMeU has received several research papers on subjects related to e-learning for inclusion in the conference. They cover Teaching, Design and Quality; Quality Frameworks for Online Institutions; Social Online Learning; Cultural Integration of Open Educational Resources (OERs); and Educational Leadership and Technological Innovation, among others. The papers will be reviewed by an international technical committee in compliance with highest standards of transparency and objectivity, with the best submission to be included in the Conference Proceedings.
Distinguished participating entries at the 6th Conference on e-Learning Excellence in the Middle East will be nominated for the ‘Best Paper’ Award and will be published in one of HBMeU’s refereed journals. 


UAE Ministry of Education and Etisalat Partner to Launch First Technology Hub in UAE

A joint initiative by UAE Ministry of Education and Etisalat in corporation with Microsoft

A state-of-the-art educational technology center

To provide a hub for R&D and experimental educational tools

UAE, 27 January, 2014The UAE Ministry of Education today launched the ‘Etisalat Education Technology Center’, a major initiative in smart education as well as the first state of the art educational technology hub in the country to focus on R&D and experimental educational tools. This launch is a result of the strategic partnership between the UAE Ministry of Education and Etisalat, leading telecom operator in UAE, and in association with the technology giant Microsoft.
At a press conference held today, the official launch was made in the presence of H.E. HumaidMohammed Obaid Al Qattami, UAE Minister of Education, H.E. Marwan Al Sawalih, the Ministry Undersecretary, Saleh Al Abdooli, CEO, Etisalat UAE and Khalil Abdel Massieh, Academic Program Manager, Middle East and Africa, Microsoft Gulf among other senior officials from the ministry, Etisalat and student fraternity.
The Etisalat technology center is one of the projects executed by the UAE Ministry of Education and Etisalat. The association with Microsoft brings global educational expertise to the technology center. The technology major will provide an annual training programme for educators to enable them to use technology and help them develop the skills of students in UAE for work and life.
This is the second project executed in partnership with Etisalat after the recent announcement of Duroosi Youtube channel, a first-of-a-kind online educational tool developed by Etisalat under the ministry’s supervision offering self-learning options with visual aids providing easy access to students of Grade 11 and 12 to develop their skills.
H.E. Humaid Mohammed Obaid AlQatami, UAE Minister of Education said: “The ministry today is witnessing tremendous changes in the educational process in the country. Education plays a major role in achieving sustainable development in the country. The UAE government vision is to provide the highest level of modern education that is up-to-date in curricula, technology and environment. We want to provide the best infrastructure, facilities and services for the education sector that is accompanied with best teaching methodologies and expertise.
“The current center will be a hub for smart education, R&D and experiential educational tools that is located at the UAE Ministry of Education offices in Dubai and across the country connected over Etisalat network. The center with its state-of-the art equipment is in line with our direction towards the implementation of digital schools and smart learning.”
Saleh Al Abdooli, CEO, Etisalat UAE said: “Our role is to utilise the best technology available in the world to provide the best to our people and especially the student community. Etisalat is proud to work with the Ministry of Education again as well as technology partners enabling government initiatives and smart education in the country.
“Etisalat has is proud of its strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, we worked closely with the ministry in identifying the exact requirements and in building the centre with the latest educational technology solutions. This initiative is in line with our overall CSR goals of providing all the right tools to the UAE youth to boost their skills and knowledge. Etisalat has already a standing relationship with Google and will now repeat the success with Microsoft bringing global technology leaders and solutions to the local market.”
Khalil Abdel Massih, Academic Program Manager, Middle East and Africa, Microsoft said: “Microsoft is proud to be part of this initiative that aims to enhance the learning outcome of students and prepare them for ‘Work and Life’. We believe that empowered educators, supervisors and school leaders will help bring innovation in teaching and learning to the students inside and outside the classroom and enable them with 21st century skills for lifetime employability and entrepreneurship. The Microsoft in Education, partners in learning program assets will be utilized fully to meet the vision and the goals of the ministry of education.”
The hub is equipped with massive touch screens that can work as demonstration units for technology solutions and smart education tools. The whole centre is equipped with video conferencing capability that will enable up to 60 people to have a live session and connect all future technology hubs together.
The centre also has a multimedia production room that will be used for making of tutorials and videos which can be shared via the internet and social media immediately upon completion of the filming. The multimedia room is equipped with an electronic white board that is used to create electronic content.
This room also supports the recently launched Duroosi Youtube channel, helping the making of the content and electronic distribution on different platforms as a link. Content creation as well as revision classes will be broadcasted on the Duroosi Youtube channel.