UAE’s Most Inspirational Educators to be Honored at Qudwa Teachers’ Forum

Thursday 22 September 2016

Abu Dhabi - MENA Herald: 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, the UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) and Abu Dhabi Education Council’s (ADEC) are inaugurating the upcoming one-day Qudwa forum on Oct. 5, as part of their vision of advancing education in a rapidly changing world. As part of a new global initiative that marks the evolution of learning in the digital age, the forum will honor teachers for their outstanding contribution in nurturing and shaping the next generation of UAE students and leaders.

The forum, which will take place in Abu Dhabi, is in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his deep belief in the role of the teacher in the educational process.

The event will bring together global, regional and local renown speakers in the field of education from the public and private sectors to discuss the future of education and the essential role of teachers. This includes Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Minister of Education, Finland; 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);
HE Dr. Zaki Nusseibeh, Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; as well as Paul Tough, a notable author, speaker and journalist among others.

About 3,500 teachers from across the UAE and GCC are expected to attend a special educational exhibit at the forum that allows them to explore and get hands-on experience with new technologies and teaching techniques that are already changing the education landscape.

“Education has been a key priority of our wise leadership since the establishment of the UAE,” said HE Minister Hussein bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education. “Investing in the youth is a salient pillar and the care given to it by our founding father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan exemplifies this.”

“The forum is a turning point that emphasizes the importance of education and its development,” he added. “At the same the time, the forum draws attention to the important role of the teacher in developing the educational system and preparing the future generation; equipping them with knowledge, skills and good virtues. This especially applies to those teachers who are generous, innovative and restless, who have impacted the educational field and contributed towards a future roadmap for the younger generation, while enriching the learning experience. For this reason, this forum pays tribute to teachers nationwide.”

“To recognize the nation’s youth we celebrate these role models that equip our students to compete and lead in a highly competitive world while inspiring them to join the educational field,” said Al Hammadi.
“This forum reflects the vision of our sound leadership which considers education a key national priority,” said HE Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Director General of ADEC. “It also recognizes the invaluable role of teachers who are participating, while honoring the most distinguished among them. This is part and parcel of fulfilling the UAE’s ambition to be at the forefront of the global discussion that aims to shape the future of education. We also seek to immerse our teachers in the latest innovative technologies and teaching techniques that are used in classrooms to ensure a high standard of education globally.”

In the realm of education, technology is the enabler and teachers are the optimizers of change. The Qudwa forum will recognize teachers who have consistently demonstrated outstanding performance and leadership in the classroom, and have dedicated their lives to shaping future generations by embracing change and innovative forms of learning.

In the advent of the digital age, drivers of change like artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing have a resounding impact on the evolution of education, the demographics of the business landscape and the skills required to meet the demands of the future. By 2025 demand for technology and computational thinking skills will grow by about a fifth, according to the World Economic Forum.

Given these global changes, the conference which coincides with World Teachers’ Day on October 5, will look at the emerging education landscape, how change makers within education can collaborate, with a view to preparing students for the future. 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 how to further develop curriculums, teaching methods and classroom settings to best engage and connect with students in the new digital age.

Created in partnership with leading providers of learning solutions and services for academic institutions, governments and companies, the exhibition will showcase innovation in education, including sections on 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 that will help drive the UAE economy.

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