UAE Education Seminar 2018 by SBZC Mags

Symposium on UAE Education Development

«Keeping pace with the Times» 4 April 2018 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Abu Dhabi Theater, At the breakwater area

Sultan bin Zayed Centre Since its establishment in 2003, Sultan bin Zayed Centre has been a notable player in the cultural scene of UAE. It has relentlessly sought to play its role as an effective tool for cultural development, and to contribute in the animation of the intellectual, cultural and scientific fields through a number of activities, including lectures, conferences, and publications. The Center’s creation reflects the aspirations of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Representative of His highness the President, and his vision for the development of culture in the country and in the region as a whole, with the strong belief that culture stands as an important component in the fabric of societies and nations, and the basis for identity and social cohesion.

vision A National Centre that keeps track of the technological development, reacts to local and international changes, offers cultural and information programs that go in line with Abu Dhabi Government’s vision and complement the work of the government’s various institutions.

Mission Offering cultural and information programs that serve the society, embrace noble values and ideals, contribute to shaping proper awareness with regard to society’s matters, and take into account the specificity of the country and its customs and traditions.

Objectives To disseminate high-standard culture and enlightened media that are inspired by the society’s values, customs and traditions, and based on objective foundations to partake in the advancement of the UAE and the elevation of its position. To provide cultural and information services that are consistent with the Abu Dhabi Government’s policy and which complement the work of other official and civil institutions active in these two fields. To showcase local, Arab and international creative works in a way that serves UAE’s cultural diversity while respecting its particularity. To keep pace with regional and international variables and provide adequate scientific explanation and analysis within the limits of our capabilities, taking into consideration the diversity of nationalities and cultures. To enhance the values of tolerance and cooperation, spread the culture of peace, embrace the language of dialogue, accept the other and respect human rights. To discover promising talents, unleash the potential of young UAE nationals and adopt policies that would better connect them with the organizations that are concerned with their talents and potentials. To achieve continuous community intercommunication with individuals and relevant entities in the country to find common grounds of understanding, and build bridges of mutual cooperation.

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Upon the Directives and Under the Patronage of His Highness

Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness the President’s Representative Sultan bin Zayed Centre Organizes:

Symposium on UAE Education Development Under the Motto: «Keeping pace with the Times»

4 April 2018 - Abu Dhabi

Introduction

Pursuant to the UAE 2021 Vision that aims to develop a world-class education system, a series of initiatives by the Government have been launched to raise standards in education that include raised educational attainment, a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation, research, science, technology and an ambitious education system that exceeds international standards. The overall improvement in the educational sector will only happen with strong synchronization of all stakeholders involved who are all working towards a common goal. This symposium is one such effort that aspires to contribute in this National Agenda by pooling together education experts and specialists who will share their views and findings based on their research in UAEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational system either on the ground or through previously published reports and studies. It is hoped that the outcome of the conference would be that educators, policy makers and students alike will get an opportunity to understand the current situation, the initiatives aimed at renewing education, and the potential solutions to remedy whatever shortcomings that might be perceived in our education system.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Michael Stevenson Senior Advisor, PISA Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Michael Stevenson is Senior Advisor, PISA. His responsibilities include the strategic development of the PISA survey, strategic communications and support to education ministers around the world. Michael built his expertise in education through roles in government and the media. He has advised governments, businesses and universities in the UK and around the world on systemic approaches to talent development and innovation. From 2007-2013 Michael led Ciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education business, as VP Global Education. He also founded the Global Education Leaders Program, which he co-chaired with the Gates Foundation. Michael began his career at the BBC, initially in television current affairs, later as BBC Secretary and Director of Education. He went on to lead strategy, communications and technology at the UK Department for Education in London. As such, he supervised the implementation of the use of ICT in schools, colleges and universities.

Dr. Suha Al Hassan, (Panel chair) Acting Dean, Emirates College for Advanced Education

Dr. Al-Hassan is Academic Dean of Emirates College for Advanced education. She has a Ph.D. in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining ECAE, she worked as the Dean of Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, at the Hashemite University, Jordan. She published tens of articles in high reputable journals. Since 2007, She has been working with a group of researchers from 10 countries in a longitudinal study on parenting across cultures that is led by Duke University and funded by the US National Institute of Health. She has consulted for several national and international organizations, and (co)lead several national level programs/evaluations/plans; she led the evaluation of the School Readiness Program and the early childhood program in Jordan, evaluation of the Better Parenting Program for UNICEF.

PA N E L I S T S

Lucy Crehan International Education Consultant

Lucy is an education explorer and international education consultant. She taught science at a secondary school in London before completing a Masters in Education at Cambridge. She then spent time working in schools and living with teachers in six ‘top-performing’ education systems; the basis for her book, ‘Cleverlands: the secrets behind the success of the world’s education superpowers’, one of The Economist’s ‘books of the year 2016’. On her return, Lucy wrote a book on teacher career structures for IIEP UNESCO, and advised the UK government as part of a working group on teacher workload. She now works as part of a team advising foreign governments on education reform at the Education Development Trust.

Dr. David Richard Litz Professor of Education Leadership at Emirates College for Advanced Education

Dr. David Litz is an Assistant Professor at Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE) where he teaches courses in the Educational Leadership and Languages Division. He is currently teaching courses on educational practice, teaching and learning, educational effectiveness and improvement, and school leadership and management. He has also previously taught in K-12 and higher education in South Korea and Canada. He holds an EdD from the University of Calgary and has several publications in referred journals, books, and conference proceedings; his research interests include comparative education, educational equity issues, educational administration and leadership, as well as educational policy in the MENA region.

Pasi Sahlberg Finnish Education Expert Professor of Education at UNSW, Sydney

Dr Pasi Sahlberg is a Professor of Education at UNSW Sydney. Previously he was director general at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland and a visiting professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education. His book Finnish Lessons: : What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland, has been widely read around the world. He is also a recipient of the 2012 Education Award in Finland, the 2014 Robert Owen Award in Scotland, the 2016 Lego Prize, and Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Resident Fellowship in 2017. He is a former senior education specialist at the World Bank and a lead education expert at the European Training Foundation.

Anthony Jackson Education Expert, Director of Center for Global Education

Anthony Jackson is the Director of the Center for Global education, Asia Society. He leads Asia Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Education Department which strives to enable all students to graduate high school prepared for college, for work in the global economy, and for 21st century global citizenship. The Center for Global Education he oversees is a global platform for collaboratively advancing education for global competence for all. Trained in both developmental psychology and education, Jackson is one of The US leading experts on secondary school education reform and adolescent development. He previously directed the Carnegie Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Task Force on the Education of Young Adolescents, where he co-authored the seminal follow-up blueprint Turning Points 2000, which is considered one of the most influential books on middle school reform. He most recently co-authored Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Youth to Engage the World.

R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E This Symposium pays great importance to the findings of the research papers that will be discussed and the discussions between the audience and the panelists, which would provide the basis for the recommendations to be compiled and ultimately presented to the education officials and decision-makers. Consequently, a recommendation Committee has been set up and tasked to prepare a report to be read at the conclusion of the seminar. Therefore, we invite our dear attendees to participate in the panel discussions and welcome their suggestions and their recommendations and be assured that these will be appreciated and taken into consideration by the seminar organizers.

Committee members Dr. Rida Blaik Hourani (Committee Chair) Associate Professor, Leadership and Language Division Emirates College for Advanced Education Dr. Rida Blaik Hourani earned her Ph.D. in Policy and Management from The University of Melbourne, Australia. She has taught and authored diverse courses in various disciplines at the higher education level. Her professional expertise is within the realm of education leadership, school management, policy, school reforms and building capacities. Dr. Blaik Hourani has worked on several educational projects, pertaining to constructing and reviewing programs and enhancing quality assurance, within higher education institutions. Moreover, she has constructed, facilitated and implemented educational projects relevant to building capacities. This includes teachers and school principalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-service and in-service preparation and training. Presently, she is Division Head for Arts and Humanities and Educational Leadership, at the Emirates College for Advanced Education, Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Christina Gitsaki Professor & Research Coordinator, Zayed University. Prof. Dr. Christina Gitsaki is the Research Coordinator at the Center for Educational Innovation, Zayed University, UAE. During her 20-year career in higher education, she has contributed to the field in a number of different capacities such as English language teacher, applied linguistics lecturer, pre-service teacher educator, in-service teacher trainer, textbook author, project manager, curriculum leader, editor, and researcher. In the past, she served as the UNESCO Chair in Applied Research in Education in Sharjah and later as the Associate Dean of the Foundations program at the Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE.

Mr. Abderrahim Aitalla, Symposium General Coordinator

VENUE National Theater - At the breakwater area

Why Attend? Speakers

Meet leading experts, speakers and advisors in the field of education and skills development with inspirational ideas and rich expertise.

Sessions

Attend key sessions and join the discussion on the best practices in the field and in education leadership. Share your thoughts about how we can benefit from successful education systems worldwide.

Network

Meet prominent actors and stakeholders in the field of education and teaching directly.

SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM 10:00

Opening

10:05

National Anthem

10:10 10:25 10:40

Speech of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Representative of H.H. the President of the State Special Address by Ministry of Education. Keynote speech of Mr. Michael Stevenson. Senior Advisor, PISA. Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Coffee Break (10 minutes)

First Panel

Panel Chair: Dr. Suha Al Hassan, Acting Dean, Emirates College for Advanced Education.

10:50

Ms. Lucy Crehan

11:10

Dr. Pasi Sahlberg

11:30

Discussion

Second Panel

Panel Chair: Dr. Pasi Sahlberg, Professor of Education Policy at UNSW, Australia.