The Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE), the Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE), and public schools have hosted their first Writing Retreat as a key event under their joint Learning and Innovation Networked Communities (LINC). Held under the theme Connect, Reflect, Inspire, the retreat brought together more than 130 ESE educators, ECAE faculty members and LINC committee members, providing a dynamic platform for sharing achievements and breakthroughs and forging forward-thinking educational collaborations.
LINC, a collaborative schools’ network formed by ECAE and ESE, works with more than 300 educators from more than 14 public schools to improve educational outcomes by supporting home-grown, locally responsive pedagogic innovations in classrooms at LINC schools. LINC teachers are supported in the network to promote inclusive classroom teaching and learning, support their students’ development of problem-solving skills, enhance student engagement through game-based learning, establish and sustain positive school environments, improve the quality of teaching and learning, integrate artificial intelligence (AI) in classroom lessons, develop effective whole-school improvement strategies.
The network aims to create locally adapted pedagogic practices and ideas through joint practitioner research and development. It also focuses on the dissemination of locally adapted pedagogic ideas across classrooms throughout the LINC network.
Dr May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of the ECAE, said: "Alongside our strategic partners in the national education sector, ECAE strives to implement the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership and its forward-looking vision to enhance the school education system and empower future educators as they lead the transformation of education in public schools in the country. Within this strategic approach, the college works alongside ESE under the LINC program to present dynamic and effective initiatives and activities such as the Writing Retreat. These initiatives build professional learning communities that combine the extensive experience of educators, teachers, and school leaders with the theoretical and research knowledge of the college’s academic staff. This alliance results in promising potentials that reflect our role in creating a local and global impact and support our strategic priorities in achieving educational excellence and lifelong learning. By fostering locally based educational innovation grounded in research, we can position Emirati schools as leaders both locally and globally."
The retreat marked a significant step in the formation of specialised LINC working groups tasked with addressing persistent school improvement and pedagogical challenges identified by member schools. By nurturing a collaborative environment, LINC promotes the development of homegrown solutions that significantly enhance the quality of students’ learning and engagement.
The retreat featured a series of interactive reflective sessions designed to celebrate innovative practices, encourage reflective and research-driven discussions and empower innovative educational practices that positively impact student learning outcomes throughout the UAE.
