His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has attended the second edition of the Education First Forum, organised by the Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, under the theme ‘From Ask to Action’. During the event, ECAE launched its new strategy, ‘A Future-Ready College of Education’.
The forum featured interactive educational sessions and a presentation highlighting the key findings of a research study conducted in collaboration with Cambridge University on future education indicators. Additionally, the forum unveiled a comprehensive report on the inaugural edition of the Education First Forum, which captures insights, ideas and proposed initiatives from 183 educators. This report outlines the core concepts, values and developmental paths for education, and was produced in partnership with the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Singapore.
His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted that the UAE leadership is committed to nurturing a knowledge-based education ecosystem rooted in innovation and creativity that ignites young people’s ambitions and equips future-facing educators as key partners in the education journey. His Highness added that the education system serves as both a shield against current challenges and a gateway to future progress and prosperity.
The Education First Forum offers a holistic experience featuring engaging activities aimed at familiarising participants with the college's latest programmes and providing insights into its new strategy, which includes the Educators Competency Framework, designed to guide educators throughout their careers. Additionally, the forum showcases diverse opportunities to reinforce the professional growth of educational personnel, such as postgraduate programmes, short-term learning modules, and training courses tailored to enhance their skills and support their career aspirations.
During the second edition of the Education First Forum, the Emirates College for Advanced Education unveiled its new strategy, positioning it as a guiding blueprint for the college's future endeavours. This strategic roadmap entails the implementation of innovative academic programmes and the introduction of a fresh educator competency framework. These initiatives aim to enhance professional growth, ultimately shaping the future landscape of education in the UAE.
At the forum, the college revealed its new logo, which embodies its core values and future ambitions, symbolising the institution's dedication to upholding the educational ethos of the UAE. The logo serves as a bridge between the past and present, embracing diverse perspectives and harnessing the transformative power of knowledge through education.
Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri highlighted that the new strategy will contribute to achieving the vision of the UAE leadership, which has made education a top priority. The strategy focuses on several key factors such as education excellence, lifelong learning, research and innovation, and global and local impact, through various academic programmes designed to ensure the efficacy of the college's initiatives, putting upcoming educators at the forefront of developmental and modernisation initiatives.
Her Excellency added that the strategy reflects the significant effort made by the college to upskill national talent, enabling young educators to lead the future of education in the UAE. This initiative aligns with the priorities of the national education sector, concentrating on improving teaching competencies and elevating educational achievements.
Dr. May Al-Taee, Vice Chancellor of the ECAE, explained that the development of the new strategy stemmed from collaborative efforts involving educators, school principals, experts, and local and international partners. The new approach entails a balance where 60 per cent of educational content across various college programmes is practical, complemented by 40 per cent theoretical components. This blend aims to hone the skills of emerging education professionals and equip them for roles within the field of education.
Dr. May Al-Taee added that the new strategy marks the culmination of collaborative efforts, ongoing cooperation, and a shared vision for the education sector. Aligned with the college's mission and objectives, it aims to elevate the teaching profession, expand the education workforce and empower UAE National talent to spearhead the future of the education sector, in line with the aspirations of the UAE leadership.
