Dubai: One of the path-breaking initiatives by UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the Digital School has partnered with the Ministry of Education in the Iraqi Kurdistan to develop digital school programs and improve collaboration in digital learning in the region.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital School, and Alan Hama Saeed Saleh, Minister of Education in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.
As the first integrated Arabic virtual school, The Digital School will engage with Iraqi Kurdish Education Ministry to offer its digital education services to students in the Iraqi Kurdistan region in two phases.
Initially, the partnership will provide digital educational tools and materials in Arabic for students in 50 schools. While the second phase will include cooperation in developing a version of the Digital School materials in Kurdish.
DIGITAL TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM
Through the Digital Teacher Training Program, the Digital School will try to build flexible and advanced learning communities by focusing on building and developing the capabilities of teachers and educational leaders in the areas of digital education.
Arizona State University will partner with the Digital School for this step to develop quality training courses and empower educational staff with digital education skills so they can provide outstanding educational content to students, based on the “training the trainers” principle.
Commenting on the occasion, the UAE Minister of AI pointed out that the UAE government is keen to strengthen global partnerships aimed at enhancing the future of education, embodying the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, by accelerating the adoption of digital solutions that empower students, build their capabilities and contribute to enhancing their participation in the global development process.
Mr. Al Olama remarked that the Digital School initiative represents a message of hope, one aimed at strengthening global educational alliances that develop students’ skills to build a better future for the region and the world. The UAE Official also added that the signing of the MoU with the Ministry of Education in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region is an extension of the initiative’s global success and the constructive cooperation with various parties at the national, regional and international levels to employ advanced technology to provide one million students with advanced and scientific knowledge over the next five years, and to adopt innovative practices and smart technologies to find innovative solutions that serve societies around the world.
The UAE Minister further added that the world is going through exceptional circumstances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the current challenges underline the need to develop a sustainable global education system that addresses the future and adopts the latest technological means to provide an experience that students from all over the world can access and benefit from, especially those who are most in need for digital education.
The Ministry of Education in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq was keen to participate in the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in order to enhance joint cooperation, especially in education sector.
Mr. Alan Hama Saeed Saleh, Minister of Education in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government observed while speaking about the initiative.
Mr. Saleh further added that “The Digital School is a pioneering project in the region, especially during the pandemic when the concept of school began to rely more on digital education and remote learning. I hope that this project will achieve its objectives for a more comprehensive and effective education experience, and I wish the UAE’s government and its people more success and prosperity.”
The Digital School aims to provide learning opportunities for students wherever they are, introduce an integrated, flexible and accredited digital curriculum for different educational levels that takes into account the personal needs of each learner, and develops knowledge and skills by taking advantage of the best educational practices enhanced by advanced technologies.