The UAE Ministry of Education visits the UK to showcase innovation & technology in education within the region

10% per cent rise in UK students studying in UAE

The UAE Ministry of Education is bringing its ‘Study in UAE’ campaign to the UK to promote the UAE as a prime destination for international students to pursue their degrees in acclaimed UAE based universities. After having invested more than £2 billion in its education sector in 2019, with a particular focus on innovation and technology. It will be taking part in Bett (22 to 25 January 2020), the world’s largest educational technology event which this year is being hosted in London.

As the first nation with a government minister dedicated to AI and with plans to test the introduction of a robotic police officer, innovation is key for the region. The Ministry has introduced four industrial revolution (4IR) technologies such as robotics and blockchain into its education system so students can have an opportunity to learn more about these pioneering technologies. The region is also pioneering Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Series (AIR – a programme which has been created to help students develop their AI knowledge and set them up for the job market in the near future.) With so much technology and innovation it’s an ideal place for ambitious students to study.

The region is becoming an increasingly popular destination for students from the UK, with officials reporting an overall 10% rise in UK students studying in the UAE since 2016, joining 50 establishments as undergraduates begin to take advantage of the diversity of courses on offer.

Latest official data also shows over 32,000 new business formed across the UAE in 2019, bringing in exciting new opportunities and roles for students looking to stay on in the UAE after graduating.

Commenting on the participation in BETT, HE Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, said that the UAE has become one of the prominent and attractive global destinations for visitors from different countries to visit, work, study or live in, due to its social stability, cosmopolitan environment, human and development capabilities and strategic plans that enhance individual progress, which aids in its society development. This is due to the wise leadership support and their continuance guidance to achieve a comprehensive human-based development and future investment.

His Excellency also added that the Ministry of Education’s participation in BETT stems from the importance of this event and the educational and leadership experience it offers its participating partners, in addition to the educational solutions it provides that serve the education sector in UAE. The UAE worked hard at maintaining a continuous work pace based on technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, smart learning system and plans that enhance advanced skills, as well as establishing an educational methodology for the coming years for the public and the higher education sector to become the best country worldwide in sustainable education that provides qualitative outputs and contributes to the country becoming the best worldwide in all sectors, working towards a knowledge economy and keeping pace with the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution through preparing a young knowledgeable generation that is exceptionally ambitious and able to compete in vital scientific disciplines.

His Excellency also added that BETT is an opportunity to showcase the UAE’s achievements across all levels, especially in the education sector that is devoted to a modern learning vision, and what it includes from higher education institutions that have come to the forefront in global competitive indicators, pointing out that The Ministry of Education, through launching its "Study in UAE" campaign, is looking to attract students to study in its universities, meet their academic and professional aspirations, achieve a unique learning experience, and to open broad horizons of excellence, development and work that the UAE offers to international students.

Dr. Sheikh Ammar Al Mualla, Director of Department of Educational Organizations and External Relations, says, “The trend in UK students coming to take advantage of what our universities have to offer looks set to continue. We’d love to see more students from the UK and the wider international community follow in their peers footsteps and study here to get a taste for UAE life and open the door not only to a new, exciting culture but to exciting and lucrative career prospects.”

The UAE has established the Emirati School Model a few years ago to raise the standards of teaching and learning, enabling all schools across the country to operate under a standardised framework, developed according to the best international practices, and aiming at keeping up with future changes and developments that compete with international education systems.

The Emirati school Model consist of seven pillars, each focusing on a different aspect of mainstream education. By streamlining processes across all schools, the UAE has taken a 360 view which puts technology at the heart of education. The seven pillars are:

- A curriculum designed to create a comprehensive scientific mindset in students, blending different sciences, critical analysis, discovery and practical experiences

- Activities including the Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Series (AIRseries). The AIRseries aims to promote interest and development in robotics and artificial intelligence and to raise the UAE’s presence globally in this field

- Learning streams including an Elite Track for distinguished students, in addition to the General and Advance Streams, and forward thinking Technical Career Paths

- Each Emirati school classroom will be equipped with a high specification laser projector, to maximise learning opportunities

- Incorporating regular monitoring of students’ progress ensures they are supported on an individual level

- Training to support students in perfecting their strengths

- Evaluating students’ achievements by measuring the quality of learning experiences and developing a comprehensive evaluation framework to measure the quality of schools performance

The Ministry of Education stand at Bett will include a Study in UAE section, with the participation from 6 leading UAE universities, namely: UAE University, HCT, Zayed University, Khalifa University, Ajman University and Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. There will be a theatre area for presentations, display areas for projects from curriculum, AIR Series, and Universities, and the Study in UAE Photobooth. Activities will promote the country and its unique offerings as the preferred destination for students from all over the world to pursue their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Supporting partners will also be in attendance: Etisalat, UAE Space Agency, Khalifa Empowerment Program and Alef Education.

During BETT, the Ministry of Education will present the "Advanced Skills Strategy", which was previously announced by H. E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, aims at establishing the concept of “Lifelong Learning” for all UAE nationals and residents. The “Advanced Skills Strategy” provides students, fresh graduates and experienced individuals with the most important skills required to prepare them for the fast-changing future. The skills include advanced skills identification and measurement, target segments identification, policies and program setting and movement creation, which all help create a “Lifelong Learning” environment. The strategy sets out 12 skills that can be acquired and students can apply in all practical sectors. The list of skills, which appears in the form of an interactive electronic game, include scientific literacy, tech literacy, financial literacy, critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, adaptability, leadership, social and cultural awareness, empathy and growth mindset.

In addition, Emirati university students will be participating through showcasing their cutting-edge projects, based on technology and innovation skills they gained from the Emirati School Model that prepares them and improves these skills in them from early ages. These projects are Vita-Cam, which is a smartphone AI application that detects vitamin deficiencies of the user from photos they take of themselves without the need for blood samples then suggests a compensational diet; Eyelid based steering control in vehicles, which is a novel method for medical emergencies; and The Smart Kaytoub, which is an intelligent solution developed to monitor students as they board and leave the school bus and that can be monitored by parents and school officials.

For those interested in finding out more about studying in the UAE, visit the BETT event’s website for further details: http://www.bettshow.com/