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Kalima in team up with German university
Abu Dhabi-based Kalima has announced the launch of a new project in cooperation with Germany's Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, which will be based by the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The initiative will focus on German literature and culture, after a series of successful international translation projects.
GCC education urged to focus on tourism
Abdllatif Y Al-Hamad, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development has told a recent panel discussion that Arab education must focus on tourism and services as the sector collectively represents 35% of the region's workforce. He was speaking at the recent at the Wharton Global Alumni Forum in Dubai, and added that over 70% of university students are in 'liberal arts'.
No plans yet to change school calendar in UAE
The UAE has not made an official decision about whether it will make any changes to its 2009-10 academic year to accommodate Ramadan, the Ministry of Education and the Abu Dhabi Education Council have said. Dr Mariam Al Ali, Director of the Supervising and Monitoring of Private Schools Department at the Education Ministry, said nothing has been officially declared about postponing the academic year until after Ramadan. Some private schools have announced that they will resume their academic year between August 30 and September 2, reported Gulf News.
UAE unveils $55m initiative to boost teaching methods
The UAE plans to set aside Dhs200m ($55m) for a professional development programme for educators, Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education, said at the opening of the Global Education Forum yesterday. Under the 'Teachers for the 21st Century' initiative, international experts will provide guidance to UAE teachers about how they can introduce modern educational methods in their classrooms.
UAE group launches fund to promote reading
One of the UAE's largest philanthropic organisations has established a Dhs3m ($816,000) fund to promote reading. The Emirates Foundation is inviting applications from organisations interested in running programmes that promote an interest in books and reading. The fund, entitled Emirates Reads, aims to foster programmes for both children and adults with a particular focus on Arabic language and initiatives aimed at Emiratis, reported The National.
MoE approves school CCTV system
The Kuwait Ministry of Education has approved the installation of Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras at all local high schools. The CCTV cameras are to be introduced at the beginning of the next school year. School principals will decide individually on the number of cameras required for each school.
UAE universities face closures
Universities based in the UAE face more campus closures due to a shortage of students, The National has reported. The UAE has a total of 58 universities, 28 of which are in Dubai's education free zones, compared to 39 in Australia, which has a much larger population. George Mason University announced last month that it would close its Ras Al Khaimah campus at the end of the Spring term.
Knowledge Economic City to host 'smart schools'
Knowledge Economic City in Madinah has signed an agreement with Al-Andalus Private Schools to build two smart schools in the new city. One school will be for boys, the other for girls, and will cater for kindergarten up to the 12th grade. A total of SR150m will be invested in the e-learning project.
UAE labour law explained
Knowledge Horizon is holding a course later this month looking at labour law in the UAE. Aimed at HR professionals, the two day course includes modules on how new labour laws in the country affect companies, rights of employees and employers - particularly important in the current economic climate where many are being made redundant - and dealing with staff disputes. The course takes place on 24-25 March in Knowledge Village, Dubai.
Sherborne to open in Doha
British public school Sherborne is opening a branch this September in Doha, The Peninsula has reported. Sherborne's Doha branch will be open to students from all nationalities, and will initially offer kindergarten through to Year Six and rising annually to Year 13. Co-educational classes of no more than 20 children will follow the English national curriculum, in addition to Arabic and Islamic studies.
University trims non-academic staff
The American University of Sharjah plans to cut its non-academic workforce by five per cent, reported The National. Up to 25 jobs could be lost at the university from its staff of 525 non-academic employees, although officials also plan a slight increase in academic staff numbers. Chancellor Dr Peter Heath said the cutback in non-academic staff had been decided by the university's board of trustees as a result of the 'uncertain conditions in the economy.
Pakistan seeks education ties with UAE
Pakistan's Minister for Education Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said yesterday that Pakistan and the UAE should further extend their existing educational cooperation, especially in the field of science and technology. He expressed these views during a meeting with UAE Ambassador Ali Saif Al-Awani in Islamabad. The UAE and Pakistan should concentrate on initiating joint educational ventures, especially in the form of sister universities and colleges, Bijarani said.
Ministry of Education creates data 'warehouse'
The UAE Ministry of Higher Education has announced the formation of a nationwide data storage system, which will unify and integrate information from all higher education facilities in the country. The programme is to facilitate access to information through a single source, and enhance accuracy and data protection.
Gems outsources UAE bus pickups
Global Education Management Systems (Gems) has sent circulars to parents of students in five schools across the UAE, informing them that the schools have outsourced the transport. Bright Bus Transport Company have been appointed to collect students. The overall increase in transportation fees ranges from 42% to 96%, while in the two schools in Sharjah, the hike is by 105%.
Interactive whiteboard shipments up by 20%
Shipments of interactive whiteboards for classrooms in the Middle East are expected to touch 12,000 this year, an increase of 20% over the 10,000 units in 2008. According to Futuresource Consulting, the worldwide interactive whiteboard product category continues to exhibit rapid growth, and forecasts show that the annual number of units shipped will double over the next three to four years. By 2012 approximately one in six classrooms will be using interactive whiteboards.
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