(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) SEDRA, an initiative founded by H.H. Sheikha Aljazia Bint Saif Al Nahyan in support of and in response to governmental policies on the inclusion of people with disabilities, successfully took part in the 5th Annual Gulf Education Conference and Exhibitions. The conference which is being held in Abu Dhabi on 18th and 19th March under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
During the awards ceremony yesterday, SEDRA was awarded the prize for "Innovation in the Special Needs Sector" in recognition of the pioneering work SEDRA is undertaking to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society.
The award recognised SEDRA's excellence in: planning, people, process, partnerships, performance, passion for excellence and results. This year's conference focus was on the twin themes of vocational education and employer engagement with educational institutions to provide the workforce required for successful economic development.
SEDRA, in line with the theme, presented their disability- friendly employment programme.
Reem Al Fahim, CEO of SEDRA said, "We are now in talks with several delegates and companies we met during the event to partner with us to employ people with disabilities, SEDRA will be able to provide training and awareness workshops for human resources staff and line managers on how to create an appropriate and effective inclusive work environment."
SEDRA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the British University in Dubai, BUiD. The MoU was signed by Prof. Abdullah Al Shamsi, BUiD Vice Chancellor, and Ms. Al Fahim, to reflect BUiD and SEDRA's wider range of commitments locally, regionally and globally. It was signed on the fringes of The Gulf Education Conference, hosted by Abu Dhabi, endorsed by the GCC and supported by the Association of Arab Research Universities (AARU).
The purpose of the MoU is to foster collaboration between the two organisations to promote the full and effective inclusion of people with disabilities. This partnership will be central to the development of SEDRA's Research Programme.
Reem Al Fahim, commented, "SEDRA is grateful for the support and recognition we have received throughout the Gulf Education Conference. The signing of the MOU with BUiD, will allow us to undertake fundamental research, collect data and analyse new developments in the field. This will ensure the UAE has in-depth knowledge of our own population's needs and specific circumstances.
It was a particular pleasure that we were acknowledged for our work at the Awards Gala. I am honoured that the community is recognising the importance of our work, under the leadership of H.H. Sheikha Aljazia Bint Saif, in supporting our national agenda of making the UAE a disability-friendly and inclusive country"
In a statement, Abdelkhaliq Mohammed, Director of the Gulf Education Conference, said, "This is the first time the Annual Gulf Education Conference and Exhibitions is hosted in the GCC with the support of Sheikh Nahyan. We have been overwhelmed with the level of delegates present and the outcomes of this year's conference."
He added, "We are honoured to have had the valuable input and guidance of great education leaders and champions. Amongst these were Sheikh Nahyan, Professor Sultan Abu-Orabi, Secretary-General of the Association of the Arab Universities, Tawfiq Al Khoja, Director-General of the Executive Board of the Health Ministers Council of the GCC, and David Lock, Director of International Projects, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education."
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