(MENAFN- The Peninsula) In keeping with commitment to national education reform, Qatar University (QU) continues its efforts to develop human capabilities by offering opportunities to teachers in Independent schools and students pursuing to gain knowledge, experience and skills that empower them to life-long learning and contribute to driving Qatar's development.
At QU's National Centre for Educational Development (NCED), the process has been implemented through professional development programmes and research projects to prepare educators to teach in schools and shape the next generation of leaders in line with the Human Development Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Centre aims to engage educators in life-long learning focused on research-based training, evidence-based research and international best practices to build educational capacities in Qatar. "It is committed to ensuring the development of school teachers and leaders to enrich students' learning experience and achievements," said Dr Abdullah Abu Tineh who leads the centre.
He said the school-based support programme (SBSP) which provides support for Independent schools selected by the centre and the Supreme Education Council (SEC).
"This type of professional development contributes to enhancing the capacity of Independent schools through high-quality school-based activities and research-based best practices to improve the performance of school leaders and teachers," he said.
Dr Abu-Tineh said the centre has 21 development specialists to mentor educators to boost their performance and efficiency.
Five Independent schools have completed the programme since 2011, and student success in the exit exam raised in some schools in 2013-2014 from 73 percent to 96. He said extended training programmes provide school teachers and leaders with an in-depth conceptual understanding and a broader system of feedback and support through workshops.
"To date, over 90 training programmes have engaged more than 10,900 educators and 166 Independent schools," he said.
Dr Abu-Tineh highlighted the role of the capacity building programme in developing human capital at the centre and SEC through professional development activities focused on a deep knowledge of Qatar's cultural and educational context.
"In addition to conducting research activities, the programme aims to provide data and assessments on the needs of education personnel and disseminate information on Qatar's educational development initiatives to international scholars," he said.
He said the centre provides schools with expertise, resources and customised school-embedded activities to support their initiatives and innovative projects through its school empowerment programme.
"This contributes to closing the gap between high schools and higher education institutions by providing high school students with knowledge, skills and abilities to pursue post-secondary education."
He also pointed to collaborative programmes the centre organises for school teachers and students in partnership with local and regional institutions such as ExxonMobil, Reach Out To Asia, Awsaj Academy, American University of Beirut, Qatar Assistive Technology Centre and Museum of Islamic Art, among others.
"These programmes provide teachers and students with experience-based, student-centred and research-based learning by engaging them in STEM and arts activities to unlock their potential, enhance motivation and boost academic achievements.
"Through its professional development strategies, the centre has contributed to improving knowledge and skills of teachers and students at Independent schools and increasing students' achievements through active learning, action research and other reform models of professional development in their learning process. We are working to increase the number of professional development projects at the centre to develop new collaborations and launch new training programmes," he added.
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