UAE- ADEC Launches Its Strategy for Knowledge Production 1st add

The Transformation The strategy for knowledge production is driven by key principles. These principals include building strong values and achieving the right outcomes for the UAE. Emiratization is one of the key principles for developing role models and sustainability. In addition a key guiding principle involves developing a holistic system-wide perspective that looks at all levels of education as an integrated and seamless system.

The principal driver of knowledge producing societies is a workforce that includes: top notch scientists and technologists in priority area domains innovating solutions in service of society; and visionary business leaders and entrepreneurs forming new companies and creating wealth.

Producing such a workforce in today's global competitive landscape requires a multidimensional perspective. To that end the ADEC Strategy for building a knowledge producing society is developed along four pillars: Knowledge Systems: ADEC's transformation strategy places great emphasis on Science and Technology innovation systems. "We must support applied research in partnership with industry and focus on the priority area sectors of Abu Dhabi." Said Dr Al-Qubaisi. Scientific research is the foundation for innovation. Without scientific research we cannot achieve the full vision of a knowledge producing society.

STEM education is central to the development of Abu Dhabi. To produce a human capital of scientists and innovators ADEC will focus on STEM education from the early childhood to Cycle 3 (high school) and on to higher education and post graduate education. ADEC will even transform KG children's story books to include stories about science and technology.

ADEC's Innovation Initiatives will be implemented as a partnership between the schools higher education and industry. The initiatives include building innovation hubs developing programming skills for producing new applications forming innovation clubs in every school bringing Science and Technology experts into the classrooms through the Innovation Ambassador program and participating in the Abu Dhabi Young Scientist Initiative that builds a culture of innovation through competition.

Culture of Education and Innovation: excellence in education is not just about curricula governance and infrastructure. Excellence in education is about building a strong culture of education throughout our society: A culture that begins at home and understands the critical importance of early childhood education; and a culture that reveres the role of the teacher and teaching as the noblest of professions worthy of our highest respect and our highest reward.

In her address to the education leaders Dr Al-Qubaisi stressed "achieving success will require a critical partnership - the most important partnershippartnership with the parents. It is the most important partnership because education culture begins at home; it is promoted at home; and it is nourished at home."

ADEC will not just involve parents in the education of their children; ADEC intends to fully partner with them.

"If you want to change culture begin at home. If you want to promote STEM begin at home. If you want to truly make a difference in education reach out to the parentsbegin at home" added Dr Al-Qubaisi.

Home-based Talent: Abu Dhabi needs to ensure sustainability of its progress. Sustainability requires home based talent in the schools universities scientific research centers and technology-based industries. It shall be ADEC's priority to recruit train and promote national talent and build national-based support systems for all of its programs in schools and universities. This year for example ADEC welcomed 400 new national teachers to its workforce.

"For P-12 we are keen on having our school leaders and teachers develop the transformation strategy; they are our experts and they are our thought leaders and this strategy is their work" said Dr Al-Qubaisi.

Education for All: The transformation Strategy is designed to cater to the needs of all learners; from the special needs and gifted to lifelong learners. ADEC will work to accelerate its services for special needs children and their integration to regular classes when appropriate. In addition ADEC will work with the universities to develop programs that can unlock the potential of its gifted students.

The strategies are implemented along 57 initiatives covering P-12 Higher Education Innovation and research.

"Many of these initiatives are already underway and we are partnering with the world's very best universities and technology and innovation companies to ensure that these initiatives are successfully implemented. Most importantly we are partnering with our key national stakeholders including our national and partner universities as well as our industries" said Dr Al-Qubaisi.

The initiatives include: My Identitya campaign designed to reinforce the UAE values culture and heritage Restructuring of Cycle 3 - a single track focused on STEM in public schools designed to build innovation and entrepreneurship skills with electives supporting career development and a curriculum that builds speech and communication capabilities Innovation Initiatives - designed to build a complete ecosystem for innovation including innovation laboratories equipped with the latest in STEM education equipment in every school innovation hubs in Abu Dhabi Al-Ain and Al-Gharbia regions designed to support innovators in schools universities and the community top industry experts as guest lecturers in the classrooms and much more.

Innovative Education Pedagogiesflip laboratories and classrooms and opportunities in experiential learning in partnership with industry Community Schoolsdesigned to integrate the schools with the community Parental Engagementdesigned to develop close partnerships between parents and schools Student Supportextensive in-class and after school support program for all students Child Protectionwork with all stakeholders to ensure that children in schools and pre-schools are protected from harm Career Guidance and Counselingequip every school with counselors to help guide and support the students Supporting Special Needs Children and Young Adults: differentiated educational opportunities at both the P-12 and higher education levels Supporting the Giftedcomprehensive programs providing tailored learning opportunities involving a collaboration between P-12 higher education and industry.

Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders: connecting professional development to the results of school inspections so as to focus on the areas of greatest need Teach for UAE: an initiative designed to bring top talent from top universities into the school system Building Talent At Homeincreasing the percentage of national school educators and administrators Promoting and Supporting Researchworking with industry and universities to support applied research by promoting collaborative applied research centers Aligning Abu Dhabi Higher Education Scholarships with Prioritiesworking with priority industries to ensure that scholarships are focused on areas relevant to economic growth What Will Be the Outcome in Five Years? In five years Abu Dhabi will create a world class education and innovation ecosystem strongly connected to the business and industry communities. By 2018 ADEC expects that P-12 graduates will be well grounded in STEM and prepared to enter higher education with no foundation year. This will help universities focus their resources better and will be an important step towards achieving an innovation-driven knowledge-producing society.

Through applied R&D patents will drive the creation of start-ups to commercialize new products and help diversify the economy. University research centers would help local industry differentiate their offerings and better compete globally.

ADEC has developed annual key performance indicators to measure year-on-year progress. These indicators were carefully selected based on international benchmarks and best practices. The indicators were selected to measure progress in terms of output achievement at the system level institution level and student level.