Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Alqasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the third edition of the Sharjah International Summit on
Improvement in Education, themed " Pioneering Future Education," kicked off on Sunday morning at the Sharjah Education Academy in the University City.
The summit, organized by the Sharjah Education Academy in collaboration with the Sharjah Private Education Authority and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, explores four main themes: the dynamics of successful educational systems, the impact of artificial intelligence on future education, assessment and innovation methods in the technology era, as well as comprehensive quality of life in the educational environment.
Her Excellency Dr. Muhadditha Alhashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority and President of the Sharjah Education Academy, delivered her opening speech, expressing gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his continuous interest in developing the education sector in the Emirate of Sharjah and his patronage of the summit.
During her address, Her Excellency revealed the results of the evaluation of private schools in Sharjah for the year 2018 compared to 2023. Sharjah Private Education Authority received the results of the evaluation of the performance quality of private schools in 2018, which posed an unprecedented challenge as only 8% of private schools in Sharjah were rated as good or above, with only 4% of schools receiving a good or above rating in Arabic for native speakers. Moreover, only 15% of students in private schools in Sharjah received education rated as good or above, along with only 15% of teachers and school leaders being trained and qualified, and 0% of Emirati teachers in private schools in Sharjah.
Her Excellency emphasized that since that pivotal moment in the private education sector in the Emirate of Sharjah, a journey of improvement and school development has begun, inspired by the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah and illuminated by his inspirational guidance in shaping Sharjah’s approach to education development, based on five scientific pillars encompassing governmental support,culture of continuous improvement, governance, capacity building, and partnership with the community.
She added that with Sharjah’s approach to education development and its five scientific pillars, based on specialized research in development and improvement, the results of the evaluation of the performance quality of private schools in Sharjah within the "ITQAN" program for 2023 came, and the performance indicators' results in the Sharjah Private Education Authority achieved a qualitative leap in the development and improvement of education in the Emirate, with private school performance in Sharjah improving by 70% in the "ITQAN" program compared to the school evaluation results for 2018.
Furthermore, she noted that while school performance improved in all subjects, Arabic language for native speakers jumped from 4% with a good or above rating to 59%, making the assessment of Arabic language 100% with an acceptable or above level. Only 15% of students who were receiving education in schools with good performance increased to 61%, and satisfaction among parents of students regarding the quality of education and learning reached 84%.
Her Excellency pointed out that the confidence index of parents of students in education in the Emirate reached 90%, and in the quality of students' well-being reached 86%, while the index of training and development of teachers' capacities increased from 15% to 70%.
In conclusion, she highlighted that the investment rate in education in the private sector in the Emirate increased by 25%, reflecting investors' enhanced confidence in it. One of the achievements of the "Sharjah approach to education development" was the presence of 78 competent Emirati teachers from the "Proud to be a teacher" program practicing the mission of education in private schools in the Emirate.
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Alqasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, Dr. Muhadditha Alhashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority, launched the "Rise for the Teacher" initiative within the summit activities. It is a community initiative overseen by the Sharjah Private Education Authority aimed at appreciating teachers collectively by supporting and appreciating them in tangible and clear ways that positively impact their quality of life, growth, and professional development. The initiative calls on all members of the community, including students and their parents, school owners and administrations, relevant authorities, and educational ministries, to support and enhance the position of teachers and improve their well-being, each according to their role and specialization.
The summit, held over two days, brings together teachers, school leaders, decision-makers, academics, researchers, policymakers, and curriculum developers to discuss and learn about the latest research and success stories of successful school improvement and the transformative impact of educational technology, especially artificial intelligence. Sixty speakers from 17 countries around the world participated in this edition, which included more than 32 dialogical and training sessions delivered both in-person and virtually.
The Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education aims to share best research-based practices on school development and comprehensive well-being, as well as to develop insights for a comprehensive educational framework that can be implemented, along with exploring the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in modern education.
In its third edition, Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education seeks to stimulate discussion on effective educational practices and the important role of technology in advancing learning outcomes, by fostering a collaborative environment that brings together a wide spectrum of local and international specialists, and by bridging the gap between research, innovation, and best practices, supported by the capabilities of artificial intelligence with a strong focus on well-being in general.
This summit serves as a beacon for research and studies, shedding light on the best research-based practices in school development and quality of life to explore the prospects of artificial intelligence in transforming modern education paths, with a vision embracing innovation and excellence.
In a related context, Dr. Muhadditha Alhashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority and President of Sharjah Education Academy, welcomed Ms. Tuula Yrjölä, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the UAE, on the sidelines of the third edition of the Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education, to discuss avenues for joint scientific cooperation with Finland as one of the leading countries in educational practices of the 21st century, and to enhance the strategic partnership between educational entities in both countries.
Sharjah Education Academy
It is an institution that reflects a culture of continuous improvement with its limitless horizons, which has become synonymous with Sharjah, aiming to support the efforts of all educational institutions striving to enhance the educational process at all stages. It also aims to build the capacities of teachers and leaders in the education system locally and globally, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Alqasimi – may Allah protect him – for distinguished education, which is the effective tool and the fundamental pillar that ensures the advancement of societies in various fields. The Academy is keen on obtaining academic accreditation for its programs and forming local and international partnerships with the most prestigious institutions, enabling the educational field to lead in the education sector, and focusing on developing professional programs that qualify teachers and school leaders to adapt to rapid changes in a way that monitors quality and thus ensures the best educational outcomes at all levels.