Agreement to
allow UAE educational leaders with latest editions of advanced
technological tools
[UAE,
March 9, 2014] - The UAE Ministry of Education (MOE)
has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Microsoft, the world’s leading producer of computer software,
allowing the country’s educational leaders key access to the latest
editions of advanced technological teaching tools. H.E. Humaid
Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, Minister of Education, said, “The
ministry places strong attention to the development of strategic
partnerships with leading institutions working in the field of
educational technology. Our key aim is to create bridges with the
world’s leading technologies—enabling our educational leaders
straight access to modern educational management tools and advanced
technologies.”
The MoU was signed
by Minister Al Qatami and Mark East, General Manager for Education,
Microsoft EMEA and Asia, during the last day of the 7th Annual Global
Education Forum (GEF) and the Gulf Education Supplies and Solutions
Exhibition (GESS). Also present at the signing were H.E. Marwah
Al-Sawaleh, Assistant Undersecretary, MOE; H.E. Fawzia Hassan Gharib,
Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Operations, MOE; and
representatives from both the MOE and Microsoft.
The agreement aims
to enhance the capabilities and skills of the country’s education
professionals—teachers, principals and administrators—providing
them with the proper training on how to use the latest in teaching
tool technologies, which also help raise the efficiency of the
country’s education segment.
The initiatives and
programs covering the MoU, which has been called ‘Education
Development Transform Learning’ will cover key points like the
Microsoft Innovative Schools Program, which is aimed at encouraging
change in learning and developing the educational process based on
education methods of the 21st century; the Microsoft Program for
Educators, a program that has been developed to teach educators
innovative ways of teaching; Microsoft Shape the Future program and
Microsoft Office 365.
Microsoft has also
revealed that as part of the agreement, they will also be releasing
technical tools in Arabic language like the Microsoft Lab program
‘Kudo,’ which has been designed to help students explore and
develop their own skills.