Omar Sultan Al Olama: The UAE adopts digital technology to provide the best educational options for less fortunate students around the world

  • Expanding the collaboration between The Digital School and Arizona State University within the new phase in providing digital teacher training courses worldwide
  • The Digital School completed training more than 500 teachers and supervisors on digital teaching skills in partnership with Arizona State University

New York – His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Digital School, highlighted that the UAE spreads education and knowledge, and provides ideal educational options for all less fortunate students around the world. It does so through adopting modern technology and advanced digital technologies to enhance future opportunities for generations and improve people’s lives.

The statement was made while the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives’ (MBRGI) showcased its comprehensive humanitarian achievements and its international contributions across several pillars of spreading education and knowledge, empowering communities. It also presented the most important achievements and results achieved by The Digital School during the participation of the UAE government delegation in the High-Level Political Forum held annually on Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations’ Headquarters in New York.

During the Forum, a new phase of strategic partnership was announced with Arizona State University, with the aim of expanding cooperation between The Digital School and Arizona State University to provide digital teacher training courses on a global level and cooperating in developing digital education standards and digital educators. The agreement was signed by Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary General of The Digital School, and Amy McGrath, deputy Vice President of Arizona State University for Educational Communication, in the presence of several officials and participants in the conference.

His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama said the UAE government promotes international integration and cooperation aimed at providing the new generation of students with digital skills and capabilities that enable them to build a sustainable future. It also supports international efforts to ensure educational opportunities and build an integrated educational system to ensure the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

He added that the cooperation agreements and partnerships that The Digital School forged with various governments, educational institutions, international organisations and specialised companies, aim to raise the level of education and provide the new generation, especially in regions and communities that do not have appropriate opportunities, with the necessary science and knowledge capabilities. It aims to do this through employing technology solutions, artificial intelligence applications, and digital learning options, to enable the new generation to lead the future and actively participate in promoting the global development process.

A New Era of Global Digital Collaboration

The new phase will focus on expanding the existing cooperation between The Digital School and Arizona State University, through three pillars.

The first pillar includes cooperation in the establishment of the Global Digital Training Institute, where work will be done to introduce and develop approved professional development programs for teachers and expand them around the world. Both parties will collaborate in facilitating access to these programs, with the aim of reaching 10,000 teachers across the globe.

The second pillar will focus on providing internationally recognized certificates and standards for digital teacher training. The two parties will cooperate in employing their respective expertise and extensive network in developing digital education standards and digital teachers.

The third pillar will focus on thought leadership of digital education, as the two parties will work on a series of public virtual webinars that will address the most prominent topics of digital education and its developments, especially in less fortunate areas. Seeing as Arizona State University is a global pioneer in digital education, it will share its expertise in developing and executing these specialised programmes. These webinars will spread the concept of digital education, contribute to international efforts, and share The Digital School’s experiences with the world.

Also under the third pillar, they will cooperate in drafting and publishing joint research papers in the fields of digital education and its impact. This contributes to enhancing the role of this cooperation in supporting the driving the future of digital learning.

Details of this expanded partnership and its initiatives will be announced soon, as the two sides will work to enhance the vision of The Digital School in leading the digital education frontiers to enable various societies to obtain an advanced education.

Global Achievements

Her Excellency Huda Alhashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Digital School, said: “The Digital School today is providing digital learning to a cohort of 20K students in 5 countries, in three languages. Also, 500 educators have been trained and certified to be digital educators in collaboration with Arizona State University. The Digital School is targeting to enroll 1 Million students by 2026.  The Digital School will chart new global milestones for the future of digital education for those who need it most”.

Al Hashimi added: “The UAE’s efforts in the Digital School is available to the world, and we are thrilled that the UN is recognizing digital learning as one of its new 5 action tracks to transform education. The Digital School have established implementation on ground and we are happy to share experience and collaborate with the world to utilize the benefits of digital learning in expanding quality learning opportunities”.

Through its partnership with Arizona State University, The Digital School co-developed programs in four languages over the past year – Arabic, English, French, and Spanish. Through these programs, both parties have successfully trained more than 500 teachers and education providers in five countries.

During its first year, The Digital School was also able to launch its various digital programs and initiatives in more than five countries in three continents around the world – Iraq and Jordan in Asia, Egypt and Mauritania in Africa, and Colombia in Latin America.