A symposium organised by TRENDS Research and Advisory, in cooperation with the UNESCO Regional Center for Educational Planning (RCEP), highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in shaping the future of generations, especially amid the rapid transformations and growing challenges the world is facing.
Held on World Teachers’ Day in the Conference Hall at TRENDS under the title “Empowering Teachers: Building Sustainable Societies”, the symposium brought together a group of prominent global educators and researchers. It emphasised the importance of joint collaboration between various stakeholders to empower teachers and build sustainable societies.
The symposium highlighted that developing the education sector requires concerted efforts and coordination, recommending investment in sustainable professional development programmes for teachers, creating supportive work environments, and leveraging technology and innovation in the educational process.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research and Adviso
ry, emphasised that a teacher is not merely a transmitter of knowledge but a builder of generations and the personality of students. He underscored the importance of empowering teachers and providing them with a supportive environment to keep pace with technological and educational advancements. Dr. Al-Ali highlighted the need to invest in teachers and enhance their capabilities, affirming that the teacher is the cornerstone of any successful educational system.
Dr. Al-Ali also noted that the symposium coincided with a significant event in the UAE, as President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced that the UAE will mark Emirati Day for Education on 28th February every year. This underscores the importance of education in the UAE and its vital role in the nation’s development and progress. It reflects the UAE leadership’s firm belief in the value of education and its crucial role in building generations and advancing nations.
The UAE’s commitment to improving the teaching profession and
teachers’ conditions is also demonstrated through initiatives like the “Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher,” which exemplifies the leadership’s dedication to empowering, celebrating, and motivating teachers in their educational and societal roles.
Dr. Al-Ali pointed out that this symposium also coincided with World Teachers’ Day, observed annually on October 5, serving as a reminder of the vital role teachers play, the ways to support them, and the challenges they face in enhancing the teaching profession.
In a keynote address, Mahra Hilal Al-Mutaiwie, Director of RCEP, emphasised, “At the RCEP, we believe that the teacher is the cornerstone of any successful educational system. Teachers are the driving force behind societal progress and the shapers of the future. They are leaders of change and future makers, which is why they form a strategic focus of the RCEP’s work. We continue to support teachers through advanced training programmes and provide them with all the necessary resources to meet modern
challenges. We are committed to investing in teachers as a key element in building sustainable societies capable of addressing global changes and achieving inclusive and equitable education for all.”
Following the opening ceremony, two sessions of the symposium highlighted the critical role teachers play in shaping the future of societies and guiding future generations, especially as the world experiences rapid transformations and increasing challenges.
The sessions featured Maryam Majid Bin Thaniya, Second Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council, Dr. May Al-Taee, Vice Chancellor of the Emirates College for Advanced Education, Carlos Vargas Tamez, Head of the Secretariat of the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, UNESCO, Prof. Iman Gad, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the British University in Dubai, and Saleimah Alsaadi, winner of the Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher.
They presented innovative strategies to support teachers in enhancing their competencies and capabi
lities, enabling them to become mentors and inspirers to their students, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
The symposium also addressed the importance of education and research in light of rapid technological advancements, from the First Industrial Revolution to the AI era, highlighting the increasing demand for specialised skills in fields such as engineering and science, and the role of education in supporting sustainable development.
The second session focused on the primary goal of empowering teachers and preparing them for future changes, aligning with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership. The session also highlighted the efforts of the Emirates College for Advanced Education in advancing the teaching profession and equipping teachers with the necessary skills for modern education.
Source: Emirates News Agency
