ABU DHABI, 28th Jan. 2010 (WAM): The Global Education & Leadership Foundation (tGELF) has joined forces with the Higher Colleges of Technology in a unique initiative to nurture leadership skills among young UAE nationals.
tGELF, founded by the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Higher Colleges of Technology, to bring the tGELF Leadership Development to UAE.
The MoU was signed today by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology with Mr. Shiv Vikram Khemka, Chairman of The Global Education & Leadership Foundation. The unique program was developed in close collaboration with the Teachers College at Columbia University. The program targets young learners at the high school level onwards and helps them explore and develop their leadership potential, based on strong values and ethics. The program aims to Provide equal opportunity for all students to participate in a curriculum that will emphasize value systems, critical thinking, communication skills and fair play Empower young learners with leadership skills, attitudes and values Create a quest and zeal for excellence Make life-long learnersSpeaking on the occasion, Mr. Khemka said, "Inculcating the value of ethical leadership among young learners is the only way to nurture the next generation of leaders. We worked very closely with the Teachers College at Columbia University to develop the curriculum and evaluation methodology for this program. I am pleased with what we have achieved in a short time." "We, very much, share the same ethos and values as the Higher Colleges of Technology and hence this partnership presents a very natural relationship for us to work together in reaching out to young UAE nationals and schools in UAE, at HCT and other students around the world," Mr. Khemka said. Vice Chancellor Dr Tayeb Kamali said "Higher Colleges of Technology has consistently worked to bring world-class programs and initiatives to UAE. Working together, the HCT B.Ed program will equip teachers and mentors with tools and techniques that assist them in nurturing ethical leadership skills in their students.""Based on extensive research on leadership and education, tGELF curriculum uses theoretical, practical, and experiential means during the train-foster-nurture-mentor phases of the program.""Our efforts today will go a long way in building the next generation of socially minded teachers and leaders. We look forward to launching several key initiatives under this MoU during the course of the year." he said. About Higher Colleges of TechnologyThe Higher Colleges of Technology is the largest higher educational institution in the United Arab Emirates with the current enrolment exceeding 18,000 students, all UAE nationals. HCT places significant emphasis on preparing students for a globalized workplace. Students are provided with opportunities to become conversant with international best practices in their professions and understanding of other cultures. Major international conferences such as Education Without Borders and Festival of Thinkers are organized by HCT to meet this objective. Also, HCT has entered agreements with several institutions around the world to send students to different countries for work experience, language training and cultural visits. About the Global Education Leadership FoundationThe Global Education & Leadership Foundation (tGELF) is a philanthropic initiative of the Khemka Family with an aim to nurture ethical leaders who will be the future agents of change. tGELFs endeavour is to provide opportunities to students to discover & develop their leadership potential. The emphasis of tGELFs Programmes is on holistic education of body, mind and spirit to develop and identify potential leaders who will have the moral strength to build a social order that will be rooted in human dignity. tGELF partners with Teachers College, University of Columbia, USA for curriculum consultation, teacher training and assessment planning.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
