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- Move comes as part of Rahhal initiative by Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and Dubai 10X
- Offers innovative learning pathways blending traditional education with industry qualifications
- Event held at GEMS FirstPoint School, GEMS Education’s newly launched Centre of Excellence for Digital Industries
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: GEMS Education and Siemens have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop new and innovative initiatives designed to increase collaboration and integration between the education sector and industry.
The new partnership with Siemens builds on ‘Rahhal’, an initiative of Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). Rahhal encourages schools to think outside-the-box and develop innovative learning opportunities that benefit students.
The new agreement aims to add value to the transfer of knowledge and expertise to GEMS Education students, while also increasing and enhancing the sustainability aspects within GEMS Education, and promoting digitalisation.
The launch event was held at GEMS FirstPoint School – The Villa (FPS), GEMS Education’s newly appointed Centre of Excellence for Digital Industries, on 23 June 2019. In attendance were a number of high-profile guests, including Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA; Dino Varkey, CEO of GEMS Education; and Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO of Siemens Middle East.
Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General at KHDA, said: “This is a first-step towards recognising industry-academia partnerships at the school-level and a reflection of Rahhal’s potential to truly disrupt education. We hope the move will encourage students and teachers to co-create cities of the future by working with real-world scientists and innovators. This partnership can potentially encourage many more schools to come forward and partner with Rahhal in an effort to extend learning opportunities outside the classroom.”
Through the GEMS Education-Siemens partnership, GEMS students will gain access to industry-level courses and qualifications, support from industry experts, and internships. They will also have the opportunity to be part of an energy efficiency programme that will be adapted into a case study specific to their school, while also partnering with universities ifor accreditation.
Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO of Siemens Middle East, said: “A strong partnership between academia and industry is key to developing sustainable knowledge economies, and ensuring students have the tools and skills they need to succeed. We have a responsibility to invest in future generations so they may embrace the opportunities afforded by a digital economy, and this partnership will demonstrate the positive impact of technology and hands-on training in education.”
The new initiatives will be launched at FPS, with the school heavily involved in ensuring the programmes are suitable for students, embedding industry-level content into the curriculum, and hosting competitions and talks. Opportunities will initially be available to secondary and sixth form students, before being rolled out to all age groups and across the GEMS network bof schools.
Matthew Tompkins, Principal of FPS, said: “Schools of the future will evolve into hubs of learning, connecting young people with a personalised menu of opportunities linked to industry. Not all of these opportunities will be available at school, some will be in the workplace or in different learning institutions, while others will be accessed via cutting-edge technology from anywhere in the world. The future of education is being developed right now, and this calls for a pioneer to pull all the opportunities together. GEMS FirstPoint School is that pioneer.”
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About GEMS Education
GEMS Education is one of the world’s oldest and largest K-12 private education providers. It is a highly-regarded choice for quality private education in the Middle East and North Africa region. As a company founded in the UAE in 1959, it holds an unparalleled track-record of providing diverse curricula and educational choices to all socio-economic means. GEMS Education now owns and operates 49 schools and educates over 124,000 students in the MENA region; and through its growing network of schools as well as charitable contributions is fulfilling the founder’s vision of putting a quality education within the reach of every child.
For further information about GEMS Education, visit: www.gemseducation.com or contact:
Yasser Alvi | Georgina Scott
ASDA'A BCW
Tel: (+971) 4 4507 600
Email: yasser.alvi@bcw-global.com | georgina.scott@bcw-global.com
About Siemens
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalisation. One of the largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. With its publicly listed subsidiary Siemens Healthineers AG, the company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2018, which ended on 30 September 2018, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income of €6.1 billion. At the end of September 2018, the company had around 379,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available at www.siemens.com .
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