Knowledge and Human Development Authority: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:11, 29 November 2022

Revision as of 11:41, 12 January 2023

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[http://whatworks.ae/en/default.aspx What Works] is a unique initiative to help transform Dubai's private education sector through collaboration. With the support of private schools in Dubai and local community partners, What Works was initiated in September 2012. Based on the principles of [[Appreciative Inquiry]], What Works is a unique programme for teachers and school leaders in Dubai's private education sector, designed to increase collaboration within the sector and improve student outcomes. Centred on six events taking place each academic year, What Works brings together subject teachers, heads and principals to share what they do best at their schools.

A central tenet of What Works is that it relies on local expertise to strengthen the overall quality of education in Dubai. During each What Works event, teachers participate in workshops given by their colleagues at other schools. What Works also promotes a culture of collaboration between schools throughout the year. In its Head to Head programme, principals and subject heads visit on another's schools to share best practices. This is a particularly unique innovation given Dubai's private schools landscape, which includes schools teaching 15 different curricula. Quite often, the learning exchanges involve schools offering different curricula.

What Works also promotes a culture of collaboration between schools throughout the year. In its Head to Head programme, principals and subject heads visit on another's schools to share best practices. This is a particularly unique innovation given Dubai's private schools landscape, which includes schools teaching 15 different curricula. Quite often, the learning exchanges involve schools offering different curricula.

===Abundance===

In 2016, the KHDA the Abundance Group project, which invited high-achieving schools in Dubai to share their learning with others to help improve the quality of all schools in Dubai.

Schools rated Very Good or Good during annual inspections were offered the option of a differentiated inspection based on self-evaluation, allowing them to focus their resources on giving back to other schools. Sixteen Outstanding-rated schools participated in the project, offering workshops and training for teachers and senior leaders from schools rated Acceptable or lower during the project's first year, with partnerships continuing since.

Sixteen Outstanding-rated schools participated in the project, offering workshops and training for teachers and senior leaders from schools rated Acceptable or lower during the project's first year, with partnerships continuing since.

===Dubai Student Wellbeing Census===

Dubai's vision to be one of the happiest cities in the world by 2021 has pushed forward KHDA to investigate students’ satisfaction. KHDA has partnered with the [[Department for Education (South Australia)|Department of Education and Child Development]] of South Australia to deliver a five-year project to measure students’ wellbeing. It was first conducted in November 2017, asking around 65,000 students across 168 schools about their happiness, relationships, lifestyle, among other questions. The results of the Census said that the three main contributing factors to a student's wellbeing is a good breakfast, good night's sleep, and good relationships with adults. Furthermore, according to the data:

The results of the Census said that the three main contributing factors to a student's wellbeing is a good breakfast, good night's sleep, and good relationships with adults. Furthermore, according to the data:

* 84% of students are happy most of the time

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===Living Arabic===

Launched in October 2015, Living Arabic is a programme organised by Arabic teachers in Dubai, for teachers in Dubai. It shares the best of what language teachers are doing to inspire the love of Arabic in their students, and helps inspire other Arabic teachers to deliver lessons that harmonize with how students want to learn. The events are open to existing Arabic teachers, and all other teachers interested in incorporating Arabic into their lessons.

The events are open to existing Arabic teachers, and all other teachers interested in incorporating Arabic into their lessons.

===Teachers of Dubai===

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===Dubai Saturday Clubs and Hatta Wellbeing Camp===

The initiation of Dubai Saturday Clubs is inspired by Sorrell's Foundation [http://www.thesorrellfoundation.com/programme/national-saturday-clubs/ National Saturday Club]. KHDA offered a programme along with social entrepreneurs especially to enhance students’ wellbeing by creating meaningful community projects. It has brought together students of different schools to work with one another and promoted meaningful skills. KHDA concentrates on students’ wellbeing as much as it does on their perseverance of the highest quality of education. The Hatta Wellbeing Camp is an overnight excursion for students’ of different schools. It offers an exceptional time for students to reconnect with nature through physical activities.

KHDA concentrates on students’ wellbeing as much as it does on their perseverance of the highest quality of education. The Hatta Wellbeing Camp is an overnight excursion for students’ of different schools. It offers an exceptional time for students to reconnect with nature through physical activities.

===Rahhal===

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KHDA's encouragement to 'Give by participating in charitable activities throughout the community – at hospitals, at special needs centres, at mosques and at animal rescue centres - and by making more time to help each other during the working day. KHDA established a programme with an orphanage in Banda Aceh, Indonesia which enabled teams to travel and spend a week working with the children and their carers. These trips were funded partly by KHDA, and partly by fundraising activities we held throughout the year. KHDA implemented '''‘Take Notice’''' by beginning the meetings with mindfulness exercises and by practicing an ‘attitude of gratitude’.

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KHDA's office environment, meanwhile, made it easier to '''‘Connect’''', by replacing standard-issue carpets and cubicles with sofas, mobile desks, bean bags and green spaces. KHDA established a ‘no-door’ policy instead of an 'open door' policy, with communal areas taking the place of private offices. In the KHDA lobby, people mingle freely and have conversations over coffee, often entertained by someone playing on the baby grand piano, or by lovebirds tweeting as customers arrive. At KHDA, [[Dr. Abdulla Al Karam]] believes that guests should be indistinguishable from employees; board members are no different from new joiners. To facilitate '''‘Be Active’''' KHDA integrated a fully functioning gym into the workspace. A 300-metre running track around the perimeter of the office served as the warm-up for daily fitness sessions before and after work. A boxing ring helped employees release stress, while a yoga room with daily classes helped to channel it more positively. KHDA regularly began participating in races and obstacle races such as the Desert Warrior Challenge and the Spartan Race. Our first participation in this type of event included a team of 10 colleagues – all committed to exercise and fitness.

To facilitate '''‘Be Active’''' KHDA integrated a fully functioning gym into the workspace. A 300-metre running track around the perimeter of the office served as the warm-up for daily fitness sessions before and after work. A boxing ring helped employees release stress, while a yoga room with daily classes helped to channel it more positively. KHDA regularly began participating in races and obstacle races such as the Desert Warrior Challenge and the Spartan Race. Our first participation in this type of event included a team of 10 colleagues – all committed to exercise and fitness.

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KHDA's working practices, too, nurtured greater happiness in the people. Mothers with young children were able to spend less time at work and more time at home; an on-site nursery allowed parents to stay near their children while they were at the office; flexible hours and working from home were options available to our team, depending on the type of work they did.