In an open meeting with “Education” teachers and faculty members at Kuwait University
“Khalifa Award”:
The UAE-Kuwait relations are historical and in sustainable prosperity
Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri:
Unleashing innovative educational programs enhanced by creativity to anticipate the future
Amal Al-Afeefi:
The message of the Award is to spread excellence in the educational field in all its elements
Abu Dhabi: Monday, November 4, 2024
The delegation of the General Secretariat of the Khalifa Award for Education emphasized the significance of the fraternal relations linking the United Arab Emirates and the sisterly State of Kuwait. These historical relations are rooted in prosperity and development, and they continue to grow and benefit the welfare of their respective populations. The delegation emphasized the need to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of education in a manner that is consistent with the aspirations of the leadership of the two brotherly countries, ensuring that the education sector advances to horizons that are both contemporary and anticipate the future.
While in Kuwait, a delegation from the Khalifa Award’s general secretariat held an open meeting to introduce the award, its goals, and the fields that would be considered for the 18th session (2024–2025). Present at the gathering were Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, a trustee of the Khalifa Award; Amal Al Afeefi, the award’s secretary-general; Dr. Suad Al Suwaidi, the deputy secretary-general; Dr. Khaled Al Abri, an executive committee member; and Hamid Ibrahim, also an executive committee member. Dr. Issa Al Balhan, who is serving as the acting dean of Kuwait University’s College of Education, was also present at the conference. Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri began the meeting by expressing his gratitude to the faculty and staff of Kuwait University for inviting the delegation to hold the meeting here. He went on to mention the strong educational ties that exist between the two countries as an example of the strong fraternal relations that bind them together.
Hence, the purpose of the Award delegation’s visit to the sisterly State of Kuwait was to introduce the Award, its message, and its goals in promoting educational excellence and inspiring professionals in this critical field to launch creative, innovative programs and projects that will help them stay up with the times and look forward to the future of education at all levels, which will be evident in the system’s distinctiveness.
During the meeting, Amal Al-Afeefi touched on the journey of the Khalifa Award, which was launched in 2007, carrying a comprehensive message in spreading excellence in the educational field with its various elements, by offering areas for competition between candidates in the field. These areas include 10 fields during the current session, distributed over 17 categories, as follows: the Distinguished Educational Personality, General Education (the category of the creative teacher locally and regionally, and the category of institutional educational performance), Education and Community Service (the category of institutions, and the category of the distinguished Emirati family), People of Determination (the category of individuals, and the category of institutions and centers), Creativity in the Arabic language Teaching (the category of the distinguished university professor locally and regionally, and the category of the distinguished teacher locally), Higher Education (the category of the university professor), Educational Research (the category of educational research), Educational Authorship for Children (the category of educational innovations, and the category of children’s literature studies), Innovative Educational Projects and Programs (the category of individuals, the category of institutions, and the category of students), in addition to the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning field, which includes: the category of Best Research and Studies, and the category of Best Programs, Curricula, Teaching methodologies and Practices.
Dr. Suad Al Suwaidi reviewed a number of criteria and conditions that must be met in candidates’ applications for these fields, which are based on excellence criteria that include the use of artificial intelligence and the sustainability axis in the submitted works as one of the criteria for uniqueness and excellence of the nominated file, noting that the Khalifa Award for Education has succeeded, since the beginning of its journey, in being a bridge for communication and exchange of experiences and expertise between the various elements of the educational process. Therefore, the Award looks forward to expanding participation by elements of the educational and academic field in the sisterly State of Kuwait and participating in the various fields offered for the award in the current session and future sessions.
Dr. Khaled Al-Abri stressed the Award’s pride in the educational and academic field of teachers, faculty members, and community institutions in Kuwait, noting the importance of this meeting that brings together an elite group of teachers and university professors to introduce the Khalifa Award’s message and objectives and the fields offered. Participants at this meeting and others in the field can regularly assess the fields offered, their categories, and their criteria and controls. Hamid Ibrahim introduced the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning, which was launched globally two years ago to reflect the wise leadership in the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to early childhood care and empowerment and the creation of a stimulating environment for creativity, innovation, and leadership in this vital category. This field aims to illuminate the best scientific and applied practices in early childhood care, discover its talents, and empower it in early education through research and studies, programs, curricula, methodologies, and teaching methods. A committee of early education experts from throughout the world sorts, evaluates, judges, and masters the nominated works.
From his part, Hamid Ibrahim reviewed the nomination mechanisms for the fields offered in Khalifa Award for the eighteenth session 2024-2025, through the Award’s developed website, through which potential candidates can communicate with the award around the clock, and even view the winning works in previous sessions and benefit from the experiences of the winners in various fields, and view the positive impact they have made in the educational and teaching field in their institutions.
The meeting included an open discussion between the award delegation and the attendees from academics, university professors and teachers, who praised the role and message of Khalifa Award and its contribution to spreading the culture of excellence as a specialized award in educational affairs at the local, Arab and international levels.
Discussing joint cooperation
The delegation of the General Secretariat of the Award also met with Dr. Fahad Al-Fadhli, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Nasser Faisal Al-Tanak, Acting Vice President for Research. During the two meetings, the frameworks of joint cooperation between the Award and Kuwait University were reviewed, and faculty members and researchers were encouraged to participate in the nomination for the award, which enhances the culture of excellence in the educational and academic field.
Delegation visits UAE Embassy in Kuwait
The representatives from the General Secretariat of the Award engaged in a meeting with Dr. Matar Hamed Al Neyadi, the esteemed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the State of Kuwait, at the embassy’s headquarters. The delegation presented the ambassador with a thorough summary of the purpose and objectives of the Award, as well as the various fields it encompasses, while also conveying their gratitude for the embassy’s support in ensuring the success of their mission in Kuwait.
Dr. Matar Hamed Al Neyadi conveyed his admiration in the contributions of the Khalifa Award for Education in fostering excellence within the educational process across local, regional, and international spheres.
Concluding the visit, the delegation graciously presented the Award’s shield to the UAE Ambassador.