Abu Dhabi Education Council gears up for launch of First International School Leadership Conference.

Abu Dhabi Education Council gears up for launch of First International School Leadership Conference

Conference to focus on global best practices and importance of creating framework to improve student performance

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the independent corporate body tasked to develop education and educational institutions in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, has announced that it is geared up to launch the First International School Leadership Conference that begins on Sunday, April 20, 2008, at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, under the theme "Achieving Excellence in School Leadership Practices". More than 29 international education experts, in addition to over 700 school principals will be participating in the conference, which will also be attended by several dignitaries and prominent education-sector representatives from the UAE and abroad.

Mubarak Al-Shamesi, Director General, ADEC, who held a meeting recently with the working committee members of the conference to be updated with the status of preparations, said that the event will serve as an opportunity for everyone related to the UAE's education sector to discuss various aspects of education at the local and international level. He said that the conference will emphasize on the importance for schools to have a far-sighted vision, in line with the rapid growth of Abu Dhabi, and is certain that the participants will benefit from the best practices and experiences presented by the international speakers.

"The conference will discuss the professional growth of staff in the education sector, as steady career progression is vital for teachers and administrators alike. The presence of international experts along with school administrators and people concerned with the development of education in the country will pave the way for formation of crucial partnerships, which eventually will lead to a higher level of educational excellence in schools," said Mubarak Al-Shamesi.

"The theme of the conference, "Achieving Excellence in School Leadership Practices", underlines that the conference covers all elements of the education spectrum, right from the principal to the student, who is considered as the nucleus of the education process, the school leadership and the education system as a whole. This will be highlighted through various presentations that will be made by the participating experts at the conference. Moreover, the event will see a framework for school principals and teachers being discussed, which is aimed at enhancing student performance," he added.

Al-Shamesi also pointed out that organising this conference in Abu Dhabi will provide an opportunity for international participants, who will be representing world-class educational institutions, to be familiar with Abu Dhabi's education policies and the progress made by the emirate in this sector, especially since the Abu Dhabi government has expressed its commitment to educate nationals in line with global standards.

"Improving our educational system is fundamental to developing our youth, who will be future leaders of the country. Accordingly, it is imperative to adopt latest systems and practices to ensure that the students are ready for the process of nation building, and we also believe that school principals and the staff have a vital role to play in this regard. We expect participants in this conference to find the event extremely insightful and enlightening, which in turn will help them boost productivity and performance of their institutions," concluded Al-Shamesi.

Invitations to the conference were extended to all educational councils, educational zones and public and private school principals and vice principals. The discussions during the conference will be held in Arabic and English languages, and advanced equipments will be used to ensure maximum audience participation.

[c] 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)