Abu Dhabi Education Council launches landmark First International School Leadership Conference.

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 during a press conference held today (Sunday, April 06, 2008) at the Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi, that it will soon be holding the First International School Leadership Conference.

The pioneering and prestigious international conference will be held on April 20, 2008, at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The conference, the first of its kind to gather school leaders, professionals, parent representatives and other stakeholders, intends to elevate Abu Dhabi's educational systems to international standards and highlight Abu Dhabi's progressive education initiatives and strategies to the global community. It particularly targets the professional growth of principals and vice principals in government schools.

To be held under the main theme "Achieving Excellence in School Leadership Practices", the conference will welcome more than 700 principals from Abu Dhabi to attend discussions on school leadership best practices, trends and issues, led by over 20 international experts from seven countries. Professor John Edward Sexton, President of New York University (NYU), the Benjamin Butler Professor of Law and the Dean Emeritus of the NYU Law School will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Ken Boston, Chief Executive of the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, will deliver a focus presentation after lunch.

Mubarak Al-Shamesi, Director General, ADEC, said: "This pioneering conference will strengthen and expedite local and national efforts to elevate the quality of our educational system, particularly at the primary and secondary levels, to the highest international standards. It will be an excellent opportunity for Abu Dhabi to showcase the progressive and productive reforms it has made to its government schools to enhance standards and thus boost productivity. Our event also fully complements the broader three-year UAE Federal Government Strategy, which includes Social Development as one of its six key areas."

The conference's five track sessions include "Achieving Excellence through Certification Systems and Standards"; "School Leadership Global Trends"; " School Engagement and Partnership Strategies"; "Professional Development as a Way of Sustaining Excellence in School Leadership"; and "Inclusion Strategies and Special Needs Student Development Initiatives". Principals from other emirates and various private schools have confirmed their participation to the event, which also offers an important networking platform for UAE school principals and professionals.

"We acknowledge the importance of strong school leadership in realising our vision for our schools. Through this conference, we aim to provide our educational leaders with fresh and valuable insights on how they can better direct their respective institutions to excellence and sustainability. The development and welfare of students, who will become our nation's future pillars, are our primary and utmost concern," concluded Al-Shamesi.

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