The Fourth International Educational Conference
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Opportunities and Challenges to Enhance the Future of Education in the Gulf Countries
Introduction
Dr. Mohammed Al Sharija
GASERC Director
We are pleased to welcome you to GASERC’s 4th International Educational Conference, under the theme "Transforming Education: Opportunities and Challenges to Enhance the Future of Education in the Gulf Countries". The conference will be held under the patronage of His Excellency Prof. Nader Abdullah Al-Jallal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Acting Minister of Education in Kuwait. This conference comes at a critical time, requiring all of us to rethink how we prepare future generations to face the challenges of the new era. We live in a world experiencing rapid technological advancements and profound shifts in the economy and society, which necessitates a reformulation of the education system to meet the demands of the 21st century. Our goal is to equip our children with the capabilities to innovate and adapt to the radical changes happening globally.
This conference is not just a platform for discussion, but an invitation for collaborative action among various educational stakeholders—experts, academics, policymakers, and practitioners. Our primary goal through this conference is to explore ways to transform education in the Gulf countries, aligned with national priorities and global trends in education, to equip our children with the knowledge, skills, and values that enable them to succeed in life and work, and to achieve the sustainable development goals for their communities. We also aim to discuss innovative solutions for digital transformation in education and offer new insights into how to integrate modern technology, life skills, and human values to build sustainable and advanced societies. We will also explore the necessary shifts in educational policies to support and empower teachers to lead educational development efforts effectively, and review the policies and actions required to improve the efficiency of educational spending to enhance governance and quality indicators within the educational system. Read More
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Themes
Sessions
Speakers
Participants
WorkShops
About Confernce
Context
GASERC is holding its 4th International Educational Conference from November 5-6, 2024, under the title "Transforming Education: Opportunities and Challenges to Enhance the Future of Education in the Gulf Countries." This conference is a response to the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit held during the United Nations Week in September 2022, and the Summit of the Future held at UN Headquarters in September 2024, which includes a discussion on transforming education, to bring about a fundamental shift in how education is viewed and approached, including the purpose of education, the learning environment, the teaching profession, the digital transformation, investment in education, and multilateral support for quality education for all.
Objectives
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Discussing the Future of Education in the Gulf States in Light of Global Trends.
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Investigating the Impact of the " Transforming Education Summit " on the Educational Field in the Gulf States.
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Identifying Key Challenges Facing Education Systems in the Gulf States.
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Utilizing Educational Trends for the Future of Education Beyond 2030.
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Sharing Educational Experiences and Strengthening Cooperation Among Member States.
Participants
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Prominent speakers who specialize in the conference’s themes, representing leading educational and research institutions from various global regions.
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Educational leaders from the Gulf States, including undersecretaries of the Ministries of Education of ABEGS member states.
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Representatives from various regional and international organizations.
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Deans and professors from colleges of education across the Gulf States.
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Researchers, academics, and practitioners working in the field of education.
Conference Themes
Under the patronage of
His Excellency Jalal Sayed Abdulmuhsin Al-Tabtabei
Minister of Education in Kuwait
Prominent Attendees
Speakers
Prof. Leonardo Garnier
Former Minister of Education in Costa Rica, and Special Advisor of UN Secretary General for the 2022 Transforming Education Summit
Dr. Leonardo Garnier is a Costa Rican citizen, born in San José in 1955. He holds Bachelor and Licentiate of Economics from the University of Costa Rica, with an MA and a Ph.D. degree in Economics and Political Economy from the Graduate Faculty. Read more
Dr. Andreas Schleicher
Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills, (OECD)
Andreas Schleicher is Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He initiated and oversees the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other international instruments that have created a global platform for policy-makers, researchers and educators across nations and cultures to innovate and transform educational policies and practices. Read more
Renato Opertti
Senior Expert, UNESCO International Bureau for Education (IBE)
Mr. Renato Opertti holds a degree in sociology (UDELAR, Uruguay) and a master’s degree in educationalresearch (CIEP-Uruguay/IRDC-Canada). Opertti is a senior expert at the International Bureau of Education (UNESCO-IBE) where he contributes to IBE knowledge production, Read more
Dr. Hessa Hamad Al-Thani
Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Sciences, and Former Dean of the College of Education
Qatar University
Dr. Hessa Hamad Khalifa Al-Thani Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Sciences, she was Dean of the College of Education at Qatar University. Al-Thani is passionate about promoting holistic teaching, experiential learning. Read more
Prof. Fernando Reimers
Professor of International Education at Harvard University
Fernando M. Reimers is the Ford Foundation Professor of International Education and Director of the Global Education Innovation Initiative at Harvard University. His work focuses on how schools can empower students to participate in civic and economic life, contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As an elected member of the United States National Academy of Education and the International Academy of Education Read more
Prof. Najoua Fezza Ghriss
Higher Institute of Education and Continuous Training, University of Tunis
Najoua Fezzaa Ghriss is a Professor at the Higher Institute of Education and Continuous Training at the University of Tunis. Prof. Ghriss holds a PhD in Educational Sciences jointly from the University of Tunisia and the University of Louvain-La-Neuve in Belgium. She was Head of the Assessment in Education project at the Education, Cognition, Technologies and Read more
Dr. Lucy Bailey
Dean of Bahrain Teachers College
Associate Professor Dr Lucy Bailey is Dean of Bahrain Teachers College (BTC), part of the University of Bahrain. She holds a PhD from the University of Bristol, an MA and a PGCE from London University’s Institute of Education, and a BA from the University of Oxford. Dr Bailey is a highly experienced educational leader, who has developed professional development programmes to upskill teachers across Asia. Read more
Carlos Vargas-Tamez
Chief of Section of Teacher Development, UNESCO, and Head of the Secretariat of the International Taskforce on Teachers for Education 2030
Mr Carlos Vargas is a sociologist of education who specializes on global education policy. His research and publications focus on the relationship between education, human rights and well-being; the orientations and discourses of public policy and their effects on society. Read more
Dr. Ora Kwo
Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong
Ora Kwo served for over three decades in teacher education at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). She was/is driven by her aspiration to seek meanings of educational development in individual and society-wide environments, when she constantly crossed boundaries to extend her learning spaces. Read more
Prof. Aisha Salim
Al-Harthi
Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Administration at the College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman
Aisha Salim Al-Harthi is a professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Administration at the College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University. She holds a PhD in Adult Education Read more
Carlos Vargas-Tamez
Chief of Section of Teacher Development, UNESCO, and Head of the Secretariat of the International Taskforce on Teachers for Education 2030
Mr Carlos Vargas is a sociologist of education who specializes on global education policy. His research and publications focus on the relationship between education, human rights and well-being; the orientations and discourses of public policy and their effects on society Read more
Prof. Blaženka Divjak
Professor of Mathematics and Information Science, Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, and former Minister of Science and Education in Republic of Croatia
Professor Blaženka Divjak, PhD, is a full professor of Mathematics and a scientific advisor in Information Science at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics. She also heads the Laboratory for Learning Analytics and Academic Analytics. Read more
Prof. Fengchun Miao
Chief of the Unit for Technology and AI in Education, Education Sector, UNESCO
Dr Fengchun Miao is the Chief of the Unit for Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education at Education Sector, UNESCO Headqarters in Paris, he is also a Professor (on leave) of Beijing Normal University of China. He is leading programmes of the Education Sector of UNESCO on technology . Read more
Dr. Joseph South
Chief Innovation Officer at ISTE and ASCD
Dr. Joseph South is the Chief Innovation Officer at ISTE + ASCD. He is an internationally recognized educational technology leader focused on evidence-based learning transformation. Joseph leads cross-sector initiatives that include helping thousands of educators prepare the next generation of AI designers Read more
Dr. David Santandreu Calonge
Head of Educational Program Development, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Acting Director (Academic Development) and Head of Educational Program Development at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI, United Arab Emirates). Read more
Prof. Fayez Al-Dhafiri
Professor of Educational Technology in Kuwait University
Prof. Fayez Al-Dhafiri is a Professor of Educational Technology at Kuwait University. He has held a number of leadership positions at Kuwait University, including the position of University President and Dean of the College of Education. He also served as a Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in the United Kingdom. Read more
Prof. Mark Bray
UNESCO Chair Professor in Comparative Education at the University of Hong Kong, and Former Director of UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)
Prof. Mark Bray holds the UNESCO Chair in Comparative Education at the University of Hong Kong. He began his career as a teacher in Kenya and Nigeria, and then taught at the Universities of Edinburgh, Papua New Guinea and London before moving to Hong Kong in 1986 Read more
Dr. Fadila Caillaud
Practice Manager for the Education Practice in the MENA region at the World Bank
Fadila Caillaud is a Manager in the World Bank's Education Global Practice, responsible for the portfolios of 19 countries across the Middle East and North Africa. A French national, Fadila has over 20 years of experience leading and managing large-scale Human Development engagements and senior-level client relationships. She has worked in over 20 countries including low and middle income and fragile and conflict affected countries. Read more
Dr. Maciej Jakubowski
Associate Professor, Warsaw University, and Director of the Educational Research Institute, Poland
Maciej Jakubowski is a policymaker and researcher in education and labour market policy. He is director of the Education Research Institute in Poland, which is a national institution under the Ministry of Education responsible for data collection and analysis. Read more
Prof. Nayyaf R. Aljabri
CEO, Research Center for Assessment, Measurement, and Accreditation at the Education and Training Evaluation Commission
Professor Nayyaf Aljabri is an accomplished educational leader with extensive experience in education policy, leadership, and research. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Research Center for Assessment, Measurement, and Accreditation at the Education and Training Evaluation Commission. Read more
Dr. Nadia Al-Riahi
Assistant Professor at College of Education, Kuwait University
Dr. Nadia Jassim Al-Riahi is an Assistant Professor and Faculty Member at the College of Education, Kuwait University, majoring in Educational Technology. She obtained her BA from Kuwait University, majoring in English Language Teaching, before obtaining her MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Nottingham. Read more
Dr. Khalaf Al-Abri
Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Foundations and Administration, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Dr. Khalaf Al-Abri is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Foundations and Administration at the College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. He is a prominent academic figure in the field of educational policies and education systems in Oman Read more
Moderators
Prof. Abdulsalam Al-Joufi
Advisor at the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States
Dr. Intisar Al-Banna
Educational Supervision Advisor, Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Bahrain
Dr. Mona Al-Janahi
Deputy Dean of the College of Education, United Arab Emirates University
Dr. Subeh Al-Mukhizim
Faculty Member at the College of Engineering and Petroleum,
Kuwait Universit
Prof. Ibrahim Al-Humaidan
General Supervisor of the Education Research Center at Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
Conference Program
Day 1
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
08:00-08:45 Conference registration
08:45-09:15 Opening of the conference exhibition
Opening ceremony
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National anthem of the State of Kuwait
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The Holy Quran
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Speech by His Excellency Eng. Jalal Sayed Abdulmuhsin Al-Tabtabei, Minister of Education in Kuwait
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Speech by His Excellency Mr. Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
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Speech by His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Asimi, Director General of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS)
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Speech by His Excellency Dr. Salem Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO)
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Speech by Mr. Svein Oesttveit, UNESCO-IBE Director a.i.
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Speech by Dr. Mohamed Al Sharija, Director of the Gulf Arab States Educational Research Center (GASERC)
09:15-10:00
Keynotes
Dr. Leonardo Garnier, Former Minister of Education in Costa Rica, and Special Advisor of UN Secretary General for the 2022 Transforming Education Summit
Topic: Education challenges in a global, unequal and uncertain world
Dr. Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Topic: The future of education: insights from PISA and OECD research evidence (via video)
10:00-10:20
10:20-10:35
10:35-10:50 Break
Plenary Session (1):
Goals of education: knowledge, skills and values for life, work and sustainable development
Moderator: Prof. Ibrahim Al-Humaidan, General Supervisor of the Education Research Center at
Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
Renato Opertti, Senior Expert at UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education
Topic: Transformative curriculum and pedagogy to support a renewed vision of education and society
Dr. Hessa Al-Thani, Assistant Professor at the Department of Educational Sciences, and Former Dean of the College of Education, Qatar University
Topic: Toward a Fulfilling Life for Building Sustainable Educational Environments
Prof. Fernando Reimers, Professor of International Education at Harvard University
Topic: Educating Students for a better future (via video)
Dr. Najoua Ghriss, Professor at Higher Institute of Education and Continuous Training, University of Tunis
Topic: Goals of education: knowledge, skills and values for life, work and sustainable development
10:50-11:10
11:10-11:30
11:30-11:50
11:50-12:10
12:10-12:20 General Discussion
12:20-12:50 Coffee Break
Plenary Session (2):
Teaching Profession: teacher support policies to lead education transformation
Moderator: Dr. Subeh Al-Mukhizim, Faculty Member at the College of Engineering and Petroleum,Kuwait University
Dr. Lucy Bailey, Dean of Bahrain Teachers College
Topic: The Teaching Career: teacher support policies to lead education transformation
Dr. Ora Kwo, Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong
Topic: Opportunities for teacher development: Bridging the Gap between knowledge and practice
Carlos Vargas-Tamez, Chief of Section of Teacher Development, UNESCO,Head of the Secretariat of the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030
Topic: UNESCO/TTF Global Report on Teachers: Improving the attractiveness of teaching by reforming teacher career structure
Prof. Aisha Al-Harthi, Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Administration at the College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman
Topic: The Teaching Profession: Policies Supporting Teachers to Lead Educational Transformation
12:50-13:10
13:10-13:30
13:30-13:50
13:50-14:10
14:10-14:25 General Discussion
14:25-16:30 Lunch Break
Participants in the roundtable:
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Conference speakers
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Education Officials from Gulf Countries
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Representatives of International and Regional Educational Organizations
Roundtable Discussion on:
Challenges of transforming education and enhancing the future of education in the Gulf countries
Moderator:
Prof. Abdul Salam Al-Joufi,
Advisor, the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States
16:30-18:30
Workshop on:
Applications of artificial intelligence in education
Workshop speaker:
Dr. Nadia Al-Riyahi,
Faculty Member, College of Education, Kuwait University
16:30-18:30
Day 2
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Keynotes
Dr. Moudhi Al-Humoud, Chairman of Abdullah Al-Salem University Administrative Board, and Former Minister of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research in Kuwait
Topic: Fourth Generation Education (EDU 4.0): From Digital Transformation to Artificial Intelligence
Prof. Blaženka Divjak, Professor of Mathematics and Information Science, Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, and former Minister of Science and Education in Republic of Croatia
Topic: Reimagining Education: What is the Role of Humans in the Era of AI?
09:30-09:50
09:50-10:10
Plenary Session (3):
Digital transformation in education: demands, opportunities and challenges
Moderator: Dr. Mona Al-Janahi, Deputy Dean of the College of Education, United Arab Emirates University
Prof. Fengchun Miao, Chief of the Unit for Technology and AI in Education, Education Sector, UNESCO
Topic: Human-centred AI in education: policies and competencies
Dr. Joseph South, Chief Innovation Officer at ISTE and ASCD
Topic: Transformational Learning Principles: Bridging Technology and Pedagogy in Modern Classrooms
Dr. David Santandreu Calonge, Head of Educational Program Development, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Topic: GenAI and the Future of Education in the Gulf Region
Prof. Fayez Al-Dhafiri, Professor of Educational Technology at Kuwait University
Topic: Digital Transformation in Education: Towards a Sustainable Education System
10:10-10:30
10:30-10:50
10:50-11:10
11:10-11:30
11:30-11:45 General Discussion
11:45-12:15 Coffee Break
:Plenary Session (4)
Financing of education and enhancing the efficiency of the educational system
12:50-12:20
Moderator: Dr. Intisar Al-Banna, Educational Supervision Advisor
Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Bahrain
Prof. Mark Bray, UNESCO Chair Professor in Comparative Education at the University of Hong Kong, and Former Director of UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)
Topic: Supplementing Schooling: Private Tutoring in the Gulf Countries and Beyond
Dr. Fadila Caillaud, Practice Manager for the Education Practice in the MENA region at the World Bank
Topic: Stronger and Smarter investments in MENA countries
Dr. Maciej Jakubowski, Associate Professor, Warsaw University, and Director of the Educational Research Institute, Poland
Topic: Education, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in GCC countries
Prof. Nayyaf Al-jabri, CEO, Research Center for Assessment, Measurement, and Accreditation, Saudi Arabia
Topic: The Economic Value of Improving the Quality of Education in the Arab Gulf States
12:15-12:35
12:35-12:55
12:55-13:15
13:15-13:35
13:35-13:50 General Discussion
Closing Session
Dr. Khalaf Al-Abri, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Foundations and Administration, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Topic: The final statement of the conference
13:50-14:00
14:00-14:10 Closing address by Dr. Mohamed Al Sharija, Director of the Gulf Arab States Educational Research Center
Sponsors
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Publications
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