The Covid-19 pandemic is accelerating the shift to distance learning in the UAE, with massive potential for the nation to become a regional hub for education technology (EdTech), according to a new report.
The global EdTech market is expected to be worth $40 billion by 2022, according to Valustrat, a Dubai consultancy and advisory group.
Continued distance learning initiatives in the UAE after Covid-19 could help centralise some of this market potential locally, according to the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF).
“Had the crisis not occurred, this change might well have taken years of planning, prototyping and other steps before being implemented,” the DFF said in a statement.
“In effect, this phase could be seen as a pilot project.”
Regulators should use the experience to develop and improve platforms for distance learning, the foundation added, emphasising there was significant potential for instruction to become more personalised, focusing on the specific needs and interests of each student.
More than 775 million school children have been affected by school closures around the world as a result of Covid-19.
On March 22 in the UAE, distance learning began across all emirates and last week the decision was made to close all schools and universities through to the end of the academic year, affecting nearly 1.1 million pupils in the country's schools – and their parents.
To support them, the UAE’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has launched a new platform called 'In This Together', which is a new resource aimed at helping the education community take full advantage of online and distance learning.
During the Covid-19 outbreak, the DFF predicts that in the short-term, new guidelines, regulations and platforms will be created to accommodate the high demand for distance learning.
“It is already clear that education technology start-ups are benefiting as more and more students are moving towards online learning currently,” the report said.
As the world recovers from Covid-19, the DFF predicts regulatory bodies in education may begin setting up more ambitious overhauls of traditional schooling, developing innovative solutions such as training interested parents as teachers.
Officials said the believed that as out-of-classroom learning became more widespread, students and parents would become more involved in designing both learning tools and the teaching curricula.
The DFF has already published research on “life after Covid-19” as part of efforts to explore the future of work and learning, including the impact of physical distancing.
The intention is to help Dubai and the UAE better navigate and anticipate the future in light of the current global health pandemic, through highlighting opportunities and providing recommendations.
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- 600-seat auditorium
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 1
Mata 11'
Chelsea 1
Alonso 43'
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Overall standings
1. Christopher Froome (GBR/Sky) 68hr 18min 36sec,
2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 0:18.
3. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:23.
4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:29.
5. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 1:17.
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)
RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
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Don’ts
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
