The Ministry of Education has won the World Summit on the Information Society Award 2022, for the "Emirati School Smart Learning Ecosystem" project, in the E-Learning Category, which represents the UAE's leadership in the educational sector, and crowns the Ministry's efforts in the field of innovation and sustainability. The Emirati smart learning system is an integrated system that depends on educational frameworks, support solutions, and innovative educational solutions, some of which rely on artificial intelligence.

The award's results have added to the value of the development achieved by the educational system in the country, thanks to the wise leadership that harnessed all capabilities and efforts to advance the development process in this vital sector, and the fruitful cooperation and solidarity between our students, parents, and teachers. The " Emirati School Smart Learning Ecosystem" project garnered more than 1.3 million votes, the highest number in its category, in addition to its accreditation by experts involved in the award, to be among the best five projects that were voted on before the award was announced.

We believe in the need for positive change and continuous development, especially in the education sector, which is witnessing rapid changes and multiple paths of development in different countries around the world. This requires all segments of society to maintain flexibility and to keep pace with those paths, as the UAE will not settle for anything less than the first place at all levels, especially after the prestigious position it has achieved globally, and its successive achievements in all sectors.

The vision of the Ministry of Education involves utilizing the latest technological methods, within the various sectors and departments of education, such as resources, platforms, educational methods, and the development of specialized curricula, which address the axes of technology, including computer science, programming, and digital skills, and fostering educated and innovative generations, with a modern educational system and providing them with 21st-century skills, in addition to empowering teachers with all the necessary modern tools because they continue to be the mainstay of the development of education.

Aided by the vision of the wise leadership, the UAE has always been a role model in pioneering initiatives, with technical solutions and qualitative innovations to serve humanity and fulfill future needs, achieve strategic goals and sustain development and prosperity. This is where integrated smart learning comes in to create a unique learning environment in schools and introduce smart classes, electronic curricula, technical and scientific content, and modern technology.

The UAE continues to move forward in the path of leadership and development in various fields, especially the education sector, where the UAE looks to the future under the directives of the wise leadership, by applying the best capabilities and practices, to enhance its pioneering and innovative position on the global map, in line with the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan, by employing artificial intelligence and its applications, as well as advanced digital technology, and focusing on the sustainability and prosperity of the future knowledge-based economy, and investing in human development.

Written by HE Dr.Hamad Al Yahyaei

Assistant Undersecretary for Curriculum Sector at the Ministry of Education