The Al Qasimi Foundation spent 2017 giving back to our community, investing in our research and programmatic endeavors, while deepening our engagement in issues related to education, philanthropy, community development, the arts, and culture.
A study conducted at the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research revealed significant differences in fathers’ involvement across the region and a change over time in the role Arab fathers play in their children’s lives. It also demonstrated the important impact that involvement has on the self-esteem and educational attainment of children throughout their lives.
Year 4 pupils in the UAE are the best readers among their peers in the GCC and their literacy skills are only improving, according to the latest results of an international test. With the emirates having experienced significant education reforms in the past few years it is probably too early to judge the impact of their education reforms yet.
The Al Qasimi Foundation’s Hands on Learning (HOL) pilot program continues to positively impact male students at Saeed bin Jubair School for Boys in Ras Al Khaimah. For the last four years the program has been re-engaging students at risk of dropping out or disengaging from school. During the 2016-17 academic year, the program saw a 70% improvement in student attendance as well as substantial gains in students’ life skills development.
Every January the Al Qasimi Foundation issues its call for Faculty, Doctoral, and Seed Grant applications. While always happy to offer individual guidance and feedback, the grant awards committee has identified the top five things potential grantees should consider as they prepare their submissions. This list reflects applicants’ most frequently asked questions and the places proposals often lose points during review. Although the specifics are particular to the Al Qasimi Foundation’s grants, the general advice on how to approach tailoring proposals would hold true for many funders.
National programmes that involve fathers in their children’s education can help tackle boys’ underachievement in schools, new research has found.
A new report shows the UAE is ranked highest in the Gulf for gender equality, while regionally the gap is widening. The report examines equality across ed attainment, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment across 144 countries, and includes an index that ranks women¹s status against men.
The UAE’s Vision 2021 has eight pillars of development for achieving a ‘first-rate education system’, which include increasing student performance on international assessments such as PISA and TIMSS.
Given the success and momentum created from its annual Ras Al Kahimah Fine Arts Festival, the Al Qasimi Foundation has officially announced Arts & Culture as its fourth priority area. The new priority area joins Education, Health & Well-being, and Urban Planning & Community Development as a primary focus for the organization.
Cultural awareness can be the key to fostering classroom engagement and building positive relationships with students, ultimately making teachers’ jobs easier. It also helps teachers build constructive, collaborative relationships with their colleagues, school administrators, and parents. For new educators in the UAE, the importance of cultural awareness cannot be underestimated.