Ras Al Khaimah in Malaysia
In April 2015, 12 educators from Ras Al Khaimah government schools visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as part of the Foundation’s Teacher Exchange Program. For this exchange cycle, the Ras Al Khaimah Teacher Exchange Program partnered with the Malaysian Ministry of Education.
Before travelling to Southeast Asia to conduct their research, educators participated in workshops designed to equip them for their journey. Foundation staff guided participants through the process of preparing to collect field data on educational topics such as teaching with technology, strategies for teaching English as a second language, and differentiation in the classroom. In addition, teachers learned about Malaysian culture and were coached in cross-cultural communication as part of their preparation.
In Kuala Lumpur, the U.A.E. delegation was able to visit a primary school, secondary school, vocational school, and teacher-training institute. During these visits, participants were able to observe the pedagogical dimension of Malaysian education and interview teachers and students as part of their research. The UAE's Ambassador to Malaysia also welcomed the group to Kuala Lumpur and shared his own insight into the educational system there.
Upon their return to the Emirates, participants analyzed their data and presented their research to colleagues across the emirate, from Al Dhait to Al Munaei. A comprehensive report of the exchange is available here: 2015 Ras Al Khaimah Teacher Exchange Program (Malaysia) Report