Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) has launched the Master of Education in Gifted and Talented Education program, which will be implemented this fall 2021.The program is part of HBMSU’s effortsto equipeducators with advanced knowledge and skills so they cantrain students with exceptional talent, creativity, and determination. This is the first master’s degree in Arabic and is the only one in the UAE to be dedicated to developing the gifted and talented and is fully accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education. The program offers an exceptional opportunity to restructure the role of academia who works in the education sector to empowerbrillianttalentsto reshape the future,in line withthe directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, which is aimed at developing innovators to build a generation armed with science and knowledge.
The program, which is being offered for the first time in the UAE, adopts the ‘flexible learning’ approach, which is based on providing a ‘fully smart learning’, in a bid to establish a system capable of enabling the sector todetect and nurture talented individuals. To design this program, HBMSU created a smart and innovative method in detecting gifted and talented people, developing their capabilities, and nurturing them optimally hat keeps pace with 21st-century trends. The move aims to prepare generations of learners who can lead in terms of innovation and creative entrepreneurship, and re-engineer the future to achieve progress in all sectors in the UAE and the Arab world. The program falls within the postgraduate level, consisting of 12 specialized courses that enable graduates to take the lead to develop, execute, and assess original and modern research and produce creative projects, as well as design practical programs that can creatively and untraditionally address real-life issues related to this vital area.
Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, HBMSU Chancellor, said:“The launch of the new program is an outstanding achievement that strengthens HBMSU’s position as a driving force to enhance readiness to the future by investing in creative minds and young talents. It will promote quality education following the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the University, to empower promising talents, young minds, and entrepreneurs to excel ininnovation and other intellectual and creative spheres, to play their key roles in ensuringa safer and more prosperous future for all.”
Al Awar added: “Our unique program is a result of the UAE’s unremitting efforts, which has been pioneering in quality education by ensuring the standard of educational outcomes and providing commendable training facilities to teachers and learners, thanks to the unlimited support of the wise leadership that pays great attention to education and training – the biggest bet in the nation’s journey towards leadership and progress.The importance of the program stems from being an ideal platform for all working in the education sector,includingteachers,supervisors in public and private schools, special educationspecialists, trainers in the aspect of creativity, innovation, and sustainable development, and developers of programs for thinking and learning skills.”
Prof. Nabil Baydoun, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in HBMSU, said “This will open promising prospects for us to continually develop rich academic content, preparing an innovative, creative, and qualified generation to keep pace with the developments of the times and meet the needs of the future. We take upon ourselves the responsibility of providing more high-qualityprograms that will reshapeboth the Arab and global education landscape according to the smart learning model. We will take advantage of our position as an academic trailblazer to transform our learners from mere recipients of knowledge into future entrepreneurs, innovators, decision-makers, and leaders.”
“This exclusive program, which is the first of its kind in the UAE, represents an important addition to the efforts of HBMSU to produce young generations with modern knowledge and advanced skills. As we roll out this program, we are keen on enhancingits flexibility by offering it in the Arabic language, and the opportunity to learn from anywhere and anytime, when it is most convenient for the learners. It allows them access to numerous University resources and top-notch academics, allowing learners to benefit from the opinions of experts and academics, recorded masterclasses, and other supplementary education materials available online,” he concluded.
The Master of Education in Gifted and Talented Education includes 12 structured and specialized courses, which will allow graduates to design and develop educational and guidance programs that promote thinking and learning and innovation skills. The program will qualify graduates to become teachers, trainers, psychological and educational supervisors, researchers or program developers in the education of gifted and talented people,as well as private education instructors. It will allow learners to design their own learning pathway relevant to their professional needs, with an exit opportunity with the Postgraduate Diploma in Gifted and Talented Education after completion of only two semesters.