Page 46 - Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals

United for Smart Sustainable Cities
Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals

1 Introduction

1.1 Background
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum — Vice President and Prime Minister of the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Ruler of Dubai — has always been an advocate of continuous and ongoing
improvements in the UAE. As Prime Minister, he envisioned a future for the UAE to be among the most
recognized countries in the world. He voiced his goal back in 2010 when he declared the UAE Jubilee Year,
2021, as the year the UAE Vision would be realized. The UAE Vision 2021 is a representation of six national
priorities which include a cohesive society and preserved identity, a safe public and fair judiciary, a
competitive knowledge economy, world class healthcare, sustainable environment and infrastructure, and
most importantly, a first-rate education system.
As a response to this vision, he launched the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program (MBRSLP) in
2012 by Ministerial Decree No. 25. The MBRSLP is a joint venture between the Ministry of Education (MoE)
and the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in cooperation with the Prime Minister's office
of the UAE. It aims to raise the educational standards of the nation to meet international standards, while
setting new precedents in smart learning worldwide. The programme presents a comprehensive approach
inclusive of students, teachers, parents and principals to work collaboratively to build future leaders.
Similarly, the programme works hand in hand with the vision of the Ministry of Education to ensure that the
education system is constantly evolving and up to date with global changes and SDG 4 . The programme
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integrates modern technology and innovative teaching methodologies with traditional tools to transform the
education system into a dynamic and interactive learning experience for educators and students alike.

1.2 Challenge and response

UAE is one of the many nations seeking to reform and improve its educational system. During recent years,
the UAE has made advancements in providing quality education, however, significant challenges remain.
There is an urgent need to improve the educational achievement of students in UAE’s public schools in order
to make the education system one of the best in the world.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program was established to raise the level of the students’
educational achievements to meet and exceed international standards. The programme offers multimode
integration of teaching by integrating technology and key stakeholders into the students’ educational
development. By using smart education solutions, teachers, classrooms, students, parents and principals are
equipped with the right tools to help them connect with each other, achieve an improved learning experience
and reach nationwide KPIs and targets.

2 The project(s)

2.1 Vision and content

The vision behind this project is to create a cohesive, innovative nation valuing its cultural heritage in which
Emiratis will inclusively, skilfully and creatively shape the future of UAE. The programme offers a modern way
of teaching through the integration of technology into the educational system.

Several world indices such as Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and Program
for International Student Assessment (PISA), along with national level indices such as the Arabic skills of
secondary school students and the quality of students, have been used to support the UAE Vision 2021. The
programme aims to address these indices by increasing the quality and outreach of education to ensure more
students receive better education by leveraging integrated technology into the improved curriculums. In

35 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

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