Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, GEMS Education enter strategic partnership on next edition of UAE Public Policy Forum

Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), and Dino Varkey, Managing Director and Board Member of GEMS Education, the largest operator of schools in the world, signed a strategic partnership agreement today.

The commitment to cooperation was announced on the sidelines of the inaugural UAE Public Policy Forum, hosted by the MBRSG on March 12 and 13. As part of the MoU, GEMS Education will support the Forum’s edition for 2018, following the success of the inaugural event.

Announcing the agreement, Dr Al Marri said: “Through initiatives like the UAE Public Policy Forum, Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government aims to further its mandate to advance effective public governance in Dubai, the UAE and the Arab world. Effective public policy starts with an exchange of best practices and formation of strategic partnerships. We are delighted to welcome GEMS Education onboard, as they are bringing in a global network and unrivaled expertise in operating top quality schools for the benefit of our audience. This partnership will go a long way towards helping the UAE build on its successes in the field of structuring an effective education policy.”

On behalf of GEMS Education, Dino Varkey said: “GEMS Education would like to commend the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government for a successful organization of the inaugural UAE Public Policy Forum. We have committed to supporting the future edition of the Forum, as it has facilitated an interactive, direct and effective dialogue between researchers, practitioners and policy makers. We are hoping to contribute to the Forum’s discussions with case studies from our own experience, in turn supporting the School’s work in the field of disseminating best practices in the region.”

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the two-day forum features various panel discussions among leading local and international education experts and specialists, as well as top decision makers in the field. Themed ‘Future Directions of Education Policy’, the event discusses challenges and opportunities for education policies in the UAE.

The forum is hosting His Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, Her Excellency Jameela bint Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, His Excellency Dr Ahmad bin Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr Essa Al Bastaki, President of University of Dubai, Dr David Johnson, Education Policy Specialist at Oxford University, Professor M Ramesh, UNESCO Chair on Social Policy Design in Asia, Dino Varkey, Managing Director of GEMS Education, and Frode Mauring, Resident Representative of UNDP.

The UAE Public Policy Forum has partnered with several organizations, including the UAE Ministry of Education, GEMS Education, Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance and United Nations Development Programme, to develop the framework of public education policies.

The forum is taking take place at Dubai World Trade Centre’s Sheikh Maktoum Hall from March 12 to 13. Those wishing to participate can register at the forum’s website http://uaepublicpolicyforum.ae/en/.