AP Facilitators Lead Informative Special Sessions for Advancing Education in Mideast

More than 250 teachers and university staff from over 70 educational institutions participated in the Mideast region’s first Advanced Placement Program^® (AP) Summer Institute for secondary teachers, organized the College Board at the Khalifa University of Science and Technology Main Campus from 25-29 August.

The series of specially designed summer workshops included a two-day AP Administrators and Coordinators’ session, four-day workshops in various AP academic subjects, and a five-day AP Seminar workshop. AP consultants, who are endorsed by the College Board, offered tips on how teachers can assist students during their transition from secondary school to university. Participants gained deeper insight into planning and teaching AP courses, as well as assessing student progress and engaging as members of the AP community.

AP facilitators hosted teacher development sessions on Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, English Language and Literature, Physics C (electricity, magnetism, and mechanics); and examined the pedagogical approach of AP Seminar, one of the newest AP courses. The AP Coordinator training, which covered administration of AP for schools, was also part of the program. College Board-trained Advanced Science Program (ASP) teachers from the UAE Ministry of Education attended some of the sessions.

“Interest in the Advanced Placement courses and exams is growing rapidly in the U.A.E and the Gulf region. This inaugural summer institute will help ensure even more classrooms in the Emirates and Middle East have trained AP teachers, who will in turn ensure more students are exposed to advanced coursework and leave secondary school university-ready,” said Paul Sanders, Executive Director, International, the College Board. “The core of AP is delivering university-level coursework in secondary school, and we were pleased to host these workshops at a world-renowned research institution like Khalifa University.”

Kicking off the workshops, Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Khalifa University, highlighted the importance of STEM education in the classroom – citing that over the next decade, 75% of all jobs will require STEM skills – and the need to adapt to a rapidly evolving academic landscape. Dr Al Shoaibi also emphasized Khalifa University’s commitment to creating new research and academic offerings in STEM fields and areas of strategic relevance to the UAE, such as artificial intelligence.

For each AP course, facilitators work with teachers to understand the skills and content needed to succeed in rigorous academic coursework. Additionally, facilitators are introducing teachers to the College Board’s new suite of AP classroom supports launched earlier at .

AP workshop and institute facilitators are trained and endorsed by the College Board to deliver high-quality learning experiences to AP teachers and coordinators all over the world. All AP facilitators also read AP examinations each year in June.

AP is an internationally recognized curricular program with 38 university-level courses, delivered in schools globally. Each course culminates in a rigorous, standardized exam that used for admissions by universities in the Gulf and worldwide.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
09 September 2019

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Stands Showcase Contributions Made by Founding Father and UAE’s Continuous Progress

The UAE’s elegant national colors and the flag adorned the Khalifa University campuses as students, faculty and staff joinedthe 47th UAE National Day celebrations that showed how the country has continuing on a path of great progress since its founding in 1971.

This year’s UAE National Day activities followed the theme of ‘This is Zayed. This is the UAE’, coinciding with ‘Year of Zayed’. Reflecting the theme, the evening’s festivities included heritage-led activities, that reflected the Emirati culture, traditional musical performances, local and international cuisine, as well as individual stalls portraying the leaders who played a critical role in the formation of the UAE federation and other historical events.

Welcoming the gathering, Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “UAE National Day commemorates not only the significant efforts of our leaders in creating the federation but also the great strides taken since then by the country in all walks of life. The vision of the past leaders and their wise stewardship have ensured that the country has remained on the progressive path and is at present one of the most modern economies in the world.This National Day’s activities signify our efforts to pay tribute to their valuable contributions and express our sincere gratitude to the current leadership for steering the country in line with the ambitions of the UAE Founding Father, the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”

A short film titled ‘What If He Was Here’ produced by MSc student Mohammed Abu Zant explored how theUAE Founding Father Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan would feel about the country’s current achievements and progress.

The student Literature Club led an activity and a special performance followed by a the Q&A Competition that focused on National Day, whichgenerated significant interest among the guests and students.

Among the other interesting activities, the Mars Puzzle Room provided visitors with an in-depth look into various features of the Red Planet.The UAE aims to landits space exploration probe mission on Mars in 2021, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE. Organized by the Khalifa University student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),the booth’s featured an Escape Room on the theme of the UAE’s Mars Mission 2020. Participants were required to solve a series of short puzzles to escape the room and complete the Mars Mission.

An ‘Astronaut-Diver’ booth showcased the determination of Emiratis who used to dive for pearlsfrom the Arabian Gulf in the past, and future Emiratis astronauts who will travel to space.The Art Booth captured the vivid imagination of various budding artists, illustrating their dreams and signifying their ambitions.

The ‘Sheikh Zayed Board’ portrayed the various characteristics of the Founding Father, and his immense contributions to developing the country into one of the most modern economies in the world. The booth ‘UAE Under the Light’ by the Happiness Club showcased developments sincethe UAE’s establishment and the country’s current progress. The ‘Wisdom From YOU’ booth organized by the Center for Teaching and Learning offered advice under “7 themes for 7 emirates”on how to manage a life-study balance, with thoughts from the late Sheikh Zayed.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
4 December 2018

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