Al Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF) has announced its partnership with World Class Scholars (WCS) to launch the Global Classroom #1, at Deira International School (DIS), governed and operated by Al Futtaim Education Foundation.
Global Classroom #1 is the first permanent global classroom that will allow teachers and students from around the world to connect, learn, and share in real-time. The programme is currently available in 67 countries and aimed at providing cultural and educational exchange opportunities for students in grades 1-12.
Through this partnership, Al Futtaim Education Foundation is committed to fulfilling the UAE Centennial Vision 2071, offering foresight and future-facing education. This launch follows the successful collaboration of World Class Scholars with the Al Futtaim Education Foundation at the UAE’s EXPO 2020 Dubai, where WCS was demonstrated as the classroom of the future, focusing on cultural understanding.
Ms Mira Al Futtaim, Director of Education Futures at the Al Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF) and a member of the AFEF Board, said: “We are excited to launch Global Classroom #1, a space where classrooms from schools across the UAE will meet up virtually with classrooms in other countries. Al Futtaim Education Foundation aims to provide novel ways of educating children through collaborations with like-minded individuals and organisations regionally and globally, like World Class Scholars.”
She added: “The WCS programme at EXPO 2020 was one of those collaborations that enabled us to demonstrate the classroom of the future, particularly for cultural understanding. We are thrilled to partner with WCS to take this initiative forward by setting up Global Classroom #1, a natural development of the EXPO 2020 partnership.”
Phil Noble, Founder of World Class Scholars, added, “The WCS platform is designed to equip students with the skills required to operate efficiently in the interconnected global marketplace of the 21st century. It enables students to learn new technology, collaborate on large projects, work with people from different cultures and backgrounds, and receive a WCS Diploma given by the South Carolina Department of Education in the United States upon completion of the term.
The platform makes it easy for teachers to integrate WCS into their study plan and offers Microsoft tools, Microsoft Innovator Teacher certification, and professional development credits. WCS is focused on exposing students to the broader world, expanding their cultural horizons, and engaging them in cross-border projects with their peers. This partnership with Al Futtaim Education Foundation will enable us to advance this vision and create an enriching educational experience for students worldwide.”
Al Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF) is an initiative the Al Futtaim family launched to support the UAE Government’s and Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA) vision for creating a globally competitive knowledge economy while maximising their social contribution to the community.
World Class Scholars (WCS) is an independent foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The project began at the College of Charleston and has developed pilot projects in 67 countries.
