Gulf Business: How this Dubai school is addressing the challenge of the future workplace

Gulf Business

Quantcast - GDPR Consent Solution
[Gulf Business]
How this Dubai school is addressing the challenge of the future workplace

Integrating the education sector with industry is key to creating the workforce of the future, says CEO of Dubai’s FirstPoint School
Gulf Business
Tuesday 18 June 2019


The UAE’s education sector is rapidly growing and evolving.

The country will require 150 additional schools by 2022 to cater to the growing number of children, according to a report released by research firm Alpen Capital.

The UAE’s student population is expected to reach 1.5 million by 2022, with enrolment stated to grow at 3.4 per cent.

Although the industry is booming, schools in the country continue to face some challenges.

“Relevance and providing an education that supports people throughout their lives is a major challenge,” opines Matthew Tompkins, the principal and CEO of GEMS FirstPoint School (FPS) in Dubai.

Providing an education that prepares children for the world of work is tough when it is difficult to predict what the future workplace will look like, he adds.

By 2025, more than half of all current workplace tasks will be performed by machines, according to the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs 2018 report.

However, 133 million new jobs are expected to be created by 2022 compared to 75 million that will be displaced, the report explained.

“Schools and their curricular offerings must reflect the current trends in industry and provide students with the softer skills that they will need to use on a daily basis to be successful at work,” explains Tompkins.

“Students need to learn to communicate effectively, support others through working as a team, develop a purposeful work ethic, and learn to lead, listen, be adaptable and flexible.

“Young people need to develop these skills both at school and in the workplace, and in both locations have access to industry experts who can support their development,” he adds.

The UAE has already started taking steps on a policy-level with the introduction of smart learning programmes, new teacher codes and licencing and evaluation systems, as well as curriculum revisions.

A key area of focus has been to transform K-12 programmes, to ensure that students are fully prepared to attend universities around the world and compete in the global marketplace.

Tompkins is spearheading his school’s transition towards this approach of education, with GEMS FPS now appointed the lead school for industry and school links as part of Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA) Rahhal programme.

“We are working in partnership with a number of globally and locally recognisable companies to provide a totally integrated and individualised curriculum for every student at our school,” he explains.

Students at the school begin integrating theory and practical knowledge from as young as five, with guidance from guest speakers, internships and supported learning programmes.

Although new for the region, the push to amalgamate education with industry has created positive ripples, with FPS seeing growing interest from corporates.

“We are still a relatively young school, and still have a way to go, but we are excited to lead this evolution of schooling and quickly become recognised as the best school in Dubai,” adds Tompkins.

To find out more about the school and the courses offered, click here
Also from our network
12 brilliant shows and concerts still to come in Dubai in 2019
Kylie Jenner championed this Kuwaiti designer in the new KUWTK promo shoot
These are Victoria Beckham's travel essentials and where to find them
EW Wrap: All of the stars who wore Arab and Dubai-based labels this week
ALSO READ
Dubai school rankings revealed, 45 now rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘very good’
Dubai school rankings revealed, 45 now rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘very good’
Dubai School To Close After Hiking Fees
Dubai School To Close After Hiking Fees
Dubai to see 120 school openings over the next decade
Dubai to see 120 school openings over the next decade
Dubai’s GEMS To Open Its First School In Qatar
Dubai’s GEMS To Open Its First School In Qatar
Gulf Capital Invests $30m In GCC School Operator EKI
Gulf Capital Invests $30m In GCC School Operator EKI
New British curriculum school in Dubai’s Remraam to open next year
New British curriculum school in Dubai’s Remraam to open next year
Only one Indian school in Dubai rated ‘outstanding’ by regulator KHDA
Only one Indian school in Dubai rated ‘outstanding’ by regulator KHDA
UAE’s Fortes to open new school in Jumeirah Village Triangle this year
UAE’s Fortes to open new school in Jumeirah Village Triangle this year
Lists
Top 100 GCC Companies 2018
Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2018
Top 50 GCC Banks 2017
Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs 2017
Top 100 GCC Companies 2016
Top 50 GCC Banks 2016
Advertisement
Most Read
Kuwait records world's highest temperature this week
Houthi missile attack on Saudi airport wounds 26
Saudi offers Jeddah festival visitors e-visas in 'three-minutes'
Young leaders: Midhat Mirabi, 35, GE Power’s VP – commercial, MENA
Global economy on leading edge of recession
Dubai welcomes India's first premium cruise ship Karnika
Saudi has no plans to permit public sale of alcohol - report
Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways appoints new CFO
Expats account for over 75% of the jobs in Saudi's labour market - report
Kuwaiti MP calls for expelling close to 2 million expats, urges remittance tax
Editor's Picks
Dubai's DIFC enacts new employment law, introduces paternity leave
Kuwaiti MP calls for expelling close to 2 million expats, urges remittance tax
Bahrain launches first phase of 'world’s largest' underwater theme park
Amazon Prime launches in the UAE
Sign up for our daily newsletter
Get the day’s biggest stories straight in your inbox
SUBSCRIBE
Advertisement

    Advertise With Us
    Privacy Policy
    Contact us
    Subscribe

Copyright © 2019 by Gulf Business.
Show