DUBAI, President Ivan Duque Marquez of Colombia met with officials representing the Digital School initiative, a global project led by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), as the charitable organisation launched its first Digital Learning Centre in Colombia.
The Centre is part of MBRGI’s effort to benefit over 4,000 students in Colombia with access to world-class online learning resources.
Briefing Marquez on the initiative, the MBRGI team shared how the organisation and the Digital School’s efforts seek to provide students in disadvantaged regions of the world with learning opportunities and promote the education ecosystem in Colombia.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Orange Economy Summit held in Medellin, Colombia, an event aiming to stimulate the innovation economy through technology innovation and culture.
The inauguration of the first Colombian digital learning centre took place in the presence of Salem Rashid Al Owais, UAE Ambassador to Colombia. A number of meetings were held with officials in Colombia to support the implementation of digital school programmes and initiatives, consolidating the results achieved in supporting the education and technology sector and development of digital learning in Colombia.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Digital School, stated that the UAE adopts modern technology and disruptive digital solutions, offering learning opportunities for students worldwide through its global initiative “Digital School,” which enhances developments efforts across the world.
Al Olama added that the inauguration of the centre provides new opportunities in education for students through innovative practices, intelligent and flexible technologies to empower them and enhance their readiness for the future. This helps support efforts aiming to keep pace with digital transformation in Colombia and explore new opportunities that contribute to positive change across various sectors, which are vital for improving people’s lives and building a better future for future generations.
During the Digital School delegation’s visit to Colombia to follow up on the implementation of programmes and initiatives and discuss the means to promote cooperation in digital education in Columbia, Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary-General and Board Member of the Digital School, met with Tito Crissien, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Colombia, and discussed ways to provide advanced science and innovation materials to Colombian students through the Digital School.
He also met with the Colombian Minister of Culture Angelica Mayolo, to discuss collaborations in digital education.
A further meeting with Maria del Rosario, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Communications Affairs, discussed the implementation of internet access to support Digital School Centres, particularly in rural areas.
The delegation also held a meeting with Juan Carlos Saldarriaga, Mayor of Soacha, to discuss the work of the Digital School in Soacha and the potential for expansion of new sites. Another meeting was held with Juan Pablo, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture at the Municipality of Medellín.
Moreover, the delegation met with Mireille Girard, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Colombia. These meetings contributed to strengthening the support provided to the Digital School and its plans for the development of digital learning platforms in Colombia.
Dr. Al Ali said that the Digital School contributes to reducing the challenges faced by Colombian families, helps keeping up with the digital economy and education, and provides integrated educational support to students and teachers by providing them with 21st-century competencies, as well as learning independence to empower them with different digital skills, in cooperation with local and international teams of experts and specialists in educational systems and educational strategies design.
Al Owais, in turn, praised the efforts of the Digital School and the MBRGI in launching such global projects, pointing out that the digital school adopts many types of education based on the needs of the beneficiary countries, in addition to providing certificates recognised by the Ministry of Education in the target country, as per different standards and requirements.
The centre provides students and learners with modern tablet devices, displays, and internet access. A specialised hall has been equipped with the latest smart technologies to help students benefit from the services of the Digital School.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by government and local officials, including Luis Armando Soto, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Jose Maria Leton, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education in the Department of Cundinamarca; Jennifer Manuel Seatuba Barbosa, Mayor of Guacheta Municipality; and Rafael Roso, Director of the School of Minya and the School of Ticha.
Since the announcement of the partnership with Colombia, the Digital School has enrolled 4,000 students from 27 public schools, in addition to training 210 teachers on digital teacher competencies within the training programme implemented in cooperation with the Arizona State University. These competencies focus on enhancing 21st-century skills such as learning autonomy, digital skills, and strategies to enhance students’ math and language skills.
Teachers will receive a digital education accreditation in the field of digital education through the University of Arizona (ASU), while educational support will be provided through a local team of experts in education and educational strategies improvement for teachers for the 21st century on an ongoing basis.
The digital school will also expand the partnership to reach a larger number of beneficiaries and prepare additional digital learning centres as the school plans to have 20,000 students and 800 teachers by 2023, an increase of five times compared to the first year.
The Digital School focuses on supporting the digital transformation of education in Colombia and helping students keep pace with development, particularly with major challenges in the educational and digital fields. According to the National Statistics Service, only 38% of Colombian families have a computer or tablet, of whom only 52% have Internet access. The national technology access rate in schools is 8 students per computer, 6 in Cundinamarca, 8 in Itagui, 16 in Soacha, only 37% have internet access, and only 55.5% of Colombian students have teachers with technical and educational skills to use technology in the classroom.
The Digital School, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in November 2020, is the first integrated digital school. It aims to empower students with digital learning options in remote and developing areas and regions where students do not have the appropriate conditions or the capabilities students need to pursue their education.
It also provides a qualitative option for blended learning and distance learning smartly and flexibly, allowing students to join regardless of their locations, primarily targeting the most vulnerable and less fortunate community groups, refugees, and displaced persons, through modern educational materials and curricula that benefit from technology and advanced technology applications.
Source: Emirates News Agency