Abu Dhabi: A range of activities will be held at Abu Dhabi’s public and private educational institutes to mark UAE Innovation Week that starts today (November 20), the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) announced in a statement sent today.
“[We want to encourage children to] carry out research activities, and motivate them to read and investigate [in order to] enhance innovation in a variety of areas. This would also turn Abu Dhabi schools into hubs of innovation,” said Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, director-general at Adec, the emirate’s education sector regulator.
During the week, students, teachers and parents will be exposed to a number of exhibits, workshops, seminars and contests.
A number of private schools have already kicked off a forum to discuss innovative projects. On the other hand, public school students enrolled in Grades 10 to 12 will this week visit TechShop Abu Dhabi, a workshop space that provides access to tools and materials for design, crafts, computation and building.
In addition, November 22 will be marked as Innovation Day at all schools to highlight creativity, and to involve students in activities that promote innovations.
A manufacturing and engineering competition is also being organised by Adec, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Government-owned investment firm Mubadala. The Make It contest will be held on Monday (November 21) at Khalifa University and on Wednesday (November 23) at UAE University. The event will bring together 190 students enrolled in Grades 7 and 8 to work in teams and create, cost and market a new product.
At Khalifa A School, students enrolled in Grades 3 to 5 will have a chance to experience Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning through hands-on design challenges. Participants will have to use simple materials to solve problems. The contest will be held in the evening on Monday (November 21).
In addition, the Abu Dhabi Science Festival is also running in Umm Al Emarat park in the capital, and Al Ain Zoo, in a bid to create curiosity and interest in STEM education and innovation.