Creating a new generation of school leaders

Zayed University launches Masters of Education in Educational Leadership degree programme

Zayed University's Master of Education in Educational Leadership programme hopes to create a new generation of school leaders who will help reform the country's educational system.

The programme was launched recently at ZU's Abu Dhabi campus.

It will provide an academically supportive, collaborative, and rigorous learning environment in which candidates can think about and talk through ideas, ask interesting and provocative questions, engage in research, examine issues from multiple perspectives, exercise curiosity, and take action to improve educational and community learning environments and opportunities.

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Education and President of Zayed University, spoke at the ceremony and congratulated ZU on the launch of the programme.

He noted with satisfaction the partnerships forged with the University of Virginia and the US Embassy in the UAE for the programme and said they provide excellent opportunities for ZU's faculty and students to work with distinguished academics from various parts of the world.

"It represents the joining of Zayed University and the UAE schools in the common cause of building a world class, standards-based educational system in our country." he said.

He also added that ZU had become an important force in the economic, social, and educational development of the UAE.

Visiting American Professor David W. Breneman, dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, said: "We understand that your country is embarked on an ambitious programme to modernise your educational system, and the two key ingredients for success in that effort are well-prepared teachers and visionary educational leaders."

Dr Hanif Hassan, Vice-President of ZU, said the programme's main thrust was the development of leaders with the relevant knowledge, skills and disposition.

"It exemplifies an outcome-based model designed to ensure that students graduate with the ability to apply best practice in educational leadership to meet the changing needs of schools in the 21st century."

A range of technologies will be used to meet the diverse needs of participants. The programme will follow a flexible mode.

An action research theme linked to research methodologies will ensure that students work in teams to conduct case studies relevant to their own contexts.

One of the programme's first students is Omar Ahmad, Director of EDRAC, an organisation that provides teaching and development of talents and creative thinking.

"I have a degree in computer engineering and I felt that I needed a degree in education considering the nature of my job," Ahmad said.

An English teacher at the Abu Dhabi Naval Base has also joined the programme. Saif Al Naqbi said he felt that it is the duty of teachers and students to improve themselves through knowledge, especially in leadership.

"The USA is a developed country and we need this sort of cooperation, not to mention the experience," Al Naqbi said.

Mariam Al Mahmoud, a graduate from ZU's College of Communications and Media Sciences (CCMS), is currently working as an activities coordinator at a private school.

She said she had always wanted a career in education, and this programme is the way to achieve that. "I want to come back and work at ZU as a faculty member at CCMS," she said.

It consists of 12 courses for the specialisation of educational leadership.

The degree is awarded after students earn a total of 36 credits.

Specialisations include curriculum development, issues in educational and administrational leadership and educational research.

Admissions criteria: Degree prerequisite (at least a bachelor's), transcripts, English proficiency proof (TOEFL, IELTS), letter of sponsorship, recommendation letters, writing samples and technology expertise.

The programme is conducted in partnership with the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. The American university selects students who show exceptional promise and the potential to become future leaders.

The University of Virginia and the Curry School of Education are consistently ranked among the top institutions in the US.