EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION 167
A Harrison College student celebrates his journey at the college
Put learners at the centre, always. Start with individual strengths, interests, and sensory profiles. Build flexible, personalised pathways that combine accredited qualifications with life skills, wellbeing, and employability. Co‑design with families and employers. Create a triangle of support: learner- family-workplace. Involve parents/ carers in goal‑setting and partner with local businesses to offer real, supported internships that lead to sustained outcomes, not just short placements. Make enterprise a habit, not a module. Embed entrepreneurship throughout the curriculum - micro‑business projects, real customers, and responsibility for budgets and delivery. Enterprise builds confidence, communication, and problem‑solving in authentic contexts. Design transitions as projects, start early. Plan pathways into work or further study from day one. Use supported internships, job‑coaching, and employer mentors. Prepare learners (and workplaces) for success with reasonable adjustments and clear communication. Build a community, not a programme. Celebrate milestones, especially graduation as public proof of capability. Use conferences, employer networks, and alumni to keep opportunities flowing and to shift perceptions about neurodiversity. Lead with dignity and high expectations. Set ambitious goals, speak about strengths, and challenge stereotypes. Inclusion is not a favour; it’s a standard of excellence.
In your opinion, what is one trend shaping the future of education in the UAE/GCC/Africa? One key trend shaping the future of education in the UAE and wider GCC is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enable personalised, adaptive learning. The UAE is leading efforts to integrate AI into classrooms, using adaptive learning platforms that tailor lessons to individual students’ strengths, pacing, and learning styles. Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, AI is being introduced as a core subject from kindergarten through Grade 12, marking a nationally coordinated strategy to prepare learners for a future shaped by technological innovation. This trend combines AI with machine learning and occasional XR tools to create dynamic, interactive, and responsive learning experiences - boosting engagement, improving learning outcomes, and automating administrative tasks. By offering real-time feedback, identifying learning gaps early, and adjusting content dynamically, AI-powered education shifts away from a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it fosters an inclusive, accessible learning environment where each student can thrive at their own pace, perfectly aligning with the region’s vision for a future- ready, knowledge-based economy. What advice would you give to other educators, leaders, or innovators looking to make a meaningful difference?
HARRISON COLLEGE
Powered by FlippingBook