Quarterly Newsletter                                                       Supporting Research, Developing Minds                                                      March 2015 
لقراءة هذه النشرة باللغة العربية، يرجى النقر هنا 
In This Issue
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Regional Research

April 15-17: 6th Annual Gulf Comparative Education Society Symposium

The theme of the sixth annual symposium is "Inclusion Not Exclusion: Comparative Educational Perspectives at the Heart of Sustainable Development." The conference will take place at Middlesex University Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from April 16th - 17th, 2015. Pre-conference workshops will be offered on the afternoon of April 15, 2015. More Information
New Publications
Private Education in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar: Implications and Challenges

While researchers have studied the nature and implications of private education provision in some high-income nations, no such research has been done in the UAE or Qatar. This study employs a mixed-methods comparative approach to understand the nature of the private education sectors in these nations and to examine the ways in which private education providers navigate the regulatory schooling environments there, while assessing the impact on education stakeholders. Full Publication
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation 2014 Annual Report

In 2014, the Foundation built on its core competencies in the educational arena while expanding its activities related to public health and urban development through several research and capacity development initiatives. From conducting regional studies on private education to piloting a program for local at-risk youth, the Foundation has sought to equip its stakeholders with relevant research findings as well as strategies for their application in Ras Al Khaimah's immediate context. Full Publication 

Fact Sheet: Public Health in the United Arab Emirates and Ras Al Khaimah

This document introduces readers to the medical and health landscape of the UAE, with a closer look at Ras Al Khaimah. It examines public and private health care establishments, medical infrastructure, and leading health concerns, while providing a comparison of the health systems of the UAE and other developed nations. For those interested in learning more about public health, the fact sheet also includes extensive references and resources. 
Full Publication
Profile Corner

Full Video Profile
Doctoral Scholar: Lee Rensimer
Press
Members of the press who are interested in covering or learning more about the Al Qasimi Foundation's research, events, or other initiatives may contact Ms. Caitrin Mullan, Community Engagement and Outreach Program Manager.
Our Mission
 
To aid in the social, cultural, and economic development of Ras Al Khaimah and the United Arab Emirates through high-quality policy research, strategic capacity development, and purposeful community engagement.

Welcome to our first Foundation newsletter of 2015. As we begin a new year and new semester, we have a lot of news to share with you. The Annual Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival had its most successful run to date, with art from more than two dozen countries on display. Meanwhile, the teacher professional development classes and Sheikh Saqr student programs have commenced again, offering support to local students and educators. After a year of planning, local educators are also leaving in early April to participate in a professional exchange program with the Ministry of Education in Malaysia. 

On the research front, several Majlis events are scheduled for this spring and will include topics such as private tertiary education in Ras Al Khaimah, medical tourism, and comparative education. The Foundation is pleased to invite scholars and educators to participate in the 6th Annual GCES Symposium in Dubai this April. Finally, follow us on our new Twitter account, @AlQasimiFound. We hope you are able to take advantage of some of these opportunities and wish you all the best in the coming months.

Warm regards,

Dr. Natasha Ridge
Executive Director
Feature Articles
Research

New Research Explores Impact of Resources on Education Policymaking in the Middle East

 

Ms. Samar Farah, a doctoral candidate at Columbia University as well as a visiting scholar with the Al Qasimi Foundation, is exploring educational policymaking and funding in the Middle East. Her research compares how education policymaking differs among nations with disparate amounts of financial resources. Few studies have investigated what a state's reliance on foreign aid or natural resources means for education; the goal of this research is to enhance the discussion. Full Story 
Community Engagement

Destination Artist Leaves Mark on Ras Al Khaimah

  
In the international art world, Anastasia Mak is known for her expressionist paintings of some of the world's most notable destinations. Thanks to a collaboration between the Al Qasimi Foundation and the U.S. Mission in the United Arab Emirates, Ms. Mak spent a week promoting arts and culture throughout Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Her visit highlighted the important role artistic expression plays in community development by bringing people from diverse cultural backgrounds together. Full Story and Fine Arts Festival Video Summary 

 
Capacity Development

Al Qasimi Foundation Team Expands Development Work to Fujairah 

  

Through a new training program at the Fujairah Young Men Social Foster Home (YMSFH), the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research has expanded the impact of its work with at-risk youth beyond the borders of Ras Al Khaimah. Organized in collaboration with the Al Bayt Mitwahid Foundation, the Relate Program seeks to help YMSFH staff work more effectively with juveniles and their families. Full Story   

 

In the Headlines

Education experts fear that the absence of Emirati men in the UAE's education system threatens to feminize the teaching profession and leave young Emirati males without role models. Dr. Natasha Ridge, executive director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, explains that this lack of male teachers creates challenges for young male pupils and for the broader education profession. Full Story 
The National (January 5, 2015)
Emirati Parents Increasingly Turning to Private Schools

Emirati parents are increasingly turning to private schools for their children's education. The percentage of Emirati pupils in private education rose from 31.9 percent in the 2010-11 academic year to 34.7 percent in 2013-14, according to figures from the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi. Dr. Natasha Ridge, executive director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, said the trend could devalue the public education system. Full Story
The National (February 10, 2015)

Three local think tanks have been listed among the best in the MENA region in the University of Pennsylvania's 2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, and Ras Al Khaimah's Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research is one of them. Dr. Natasha Ridge weighs in on the significance of this international recognition and on education research for the UAE. Full Story 
El Correo Del Golfo (February 23, 2015)
Third Festival of Fine Arts in Ras Al Khaimah

The third Festival of Fine Arts in Ras Al Khaimah is one of the major initiatives undertaken by the Al Qasimi Foundation. From short films, which offer a unique perspective on the UAE, to paintings and photographs of regional scenes, this year's occasion focused on showing the fascination that the Arab region produces in people of all backgrounds and nationalities. Full Story 
University of Sydney (March 24, 2015)

The University of Sydney's Faculty of Health Sciences has partnered with the Al Qasimi Foundation to improve breast cancer screening and awareness in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Breast cancer typically occurs in women in the Middle East 10-15 years earlier than in Western countries and appears to be more aggressive. The study will compare health records of women from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE with those of women from Australia. Full Story 

Upcoming Events & Deadlines
Majlis Event
April 19: Values, Creativity, Borrowing, and the Comparative Education Menagerie: What Sort of Strange Animal are You? 

Comparative and international education is a field united by common concerns: improving schooling, transforming societies, expanding knowledge, and changing the world for the better. Yet the field is home to a diversity of approaches, each with different principles, paradigms, and projects. This presentation offers a brief tour of the comparative education menagerie, providing a rare chance to closely study the four major approaches that define this field and the values that they reflect. More Information 
Majlis Event
May 3: Hub Healthcare: A Human Resources Perspective on Medical Tourism in the UAE

The future of health system performance in the UAE will increasingly turn on matters of human resources (HR): attracting specialized health professionals to a country with a relatively small patient pool. This talk will describe the landscape of medical tourism in the UAE and examine, to date, what impact medical tourism is having on the movement of health professionals across countries, emirates, and sectors. More Information 
Majlis Event
May 17: International Higher Education in Ras Al Khaimah: Between Commercialization, Regulation, and Innovation

What is the best way to balance innovation and regulation? How can policymakers increase educational access for local students while maximizing transparent commercial practices? This Majlis will explore the higher education landscape in Ras Al Khaimah, focusing on its international and commercial characteristics. It will examine the spaces where free zone regulations, educational opportunity, and commercial enterprise meet. More Information 
Capacity Development
June 30: Teacher Scholarship Applications Due

Teacher Scholarships may include support for educators pursuing master's degrees, short-term courses, or action research programs. For more information on the Teacher Scholarships program, including eligibility and application process, please visit the Teacher Scholarships section of the Al Qasimi Foundation website. More Information
Capacity Development
June 30: School Grant Applications Due

For more information on the School Grants program, including eligibility and application process, please visit the School Grants section of the Al Qasimi Foundation website. More Information
Capacity Development
August 15: Sheikh Saqr Overseas Scholarship Applications Due
 
The Sheikh Saqr Overseas Scholarship Program provides funding for academically talented Emirati youth and promising young Emirati professionals to pursue studies overseas at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Scholarships are awarded through a competitive application process. The Overseas Scholarship Program is complemented by the Sheikh Saqr Student Enrichment Program. 
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research
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