January 2016
لقراءة النشرة باللغة العربية، الرجاء الضغط هنا


Welcome to the new year's edition of the Al Qasimi Foundation's quarterly newsletter. We hope your 2015 was productive and rewarding and that 2016 provides a fresh start with renewed energy.

In the past year, the Foundation diversified its research, expanded its capacity development efforts, and deepened relationships with neighbors near and far. We completed another successful semester of teacher professional development courses, student enrichment programs, and Hands on Learning activities in addition to numerous Majlis and Community Engagement events. Looking forward, the Foundation is setting new goals and planning more activities for 2016, including the annual Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, which returns to our emirate February 19-25, 2016.

As we reflect on the new year, we couldn't be more grateful for the support of our stakeholders, and we wish you rest and joy among family and friends and invite you to collaborate with us anew in 2016.

Warm regards,

Dr. Natasha Ridge
Executive Director
 
STAY CONNECTED:
In This Issue


FEATURE ARTICLES
Community Advisory Council Lends Insight to Education Initiatives in Ras Al KhaimahResearch

After specializing in professional development courses for educators over the last five years, the Foundation wants to approach education reform more holistically and to include an active community engagement component in its strategic plans. As a result, a community advisory council has been established by researchers to solicit the perspectives of community members throughout a whole school renewal initiative.
Read More
Teacher, Scholar Leads Initiative Supporting Students in KenyaCapacity

The Foundation's Teacher Scholarship program was established to contribute to Ras Al Khaimah's education sector, but the positive impact of investing in local educators is stretching beyond the borders of the UAE. Ms. Jane Paille Ndungu illustrates the ripple effect that a teacher scholarship can have on communities both near and far. Ms. Ndungu teaches in Ras Al Khaimah and leads an initiative to support underprivileged students in Kenya. Read More
Documentary Project Captures the Stories of Ras Al Khaimah's People in Their WordsCommunity

When Easa Al Nuaimi was a child, he hated the sea. His father sent him to school to learn how to read and write so that he could keep tallies on his ship. Eventually, Mr. Al Nuaimi became one of the first teachers at Ras Al Khaimah's modern schools. His story is one of more than 50 portrayed in a documentary project being supported by an Al Qasimi Foundation Seed Grant. Read More
Video Profile Video
 
Check out the adventures that seven Emirati students from the Sheikh Saqr Student Enrichment Program took part in as they studied in the United States and United Kingdom this summer.
IN THE HEADLINES Headlines
Emirati School Pupils Tell of Confidence Boost from Overseas Summer Program

Emirati high school pupils returning from a summer program to prepare them for university explain how the experience has shaped their plans and given them confidence for the future. Full Story
 
Najmaat, the Arab Quartet, Presents its Music in Ras Al Khaimah

Najmaat, an all-female music quartet and the first group of its kind in the Arab world, was in concert at Ras Al Khiamah's Chamber of Commerce this November, sharing the music of the oud through a Community Gathering event. Full Story 
Teachers Who Assault Students Should Face Criminal Charges, UAE Experts Say

Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, and other educators weigh in on the nature of corporal punishment in U.A.E. schools and how to address it. Full Story
New Publications
Hub Healthcare: Medical Travel and Health Equity in the UAEHealth

The cross-border flow of health services, professionals, and companies shapes a global industry valued at as much as U.S. $55 billion. This working paper provides evidence, based on the examples of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, that medical travel presents the UAE with a mix of equity benefits and harms. To manage these harms, the paper recommends that local governments and healthcare providers incorporate monitoring and planning mechanisms into their medical travel initiatives.

To Cheat or Not To Cheat: Evidence on Ethical Decision-Making from a Study of Arab Youth

How do young people make judgments about what is right and ethical? The challenge of cultivating ethical citizens is one that every community faces, yet almost no work on this subject has been done in the Arab world. This paper summarizes much of what we know about how youth engage in ethical decision-making, with an emphasis on educational settings in which students are confronted with the question of whether or not to cheat.  

International and Commercial Higher Education in Ras Al Khaimah: Policies, Problem Areas, and Promise

The United Arab Emirates is an international hub for higher education, and the tertiary education sector of Ras Al Khaimah has expanded through investments and policies designed to attract foreign providers, who offer affordable education opportunities to expatriate residents. This arrangement, however, introduces a variety of policy issues surrounding the regulation of private higher education providers. As a result, students are vulnerable to misinformation and misleading claims by institutions and may unwittingly pursue low-quality degrees that may not meet the needs of their future employers. 

Upcoming Events & Deadlines Events 
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, Director of Outreach.
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.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research

 Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Phone +971 7 233 8060 | Fax +971 7 233 8070