June 2016
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What's New? These Publications
What is the Status of State-funded Philanthropy in the United Arab Emirates?

Despite the UAE's growing philanthropic sector, there has been no aggregation of information related to state-funded foundations' various missions, and information on philanthropic activity in the country is scarce. This paper addresses this information gap, providing an overview of state-funded philanthropy in the UAE. Read More

Teacher Professional Development in the UAE: What Do Teachers Actually Want?

Drawing on survey and interview data, this policy brief examines perceptions of professional development among public school teachers in the UAE. It explores what types of professional development teachers have access to, the barriers to professional development they face, and teachers' stated needs for additional professional development. Read More

Feature: 
What Cognitive Science Tells Us About Arabic Literacy
Education leaders in the Gulf are familiar with international benchmark tests like the PIRLS, TIMSS, and PISA. Most are also familiar with the reality that, despite massive financial investments in education on the part of GCC states, their test scores remain comparatively low.

According to cognitive psychologist Dr. Helen Abadzi, "Prosperous Gulf countries may be particularly vulnerable to the 'trap' of innovation" even as they make education a national priority.
 
Cognitive neuroscience, believes Dr. Abadzi, may shed light on why Arab students fall behind students from other nations at such early stages in their education. It may also provide a way forward. Read More
We're Intrigued: Resources with Relevance
Learning Arabic: Back to Basics May be the Best Innovation

Despite the impressive investment that Arab states have made in education, Dr. Helen Abadzi asks, "Why is it that when Arab countries take part in international comparative assessments, their students score near the bottom of the list in reading, math, and science?" Dr. Abadzi thinks we have some clues. Read More

The Impact of Computer Usage on Academic Performance: Evidence From a Randomized Trial

As many school systems are striving to inject more technology into their classrooms, a new study from the U.S. Military Academy finds that it hinders student achievement, explaining, "Regardless of the mechanism, our results indicate that students perform worse when personal computing technology is available." Read More

Does Losing Handwriting In School Mean Losing Other Skills Too?

New evidence suggests that the links between handwriting and broader educational development run deep. Children not only learn to read more quickly when they first learn to write by hand, but they also remain better able to generate ideas and retain information. In other words, it's not just what we write that matters, but how. Read More

A Cambridge Professor on How to Stop Being So Easily Manipulated by Misleading Statistics

"Graphs can be as manipulative as words." Meet a man who lives to handle numbers and statistical evidence responsibly and is teaching others to do the same. We can get on board with that. Read More

Does Cognitive Science Hold the Solution for the Arab Education Lag?

It's a well-known problem that Arab students are falling behind the rest of the world, but a new approach might finally offer a way to reverse this trend . . . and it's coming from cognitive neuroscience. Read More

Iftar dates
7 Tips for Hosting a Great Iftar

The month of Ramadan is said to be the month of introspection and sacrifice. It is also a time for celebration with loved ones. There are a variety of ways to break the fast each day, and every family has its own ways of celebrating. Here are seven tips to help you host your own successful Iftar. View Tips
In the Headlines
How a Road in the UAE Paved the Way for Politicking and National Identity

Since when is a dusty road a big deal? To answer that and other questions, Doctoral Scholar Matt MacLean tells the story of the first road between the emirates, which connected Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah beginning in the 1960s. The implications of this road involved international politics and national identity. Read More

Arab Youth Survey Suggests Unemployment Drives Terrorism

The Al Qasimi Foundation weighs in on what new survey findings may tell us about Arab youth and their thoughts on unemployment. While education is directly linked to unemployment, this survey does not look at that dimension of the youth experience. Read More

Private Schools Face Fight to Survive Amid Competition

Private schools face a battle to survive amid competition for fewer pupils and the need to raise salaries to attract the best teachers. Dr. Natasha Ridge explains that this means more downward pressure on profit margins at private schools, which could lead to lower-income schools getting stuck in a vicious cycle in which standards decline. Read More

Book Review: Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States

A recent review in the Forum for International Education Research praises this book for its study on the effects of globalization within the Arabian Gulf States. The volume traces the ways in which this cultural revolution has created emerging roles for women while stressing that gender stereotypes broaden the economic and social gap within the Gulf States. Read More

Gems Education Teachers Offered Shares to Stay On

GEMS, a major private school operator, is offering shares to teachers across the region in a bid to keep them for the long term because they are in short supply in the region. While it is good to encourage employee ownership of a company, nothing suggests that stock sharing will result in better quality education. Read More

Check out what students from the Sheikh Saqr Student Enrichment Program have been learning and accomplishing this year!
Join Us: Events & Deadlines

August 15, 2016:
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 Community Engagement and 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