The UAE Federal Government is launching seven educational initiatives in schools and universities, with the aim of promoting innovation, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, announced Wednesday, the last day of the Third Government Summit, in the presence of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Sheikh Mansour also announced a new job post, Chief Executive Officer of Innovation, that will be set up in every government agency this year to meet the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who designated 2015 as the year of innovation, as well as the goals of the 7-year innovation strategy that was announced by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
"We are also introducing a new job post, Chief Executive Officer of Innovation, that will be set up in every government agency this year. We have signed an agreement with Cambridge to train 60 Innovation CEOs. Our goal is for everyone to work with the spirit of innovation." "Innovation is the secret of remaining on top, which is why the government is working on seven initiatives that aim to encourage innovation in education. Innovation is the secret of remaining on top, which is why the government is working on seven initiatives that aim to encourage innovation in education," said Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The seven initiatives include the launch of robot labs in schools and universities, developing a curriculum that promotes innovation, making innovation part of school's evaluations, launching an annual national innovation exhibition, launching innovation incubators in schools, discovering future innovators from the age of five to seven and, finally, creating extensive training summer camps for innovative youth.
"We want these initiatives to make research, analysis and innovation at the core of an effective learning process," said Sheikh Mansour during the session titled ‘Innovation in Education'.
He said the UAE also wants everyone to work with the spirit of innovation, which is why they have introduced a new job post.
Another innovative step that the UAE took, Sheikh Mansour said, was using a Catheter Robot.
Sheikh Mansour introduced Aref Nuriani of Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah, the first Emirati doctor to operate such robot in the UAE.
Sheikh Mansour said happiness is the ultimate objective of all of the UAE's strategies, which is why the UAE has allocated Dh9.5 billion for its infrastructure.
"We have used Dh5.4 billion so far and the remaining will be used as part of a programme aimed at paying off the nationals' loans. We have paid off loans worth Dh2.4 billion." H.H. Sheikh Mansour also highlighted the innovation and determination of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed's life as a leader.
He also said that three Emirati women are now working at Khalifa Centre for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in UAE University. He said that Salima Al Sinani, Maryam Al Za'abi and Maryam Al Nuaimi are currently experimenting in modifying the genetics of local desert plants and they have started with the Markh tree.
H.H. Sheikh Mansour noted that the Third Government Summit was aimed to "make us learn to work, and to learn from each other, from our history and other countries, then work to serve our people, nation and the coming generations."
Source: WAM