As the Award reviewed its accomplishments during the current session
“Khalifa International Award for Early Learning”: December 31st is the final date for receiving the files of candidates from all over the world
Amal Al-Afeefi:
The Award achieved a qualitative leap in the care and empowerment of early childhood locally, regionally and internationally
Steven Barnett: Sorting candidates’ files goes according to the best international practices in transparency and objectivity
Abu Dhabi: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
The Khalifa International Award for Early Learning field’s Awarding Committee members expressed their pride and gratitude for the extensive field participation in the nomination process for the current session. They were particularly impressed by the exceptional response from international institutions specializing in early childhood and researchers who submitted comprehensive nomination files that addressed the most effective scientific and applied practices in the care and empowerment of early childhood worldwide.
They pointed out that the Awarding Committee and the Screening Committee will continue to receive applications from candidates from all over the world until the end of this December through the website designated for receiving applications, stressing the presence of a technical and technological support team that enhances the speed and quality of uploading candidates’ files in preparation for presenting them to the specialized Screening Committees.
This came during the meeting held by the Awarding Committee and the Screening Committee for the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning field yesterday via Zoom. This meeting was held in the presence of Professor Steven Barnett, Founding Director of the National Institute for Early Childhood Education Research at Rutgers University in the United States of America and Chairman of the Awarding Committee, Professor Iram Siraj, Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, Professor Nirmala Rao from the University of Hong Kong, Professor Jana Fleming, Director of the Early Childhood Development Department at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, Dr. Mira Al Kaabi, Advisor to the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and Head of Academic Affairs at the National Academy for Childhood Development, Dr. Philip Quirky, former Executive Dean of Education and General Studies at the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dr. Bushra Kaddoura, Strategic Advisor in the field of education and care in the early childhood stage at the Sharjah Private Education Authority, Sarah Rogers, CEO of Quest Direct Professional Services Company, Dr. Rachel Takriti, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at the United Arab Emirates University, and Dr. Louay Jeroudi, Advisor to the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning field.
Amal Al-Afeefi, Secretary-General of the Khalifa Award for Education, stressed the importance of this periodic meeting, which included members of both committees, where they were all briefed on the work done during the past period related to expanding the awareness base in this field, as well as the practical workshops that were implemented during the current session, in addition to the Screening Committee’s efforts regarding sorting the files of candidates that were submitted to the Award during the past period, which will continue to be accepted until the end of this December.
Al-Afeefi emphasized that the meeting covered the Award’s participation in the Early Childhood Development Exhibition in Abu Dhabi and the Global Educational Supplies and Solutions Exhibition (GESS) in Dubai. Additionally, the files of candidates that were screened from various regions of the world were reviewed. She emphasized that the Award represents a qualitative leap in the direction of caring for and empowering early childhood on a local, regional, and international scale. The Award also translates the directives of our wise leadership regarding the care of this vital group in society, the provision of an environment that fosters social care and healthy growth, the discovery of its talents, and the continuous empowerment of this group throughout the stages of life, which makes them the leaders of the future.
Dr. Steven Barnett emphasized the significance of this meeting, coinciding with the final phase of candidate file submissions for the Award in the current session. The members of the two committees shared experiences and insights concerning the evaluation processes and the review of research papers for projects and initiatives in the categories of Best Research and Studies, and Best Programs, Curricula, Teaching Methodologies and Practices. The meeting addressed the insights of the members from both committees regarding the organization of files in accordance with optimal practices of transparency and objectivity, reflecting the mission and goals of the Khalifa Award for Education, which aims to promote a culture of excellence globally in early childhood care and its alignment with future developments.