13 schools successfully completed the qualifying program for the first cycle and Al-Raya Girls School for Secondary education received 3 star recognition certificates.

By ; Mohamed Elkholy

This year, 12 schools from UAE and 1 school Qatar have completed the Qualifying cycle for the EFQM-Hamdan Global Education award, and Al-Raya School for Girls which was assessed against the full model achieved 3 Star re

cognition. The results were released during a recent meeting held in Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance in Dubai, chaired by HE Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the Foundation in the presence of Russell Longmire, EFQM CEO and members of the award team.

The participating Schools will be recognized at the Foundation's annual awards ceremony, which will take place in Dubai in early March.

Commenting on the results of the first cycle of applying the model, His Excellency Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, said: “We are delighted to announce the outcomes of the first cycle of applying the EFQM-Hamdan Educational Model. This occurs at a time where Hamdan Foundation and EFQM have made qualitative advancements in facilitating educational excellence, as many schools in the Middle East and beyond uses the EFQM-Hamdan Educational Model to identify its strengths and opportunities for improvement. The EFQM-Hamdan Global Educational Model aims to encourage schools and educational institutions to adopt best global practices to ensure delivering better education while prioritizing students, enhancing innovation, and anticipating the future”.

Russell Longmuir, EFQM CEO said: "We are delighted to announce the results of the first cycle of implementing Hamdan EFQM Global Education Model. This model supports the shared vision of EFQM and Hamdan Foundation to enhance education and achieve excellence and innovation in the schools around the world. The model promotes best educational practices by offering an effective framework for the schools and the educational system as a whole”.

The award attracted the participation of many local and Gulf schools out of which 13 schools were selected and assessed by a team of global and local assessors. The schools were supported by a team of experts who conducted several coaching sessions to answer a simple questionnaire and prepare the submission document, this was followed by 1 day assessment by global assessors who visited the schools to identify the good practice, strengths, and opportunities of improvement. The support to the schools continued by working with them to develop an improvement plan in preparation for their participation in the full award cycle.

Al Raya School for Girls achieved 3 stars and bronze level after being assessed against the full model by a group of global and local assessors who conducted over 5 days several interviews and focus groups at the school premises.

Schools who completed the qualifying cycle will be invited to participate in the EFQM-Hamdan Global Educational Award 2023 where they will be assessed against the full model by certified and qualified international and local assessors.

Designed by a team of academic specialists and experts, the EFQM-Hamdan Educational Model aims to improve the quality of teaching and educational outcomes in schools around the world by providing a framework for achieving outstanding performance in Educational Institutions and Recognising high performance.

It is noteworthy that all recipients of Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance Awards of all categories at the local, Gulf, and Arab levels as well as the International Gifted Awards will be recognized at a ceremony in March 2023 in Dubai.