The new board of directors of The Digital School is accelerating efforts to achieve more accomplishments.

In its first meeting with its newly approved composition, the Board of Directors of the Digital School, endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, discussed the progress of the Digital School's initiatives and projects. The meeting reviewed the achievements and success stories of the recent period as part of ongoing efforts to provide future digital education opportunities for students in underserved communities around the world.

In its first meeting with its newly appointed composition, recently approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Board of Directors of the Digital School discussed the progress of the Digital School's initiatives and projects, and the achievements and success stories from the recent period. These efforts are part of the continuous endeavor to provide future digital education opportunities for students in less fortunate communities around the world.

In the first meeting, chaired by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital School, the Board emphasized accelerating efforts to double achievements and build on what has been accomplished since the launch of the Digital School under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

The meeting was attended by His Excellency Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Red Crescent Authority; Her Excellency Huda Al Hashimi, Assistant Minister for Strategic Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister; His Excellency Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Development Affairs and Organizations; Her Excellency Ayesha Miran, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai; Dr. Mohamed Qasem, Dean of Dubai Future Academy; and Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary General of the Digital School.

During the meeting, the most important strategic initiatives impacting the global education agenda and the effective role of the Digital School in achieving national priorities in humanitarian and development work were reviewed and discussed.

His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama affirmed that the Digital School has entered a new phase in its global journey aimed at realizing the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide future educational opportunities for students around the world, enabling them with a digital education model that transcends geographical challenges and limited resources, building their capabilities and equipping them with skills to lead the future of their communities.

He stated that establishing the Digital School as a leading educational institution in digital learning and attracting global attention shortly after its launch is a global recognition and testament to the significant success it has achieved through its impactful projects across various continents. The international accreditation received from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) reflects the positive impact the school has made and represents a new certification of its pioneering model in future digital education.

His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama highlighted several key achievements within less than three years of the Digital School's launch, including making a tangible impact on the lives of less fortunate students around the world and being listed among the top global initiatives in digital education for development by Stanford University.

He expressed gratitude to the previous Board members for their efforts in establishing the digital education model, wishing the new Board members continued success in enhancing the Digital School's journey, expanding its reach, and increasing its global impact, contributing to the realization of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision of providing advanced and sustainable digital education.

His Excellency Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority and a member of the Digital School's Board, affirmed that the Digital School initiative enhances the UAE's leading humanitarian and development role regionally and globally. It achieves the wise leadership's goals under the presidency of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in establishing the UAE as a key hub for global efforts aimed at achieving sustainable development based on education, combating ignorance and illiteracy, and spreading knowledge. The initiative embodies His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's concern for ensuring educational opportunities for all children worldwide without exception.

His Excellency added that the Digital School is set to make a qualitative leap in the level of educational services provided to students in various regions around the world, adding a new dimension to the care and attention directed towards them, enabling them to join the ranks of distinguished education. He emphasized that the initiative is a significant step forward in the journey of technical education and a progressive step towards creating a modern educational system that meets the students' needs for remote learning, relying on information technology, and contributing to the continuity of their education despite the challenges they face, according to the highest academic standards. He noted that the UAE Red Crescent Authority, as a strategic partner in the Digital School, will spare no effort in achieving its noble goals and will work in coordination with its partners to ensure its success and expand the reach of its services.

Her Excellency Huda Al Hashimi, Assistant Minister for Strategic Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister and a member of the Digital School's Board, confirmed that the school has achieved its strategic objectives by establishing its unique educational model and reaching less fortunate groups, enabling them to access future learning opportunities.

She said the Digital School will work in the upcoming period to develop its strategies and plans to expand its reach to communities and students worldwide, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide digital learning solutions for students globally as the future model of education.

His Excellency Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Development Affairs and Organizations, and a member of the Digital School's Board, said that the "Digital School" initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in November 2020 under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has achieved many global accomplishments, particularly in providing education for less fortunate communities, refugees, and internally displaced persons. This has contributed to enhancing equal opportunities and the right to education, alleviating the suffering of many students, and contributing to achieving one of the most important Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 4 (Quality Education).

He added that the initiative will expand and develop its scope of work in the upcoming period to increase the number of beneficiaries in more countries, focus on enhancing the role of artificial intelligence and modern technologies that support the education sector, and build partnerships with all active parties to ensure the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Her Excellency Ayesha Abdullah Miran, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, and a member of the Digital School's Board, said that based on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to support and empower generations, this noble initiative was launched. It reflects His Highness's steadfast belief in protecting children's rights and ensuring that children in less fortunate communities are not deprived of their right to education. This initiative aims to make education accessible to these children, ensuring them a prosperous future.

She added, "Through my membership in the Board of Directors of the Digital School, I look forward to positively contributing to this noble initiative, which represents a global humanitarian imprint from Dubai and the UAE to the world to create a better and brighter future for children, enabling them to elevate their communities and support their stability."

Dr. Mohamed Qasem, Dean of Dubai Future Academy, said that the Digital School has achieved a significant expansion in the number of countries it has reached, the number of beneficiary students, and the educational spaces provided. It has offered distinguished and quality education opportunities. As members of the Board of Directors, we look forward to supporting the Digital School in achieving the desired impact on students' lives, ensuring they are the most fortunate in education through the opportunities provided by trained teachers from the best universities and technological means aimed at helping students build a bright future.

Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary General of the Digital School, confirmed that one of the most important achievements of this initiative is that it has presented an integrated and innovative model from the UAE to the world, contributing to accelerating the provision of educational opportunities for less fortunate groups globally. He pointed out that this model has proven its significant success, with the United Nations and international organizations adopting digital education to accelerate the goal of spreading education.

He stated that the Digital School team will continue its diligent work to enhance this experience aimed at creating significant shifts in developing an integrated digital education system for students worldwide, driven by continuous international certifications of its success, the latest being academic accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

The Digital School's Board of Directors meeting reviewed the main achievements of the past phase, including obtaining international academic accreditation from NEASC in the United States, and discussed the expansion of the Digital School's initiatives in 14 countries, reaching 160,000 students in five languages: Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and Kurdish. The school has attracted significant international interest from countries, international organizations, and educational institutions.

The Board discussed enhancing initiatives and intensifying efforts in the upcoming phase to ensure the sustainability and expansion of the school to reach one million beneficiaries worldwide. They discussed strategic priorities at educational, strategic, and technological levels and exchanged developmental ideas, including proposing the development of a program to nurture and motivate outstanding students.

The Board approved the formation of subcommittees, including the Logistics Operations Committee, chaired by His Excellency Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei; the Strategy Committee, chaired by Her Excellency Huda Al Hashimi; the Partnerships and International Relations Committee, chaired by His Excellency Sultan Al Shamsi; the Education Committee, chaired by Her Excellency Ayesha Miran; the Technology Committee, chaired by Dr. Mohamed Qasem; and the Finance and Sustainability Committee, chaired by Dr. Waleed Al Ali.

It is worth noting that the "Digital School," launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in November 2020 under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is the first of its kind. It aims to empower students with digital learning options in areas where suitable conditions or resources for students to continue their education are unavailable. It also offers a quality option for blended and remote learning in a smart and flexible manner, targeting less fortunate communities, refugees, and internally displaced persons through modern educational materials and curricula.