Two trailblazing UAE schools named in Top 10 shortlists for World’s Best School Prizes 2024

The five World’s Best School Prizes – for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives – were established in the wake of COVID in 2022 to give a platform to schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and far beyond their walls, sharing their best practices to help improve education everywhere.

The winners of the five Prizes will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy based on rigorous criteria. In addition, all 50 shortlisted schools across the five Prizes will also take part in a Public Vote, which opened today. The school which receives the most public votes will receive the Community Choice Award and membership to T4 Education’s Best School to Work programme to help them support teacher wellbeing and solve the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.  

Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, said:

“Unless we solve the urgent challenges global education faces – from learning gaps exacerbated by COVID to chronic underfunding and the growing teacher wellbeing, recruitment and retention crisis – we will have failed the next generation.

“Trailblazing UAE schools like Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills and GEMS Legacy School, which have cultivated a strong culture and aren’t afraid to innovate, show the difference that can be made to so many lives. Schools everywhere can now learn from their solutions, and it’s time governments do so as well.”

Jill Huntley, Managing Director – Global Corporate Citizenship, at Accenture, said:

“Congratulations to Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills in the UAE on being named among the Top 10 finalists for the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action 2024. Your vital work brings hope that solutions can be found to some of the greatest challenges we face today. Through the platform of the World’s Best School Prizes, your solutions will now inspire countless others across the globe from the classrooms to the administration. 

“Accenture is proud to be a part of T4 Education’s initiative in empowering the next generation to tackle global sustainability challenges by increasing access to and use of the latest technologies and innovative practices.”

About the schools:

Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, an independent kindergarten through secondary school in Dubai, UAE, empowers students with programmes like personalised learning pathways and project-based learning, driving community change through culturally-responsive education and sustainability projects. The academy, established in 2005, serves over 2,725 students, integrating rigorous international education with a strong commitment to environmental action.

The school’s vibrant Eco Club leads several sustainability projects, such as a significant E-waste recycling campaign and model COP28 events, raising awareness and fostering tangible community action. These initiatives exemplify the academy’s commitment to environmental advocacy and are integrated into the IB curriculum, enhancing student participation in global conservation efforts.

Leadership at Dubai International Academy promotes a culture where innovation in sustainability is encouraged and celebrated. Their efforts have led to the implementation of educational trips to Borneo and Kenya, where students actively engage in wildlife conservation and community development projects. These experiences are pivotal in instilling a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship among students.

Should Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills win the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action, the prize money would be used to advance sustainability efforts by establishing hydroponic systems for growing organic vegetables on campus. This initiative would further reduce the school’s carbon footprint and enhance student engagement in eco-friendly practices, reinforcing the academy’s role as a leader in environmental education and action.

GEMS Legacy School, an independent school in Dubai, UAE, is a pioneer in comprehensive wellness in education, impacting over 6,285 students with initiatives like school-wide fruit breaks and sleep hygiene workshops, promoting holistic wellbeing and sustainable lifestyle choices.

Established in 1990, GEMS Legacy School educates students from kindergarten to secondary levels. The core of the school’s mission is rooted in the PERMA-H model, which encompasses emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial wellbeing, involving innovative teaching methods and a holistic curriculum.

The school’s wellbeing policy is central to achieving a nurturing environment. This initiative enhances the physical and mental health of students, staff, and parents, and supports broader goals such as community wellbeing and sustainable living. Initiatives like the school-wide fruit break and sleep hygiene workshops are structured to enhance daily health habits and promote sustainable lifestyle choices.

Additional activities at GEMS Legacy include collaborations with international schools and local community projects, each contributing significantly to fostering a global perspective on wellbeing. These efforts have been recognised by improvements in student and staff wellness metrics and accolades for community initiatives.

Next steps:

The Top 3 finalists for each of the five World’s Best School Prizes will be announced in September 2024 followed by the winners in November. The winner of each Prize will be chosen based on rigorous criteria by a Judging Academy comprising distinguished leaders across the globe including academics, educators, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, government, civil society, and the private sector.

A prize of US$50,000 will be equally shared among the winners of the five Prizes, with each receiving an award of US$10,000. Meanwhile, the winner of the Community Choice Award, as determined by the Public Vote, will receive membership to Best School to Work – an independent, evidence-based mechanism to certify schools for their culture and working environment. Membership comes with detailed feedback, actionable insights, and benchmarking data to help schools transform their culture to attract and retain the best teachers.

ABOUT T4 EDUCATION:

We believe every child, everywhere, deserves a good education. We are building the world’s largest community of teachers and schools to achieve this. Together. Our digital media platform provides opportunities for educators to network, collaborate, share good practices, and support each other’s efforts to improve learning and school culture. We work to amplify teachers’ voices because the world we want to see will only be built by listening to those at the heart of education.