--- title: GCES Symposium 2010 description: GCES Symposium 2010 --- [![white-logo-2](https://gces.ae/hs-fs/hubfs/Gces_2023/images/white-logo-2.png?width=600&height=124&name=white-logo-2.png "white-logo-2")](https://gces.ae/?hsLang=en) [![GCES-New](https://gces.ae/hs-fs/hubfs/GCES-New.png?width=300&height=59&name=GCES-New.png "GCES-New")](https://gces.ae?hsLang=en) Members Login [![GCES-New](https://gces.ae/hs-fs/hubfs/Gces_2023/images/GCES-New.png?width=350&height=72&name=GCES-New.png "GCES-New")](https://gces.ae?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://gces.ae) - About Us - [About GCES](https://gces.ae/about-us) - [GCES Board](https://gces.ae/gces-board) - [GCES 2025 Symposium](https://gces.ae/gces-symposium-2025) - [Events](https://gces.ae/past-symposia) - Publications - [GESPR](https://gces.ae/gespr) - [Conference Proceedings](https://gces.ae/conference-proceedings) - [Contact Us](https://gces.ae/contact-us) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/gulfcomparative?lang=en) [linkedin icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/31366677/admin/) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/@AlQasimiFoundation2/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=7) # GCES Symposium 2010 ### Get in touch - [About](https://gces.ae/gces-symposium-2010#about-section) - [Events](https://gces.ae/gces-symposium-2010#event-section) - [Speaker](https://gces.ae/gces-symposium-2010#section-speaker) - [Program](https://gces.ae/gces-symposium-2010#program-section) ## GCES Symposium 2010 ### First Annual GCES Symposium **Education Reform in the GCC** 7-8 April 2010 American University of Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah, UAE The inaugural Symposium of the Gulf Comparative Education Society was held in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, on 7-8 April 2010. The two-day symposium was sponsored by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research in partnership with Dubai School of Government. The Symposium brought together top education researchers and policy makers from across the GCC countries and beyond to discuss various issues of relevance to GCC such as education reforms, teaching, quality improvement and equity in education.   Dr. Daniel Kirk, Founding President of the GCES, stated that policy makers and governments in the Gulf region have recognized the pivotal role of education in improving national development and fostering international competitiveness. Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, said that the Foundation is very pleased to sponsor the event and added that through the production and dissemination of high quality research, policy makers in the UAE and the region will be able to make decisions based on research and data which will lead to the greater success and sustainability of reforms. ![](https://gces.ae/hubfs/Gces_2023/images/shape-1.png) #### Speaker ## Gita Steiner-Khamsi Gita Steiner-Khamsi is Professor of Comparative and International Education at Columbia University, New York. Prior to her academic appointment, she worked for ten years as a policy analyst at the Ministry of Education of the Canton of Zurich/ Switzerland. She published six books and numerous articles, and is the co-editor of the World Yearbook of Education series. Her most recent book is entitled “South South Cooperation in Education and Development” (with Linda Chisholm; published in 2009 by Teachers College Press, New York). ## Keynotes and Guest Speakers ![](https://gces.ae/hubfs/fff.png) #### Maryam A. Al-Ali Know More > ![](https://gces.ae/hubfs/fff.png) #### Ali Hussain AlBulushi Know More > ![](https://gces.ae/hubfs/fff.png) #### Ibrahim Mohamed Ali Abdul-Latif Know More > ![](https://gces.ae/hubfs/fff.png) #### Samia Al Farra Know More > ![](https://gces.ae/hubfs/fff.png) #### Hamood Khalfan Al-Harthi Know More > X #### Maryam A. Al-Ali Maryam A. Al-Ali is a Director of Supervising and Monitoring Private Schools Office at the UAE Ministry of Education. The office is responsible for monitoring and supervising all private schools throughout the UAE (474 schools). It is also in charge of developing policies, regulations, and standards that reform and improve education in private schools. Dr. Al-Ali has extensive experience in private school systems including different types of assessments, instruction as well as curricula. Dr. Al-Ali also has great interest in research in the field of educational technology particularly in learning theories, Web-based instruction, course management systems (CMS), online learning, and serious games. Recently, she published a book titled Faculty Attitudes Toward Sakai Course Management System: An Educational Perspective (2008). She also presented a paper about serious games in classrooms at the Global Education Forum in Dubai and participated in the International Technology, Education and Development Conference in Valencia, Spain. Dr. Al-Ali received her M.Ed. in IT Instructional Design and Development from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and her Ph.D. in Technology and Education from the American University of Washington DC.  X #### Ali Hussain AlBulushi **Ali Hussain AlBulushi** is an assistant professor of English Language Teaching (ELT) at the College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. He obtained his PhD in Applied Linguistics from Lancaster University at the UK. Currently he is teaching several ELT courses at the department of curriculum. He is also involved in supervising ELT MA students. He is interested in task-based language teaching, computer-mediated communication, language curriculum development, and teacher professional development. X #### Ibrahim Mohamed Ali Abdul-Latif Ibrahim Mohamed Ali Abdul-Latif is from Egypt, and holds a PhD in Arabic Language from Dar Al Uloom, Minia University in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Dr. Ibrahim was teacher of Arabic Language in Egypt and Libya. He then joined the Department of Arabic Language in the University General Requirements Unit of UAE University as a teacher of Arabic Language to non-specialists, and was then appointed as a coordinator of Arabic language, a post he occupied for a period of six years. Dr. Ibrahim is currently the Coordinator of the Al Ain Arabic Proficiency Testing System in the UAE University. His academic interests include the following topics: modern criticism, ancient Arab literature and all issues related to the teaching of Arabic language for native Arabic speakers. Dr. Ibrahim co-authored more than 10 educational books at UAE University, and has is also in charge of supervising the team appointed to design the Al Ain Arabic Proficiency test. X #### Samia Al Farra Samia Al Farra is a prominent educator and founding member of the Middle East International Baccalaureate Association (MEIBA), where she oversees the Academic and Operational development of Taaleem and its schools. Dr. Al Farra is something of a household name on the IB circuit, especially on her home turf in the Arab world where she’s a founding member of the Middle East International Baccalaureate Association (MEIBA), Dr. Al Farra brings depth and breadth of regional experience and understanding to the field of education. Having notched up over 37 years in the field of international education, she has amassed a huge bank of experience as an educator, as a principal and through her senior positions on the Jordanian National Education Council and the CIS and NEASC accreditation teams. X #### Hamood Khalfan Al-Harthi Hamood Khalfan Al-Harthi is the Assistant Dean for Training and Community Services as well as Assistant Professor of Comparative and International Education at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. Dr. Al-Harthi earned his doctorate in International and Developmental Education focusing on Social and Comparative Analysis of Education from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States. He also holds an MA from the University of London and a BA from Sultan Qaboos University. ![](https://gces.ae/hubfs/Gces_2023/images/shape-1.png) ## Program & Schedule The conference is aimed to stimulate discussions on educational reform in the GCC. This program provides a platform for current and future research that explores achievements, challenges and pitfalls in education. As the education landscape continues to change, it is important to explore the way former education-related practices influence how education is practiced now and in the future. [View Full Schedule](https://gces.ae/hubfs/GCES2010Brochure.pdf?hsLang=en) - ##### Day 1 April 7th - ##### Day 2 April 8th 9:00 Welcome to RAK 9:10 Introduction to Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation 9:20 Introduction to GCES 9:40 Plenary 10:40 Coffee break 11:00 Panel 1: Access and Equity in Education  13:00 Lunch break 14:00 Panel 2: Transforming Teaching in the Arab World 15:30 Session 1: Challenges & Opportunities in Education Reform 15:30 Session 2: Lessons Learned from Education Reforms 17:00 END 19:00 Gala dinner - Hilton Resort and Spa 8:40 Welcome and Reflections 9:00 Panel 3: Improving Quality  11:00 Coffee break 11:30 Panel 4: Changing Direction: Reflections on Education Reform  13:30 Lunch break 14:30 Session 3: Leading & Learning  14:30 Session 4: Critical Perspectives on Education  14:30 Session 5: New Scholars Panel 16:00 Closing Remarks 16:10 END ### Sign Up For Email Updates [![GCES](https://gces.ae/hs-fs/hubfs/Gces_2023/images/footer-logo.png?width=156&height=73&name=footer-logo.png "GCES")](https://gces.ae?hsLang=en) The GCES was founded in 2008 to enable professional and educational discourse from a comparative stance, with a focus on the Gulf region. 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