Craig Barrett used his fourth visit to the UAE to release his programme of education and training. More specifically, the Intel Chairman intends to work with the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to expand Intel's Teach programme across other Arab countries, and to bring in a volunteer programme with INJAZ al-Arab to help educate Arab youth.
Working with local governments and Ministries of Education, Sheikh Muhammed's foundation and Intel plan to train more than 2 million Arab teachers by 2011.Training will occur throughout Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen. The programme aims at developing Arab talent and improving education in the region.
“Every young person deserves a chance at the kind of education that helps them prepare for competing in our 21st century knowledge-based economy,” Craig Barrett believes: “We think teacher training is a significant start. This is a prime example of the potential of public-private partnerships in changing the lives of people, particularly through the adoption of technology.”
Stronger Intel ties with INJAZ
With strong support of His Excellency Dr Hanif Hasan, UAE Minister of Education, Craig Barrett announced that Intel is broadening its two-year relationship with INJAZ al-Arab by pledging to donate 1,000 hours of training time. The programme will span the region, in lie with the goal of educating one million young people by 2015. building on the group's relationship with Intel that began in 2006. INJAZ al-Arab, which works to bring junior achievement to a dozen Arab countries, was established in 2004 with a goal of helping a million Arab youths by 2015.
Craig Barrett is traveling throughout the Middle East in his role as chairman of a United Nations panel on technology, and on behalf of the Intel World Ahead Program. Intel's US$1 billion, five-year initiative strives to improve education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and government services by accelerating access to computers, connectivity and localized Internet content.
Established last year, Sheikh Mohammed's foundation seeks to build a knowledge-based society in the Arab region by improving education, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, investing in scientific research and creating new employment opportunities for youth.
The Intel Teach programme trains educators on how to integrate computers and other technology into their curriculums to better teach their students. More than 400,000 teachers in the region have already graduated from the programme.
