Dubai, UAE, 21 October 2017: Taqeef today launches iMatter – the first of its kind educational CSR programme in the UAE to bring the science of space, renewable energy and robotics into charity school classrooms in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.
The bespoke science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programme has been created by Taqeef to inspire the next generation of innovators, explorers and inventors to pursue STEM careers in the UAE.
With ‘Mission to Mars’ as this year’s programme theme, hundreds of students will get to design rockets, explore renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, assemble robots and develop their coding expertise in a bid to create a sustainable city on Mars. These skills feed into the national agenda for space exploration and the Mars 2117 project, equipping hundreds of students with new ways to understand, explore and engage with the world.
iMatter has drawn together a host of interactive digital educational learning tools to ensure that students at less resourced schools (such as the National Charity Schools) can have access to world-class STEM education resources and an opportunity to explore STEM subjects in an active-learning environment. Taqeef worked with a team of educators at Action Care to develop the programme, which has an emphasis on English and Arabic translation, in support of the UAE’s latest initiatives to increase the science and maths resources accessible to Arabic speaking students.
Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO of Taqeef, commented: “We are constantly looking at ways in which to expand our corporate social responsibility and community engagement efforts. At Taqeef, we are committed to using science and innovation to contribute to a greener, cleaner environment, so we are proud to have created an education project which combines sustainability with science and engineering. We hope to give students an exciting glimpse into key challenges being faced globally, and what better way to engage them than to get them excited about exploring space?”
Dr. Kamal Farahat, principal at the NCS, commented “we are pleased to play a role in fulfilling UAE’s national agenda by supporting H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s e-learning initiative, as well as promoting the vision of Dr. Aref Al-Shaikh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NCS for the Sustainable and Renewable Energy educational programs.”
He continued: “The National Charity Schools actively seeks to integrate its academic curriculum with practical activities for students, to help them become innovative thinkers and tomorrow’s producers rather than just today’s consumers.”
The 7-week programme will run in each of the National Charity Schools in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman throughout 2017-18, and will be conducted by a team of educators from Action Care, Repton School Dubai and Regent Global Dubai, along with 30 volunteering specialists from Taqeef. It will culminate in a competition which will see Grade 8 students research and design STEM projects, complete with 3D models and informational displays, to share what they have learned during the course. The winners will then be awarded prizes and medals to commemorate their achievements.
The National Charity Schools provide education from Grade 1 to high school graduation, making quality teaching available to expatriate students regardless of their social and economic status.
About Taqeef
Taqeef is the originator of desert cooling systems in the UAE and the Middle East’s leading air conditioning solutions provider. Since 1972 Taqeef has served the country’s evolving cooling needs with world-class technology, innovation and service. Taqeef is committed to driving responsible Air Conditioning use and promoting environmental efficiency in the industry across the Middle East.
Taqeef only partner with the world-class air conditioning manufacturers, who – like them – are committed to greener growth. These brands include Fujitsu General – the Middle East’s biggest selling air conditioning brand, and Midea – the world’s largest producer of applianc