The Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences has revealed the winners of its prestigious educational awards for 2024. These awards celebrate outstanding contributions to education both locally and internationally, recognizing individuals, schools, and institutions that have made significant advancements in educational practices and support for gifted students.

Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hamdan Foundation, expressed admiration for the remarkable contributions made by various members of the educational ecosystem, including students, teachers, schools, and organizations. He noted that these efforts reflect exceptional dedication and a strong desire to achieve excellence. According to WAM, Al Qatami stated, “It is truly a source of pride for us to witness a new cohort of 42 local award winners, who have worked diligently, persevered, and demonstrated a model to be emulated in their determination to excel and their pursuit of educational distinction.”

Al Qatami also extended his gratitude to Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, the Supreme President of the Foundation, as well as the Board of Trustees and Executive Management for their ongoing support. He praised the judging panel and partners for their critical role in the success of this award cycle. Furthermore, he congratulated all the winners on their achievements and encouraged them to continue their journey toward excellence in education.

This year, a total of 194 participants from various emirates across the UAE competed at the local level across six categories. In recognition of their achievements, 42 winners were honored for their exceptional contributions. Notably, in the Education Supporting Institutions category, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation was awarded for its “Madrasa E-Learning Platform” project, while the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority received recognition for its innovative educational project that supports institutions.

In the Distinguished School category, Um Ghafa Secondary School in Al Ain and GEMS Millennium School in Sharjah were highlighted for their outstanding contributions. The Distinguished Educator award was given to Sama Mohammed Ali Al Dhahli from the Emirates Schools Establishment, Maryam Hussein Al Loghani from Al Hijra School, Sheikha Salem Al Hafiti from Zayed Educational Complex in Bidya, and Huda Saeed Al Dhohouri from Muadh Bin Jabal Boys School.

Winners in the Distinguished Teacher category included Hanan Mahmoud Mousa Bouadi from Emirates National Schools and Wafaa Eid Shahada Abu Qudairi from Al Ebdaa Basic Education School. For the Distinguished Undergraduate University Student category, Meera Abdullah Ahmed Al Harmoudi from the University of Sharjah was recognized for academic excellence, while Khalid Abdul Fattah Ahmed Qazali from UAE University and Hamed Abdullah Ali Al Bastaki from Khalifa University were honored for their achievements outside the classroom.

On the international front, the Hamdan Foundation announced the results of the World Giftedness Center Awards, which included the Applied Research Global Award of Gifted Education and the School Global Award Initiative of Gifted Education. The Applied Research Global Award received nine submissions from nine countries, with the winning research titled “Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Gifted Students and Their Education: Patterns and Determinants,” conducted by Australian researchers Jay Yip Yang and Jiheon Lee.

For the School Global Award Initiative of Gifted Education, two innovative initiatives were submitted, one from Saudi Arabia and another from India, which showcased practices aimed at supporting gifted students. The awards are designed to bolster ongoing efforts to enhance the educational environment for gifted students worldwide, utilizing global expertise and best practices in the field while promoting their dissemination.