Page 39 - T4 Education PR REPORT - August 2024

UAE’s Nargish Khambatta named Finalist for inaugural Asia Education Medal
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Recognising the need to prepare students for an uncertain future, GEMS Modern Academy introduced a
number of technological innova ons into its curriculum and prac ces to include the region’s first online
report card system, developed en rely by students and teachers. The school also introduced a Bring Your
Own Device (BYOD) programme, as part of which students from Grade 2 onwards bring their own learning
devices.

In 2015-16, a er sending teachers to Carnegie Mellon University for training inScience, Technology,
Engineering, Arts and Maths(STEAM) and technology integra on, the school incorporated the disciplines
into classrooms. Furthermore, a er partnering with Harvard Project Zero, the school developed thinking
rou nes and a mul disciplinary approach towards innova on, known as the future’s curriculum method,
which has been adopted by several other schools.

Altogether, this has led to an entrepreneurial mindset that the school fosters. Star ng in primary school with
Unit of Inquiry projectsand moving on to Challenge-Based Learning in middle school and the school’s Prism
Project and Entrepreneurship and Innova on Programme in senior school, GEMS Modern Academy provides
what it calls a scaffolded strategy for developing cri cal thinking, problem-solving, design thinking and a
growth mindset.

Khamba a’s outstanding leadership led her to receive the first-ever GEMS Excep onal Head of School
Award in 2018.

Her philosophy is that all children should be given ample opportunity to discover their self-worth, interests
and passion in a secure and happy environment, which helps them grow into confident young adults with a
sound intellectual and moral compass to guide them to their goals.

Mayank Dhingra, Senior Educa on Business Leader at HP, said:“Congratula ons to the UAE’s Nargish
Khamba a on being named Finalist for the Asia Educa on Medal 2024. Her passion and dedica on to
transforming educa on will inspire countless others to follow in her footsteps in building a world where
quality educa on is enjoyed by all.

“HP has a bold goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining
forces and aligning with NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the educa on
environment. The Asia Educa on Medal brings together all those who are changing the face of Asian
educa on, whose work we must all learn from if the world is to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by
2030.” he added.

Vikas Pota, Founder and CEO of T4 Educa on, said:“The Asia Educa on Medal honours
changemakers where change is needed most. Where learning gaps remain stubbornly persistent and where
deep inequali es remain.

“If we are to tackle these colossal challenges, and unlock the con nent’s future, we must build a community
of leaders from every sphere of society commi ed to educa onal transforma on. Leaders like Nargish
Khamba a. Asia, and the world, has so much to learn from your inspira onal story and your vital
contribu on to the next genera on,” he added.

The Finalists for the Asia Educa on Medal 2024 are:

Ashish Dhawan, Founder and Chairperson, Central Square Founda on, India
Baela Jamil, CEO, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), Centre for Educa on and Consciousness, Pakistan
Duriya Aziz Singapore Wala, Senior Vice President (Educa on, Interna onal), Scholas c Inc, Singapore
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