UNESCO Learning CityRas al KhaimahUnited Arab Emirates
Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, was inducted into UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022.
A multicultural and economically diverse city
Ras Al Khaimah is located in the northern part of the United Arab Emirates. Its strategic location led to the establishment of commerce with other regions. The city’s economy is diverse, as no economic sector constitutes more than 30 per cent of its GDP.
As the population comprises nationals and expatriates from around 200 countries, schools and cultural centres support people from different ethnic backgrounds.
As the population comprises nationals and expatriates from around 200 countries, schools and cultural centres support people from different ethnic backgrounds.
Mr. Munther Al ZaabiMayor of Ras al Khaimah
"We are honoured and happy to be a member of the GNLC. Education has been the DNA of our city. We are confident that the learning city concept will improve the quality and accessibility of lifelong learning in Ras al Khaimah."
Enabling citizens to achieve their full potential
Ras Al Khaimah’s vision is to ensure the availability and accessibility of quality education to create a community of educated and cultured people developing their full potential. To achieve this goal, the city establishes partnerships to increase accessibility to high-quality lifelong learning, continually improves the digital education infrastructure and encourages participation in online learning platforms, amongst others. The municipality develops programmes according to these objectives, including the establishment of guidelines for continuing education and improving the availability of quality education across a range of fee levels.
Strategies for sustainability and health
The city integrates aspects of sustainability in the curricula of primary and secondary schools.
Furthermore, it conducts outreach programmes and initiatives that disseminate knowledge about sustainability and public health. Examples of the latter include the Environmental Sustainability Award, the Estidama app and the Student Team Awards.
Furthermore, it conducts outreach programmes and initiatives that disseminate knowledge about sustainability and public health. Examples of the latter include the Environmental Sustainability Award, the Estidama app and the Student Team Awards.
Promoting equity and inclusion
Ras Al Khaimah provides education to diverse groups of society by offering schools with different fee levels, scholarships for immigrants and low-income students, and remote adult education programmes with the option to take part in official national examinations.
Inclusive programmes and facilities enable persons with disabilities to integrate into the formal school system.
Inclusive programmes and facilities enable persons with disabilities to integrate into the formal school system.
Promoting entrepreneurship and employment
In addition to universities in the city offering courses on entrepreneurship, the municipality also organizes events to help residents find educational and employment opportunities.
The city also has an incubator programme for young entrepreneurs and offers international professional certification to students and employees.
The city also has an incubator programme for young entrepreneurs and offers international professional certification to students and employees.
Ras al Khaimah’s good practicesThe Tabadul (exchange) programme
Coordinated by the Emirates Association for Social Development, members of society with special skills and knowledge share their expertise with others as part of this programme.
Ras al Khaimah’s good practicesThe Ras al Khaimah Prison Programme
Comprising a prison library that houses over 2,500 educational and recreational books, magazines and newspapers in different languages, alongside access to 50 laptops with digital resources and educational courses, this programme aims to develop inmates’ skills and help them reintegrate into the community.
Ras al Khaimah’s good practicesThe skills development framework for jobseekers
The framework consists of several development programmes, including upskilling to raise the level of capabilities and skills, reskilling to retrain employees for new job roles, in-skilling to facilitate the integration of new graduates, C-skilling to encourage acquiring certifications, and L-skilling to prepare supervisors to occupy higher managerial positions.
Mr. Munther Al ZaabiMayor of Ras al Khaimah
"The municipality of Ras al Khaimah and other local government entities are committed to the GNLC agenda, and we look forward to building effective partnerships with other members to mutually enhance our learning journeys."
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: © City of Ras al Khaimah; White Lace Photography/Getty Images; typhoonski/Getty Images; oneinchpunch/Shutterstock.com; fizkes/Shutterstock.com; Jure Divich/Shutterstock.com; Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: © City of Ras al Khaimah; White Lace Photography/Getty Images; typhoonski/Getty Images; oneinchpunch/Shutterstock.com; fizkes/Shutterstock.com; Jure Divich/Shutterstock.com; Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com
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Ras al Khaimah
A multicultural and economically diverse city
Mr. Munther Al Zaabi
Enabling citizens to achieve their full potential
Strategies for sustainability and health
Promoting equity and inclusion
Promoting entrepreneurship and employment
The Tabadul (exchange) programme
The Ras al Khaimah Prison Programme
The skills development framework for jobseekers
Mr. Munther Al Zaabi
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities