Education
Sharjah has always been a pioneer in culture and in education.
His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has transformed Sharjah into a modern oasis of social and intellectual development by opening the doors of culture, learning and literature to all who wish to learn. Under his leadership a new era has begun with the construction of many new schools, further education institutes, learning and research centres, libraries, clubs and cultural centres.
Education in the Emirate started very simply with home based Islamic studies. Between the years of 1935 and 1953 the school moved several times to end up in its present location in the Heritage Area (now the Al Eslah School Museum) and it became the first formal educational institute in Sharjah offering a larger curriculum and a formal teaching arrangement.
The first newspaper in the region was launched in Sharjah in 1927 and the first cultural club, Islamic Forum, was established in 1936, followed by the Arabic Cultural Club in 1947. In 1956 Sharjah became the first emirate in the UAE to offer women an education, and in the early 1990s it was the first to run an MBA Programme.
Under the directives of the Ruler of Sharjah, University City was established in 1997. Today it is one of the most advanced education centres in the Middle East anchored by the American University of Sharjah, the University of Sharjah, the Higher Colleges of Technology, the Sharjah Police Academy and the Judicial Studies and Training Institute. Students attend from all over the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The periphery of University City has been designated Sharjah Education City with numerous schools and institutes relocating here, such as Skyline University College, and new ones being established including Sharjah Institute of Technology and the Institute of Nursing. Several schools have opened in the last few years, among them the first Australian International School in the UAE, Scholars International Academy and the American Community School, all of which are located close to the long establish Sharjah English School. There are other educational institutes located in the city with Troy University, Sharjah Art Institute, Sharjah Centre for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy & Ornamentation, Sharjah National Theatre, Sharjah Discovery Centre, Etisalat University College and the Victorian International School of Sharjah.
Specific research centres of note in Sharjah include the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies at University City for regional historical research, and the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife (under the Environment & Protected Areas Authority) at Sharjah Desert Park. The Breeding Centre is a modern conservation, research and captive breeding facility specializing in the unique fauna of the Arabian Peninsula.
His Highness has always stressed the importance of implementing projects - educational, cultural and scientific – for the youth, so as to maintain the cultural identity of the national population and to protect it from dissolution by the current popular trend of globalization. Schools and higher educational institutes are supported by the many museums, art institutes and cultural centres that Sharjah offers, to promote and preserve its traditional heritage and culture, through education.
The Sharjah Museums Department’s (SMD) has created the Department of Interpretation and Education, reflecting the value it places on museum’s role in the education. SMD offers an ever increasing variety of programmes and access for audiences: families, students, teachers, adults, community organizations and groups, and those with special needs. Programmes currently include hands-on workshops, lectures, tours, individual study, internships and work placements.
In His Highness Sheikh Sultan’s own words, “Culture is the cornerstone of the growth we seek. It is that vital element that creates a balance between the cultural belonging and the spirit of the age. Culture creates a state of self-development and self-discipline and leads the human being to show the values of kindness, benevolence and brotherly relations with others. Education is the key to new horizons of development and progress”.
By Emiri Decree the Department of Culture and Information was set up to supervise and organize cultural activities in the Emirate. The Ruler of Sharjah was also behind the establishment of Sharjah World Book Fair, one of the most important cultural fairs in the Arab World. During the fair, the Sharjah Award for the UAE Book is presented annually to the best local writer, best locally produced and the best locally printed books.
Sharjah also hosts an annual International Education Show, which is a comprehensive and premier education platform for higher studies. It is aimed at showcasing opportunities for UAE-based students wishing to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational courses in some of the leading educational institutes, both foreign as well as UAE-based. The Education Show, held at Expo Centre Sharjah, is a joint initiative of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Expo Centre Sharjah and is supported by the National Human Resource Development, Employment Authority (TANMIA) and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
Sharjah remains at the forefront of developments through further investment in education and by building relationships with foreign universities. The list of courses available continues to expand and the Education Show promotes higher education institutes, providing information for students. The emphasis on education in this Emirate cannot be understated. Sharjah continues to be one of the most popular destinations for students from the region, with numbers expected to increase in the years to come.