UNESCO heritage site Al Ain inspires future generation in Abu Dhabi
Project: integrating heritage into the school curriculum
The Purpose
The objective is to communicate to educators and students the importance of the site as part of the Emirati cultural identity and also our shared human heritage. The goal is to develop students’ knowledge of these sites, to ensure their future preservation.
The Challenge
Al Ain in Abu Dhabi has been home to continuous human settlements since prehistoric times. With artefacts and remnants of built heritage stretching across 5,000 years, it was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2011. As Abu Dhabi’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the key challenge was the absence of any previous studies or educational programmes that the project could draw upon. There is also limited access to interactive teaching methods related to cultural heritage. Educators had little knowledge about World Cultural Heritage sites in general. There was also a lack of coordination between heritage experts, teachers and curriculum developers, and limited attempts to integrate local and global cultural heritage into the curriculum.
Abu Dhabi created a groundbreaking educational resource using interactive media to support social studies and national education students in 11th grade in all public schools.
The Solution
Abu Dhabi created a groundbreaking educational resource using interactive media to support social studies and national education students in 11th grade in all public schools. The program was a collaboration between Abu Dhabi’s Department of Education and Knowledge and the Department of Culture and Tourism.
The Impact
The resource is the first of its kind in the UAE and is a milestone in integrating cultural heritage into the curriculum in line with government legislation. The resource includes field trips to the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, providing first-hand experience, especially with the historic and significant irrigation systems. Positive feedback from educators and students has led to the federal Ministry of Education requesting the inclusion of the resource in the national curriculum of all emirates in the UAE.
Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022
Images Courtesy @ Getty/Canva
