The National Archives Will Welcome Thousands of Participants to the Fourth Teachers Forum

The National Archives of the United Arab Emirates plans to host its Fourth Annual National and Foreign Teachers Forum from 22 August to 12 September 2017. This forum is intended to introduce teachers to the culture, history and social values of the United Arab Emirates and to inform teachers by introducing to them methods that are influenced by the strongly held traditions of tolerance and coexistence amongst the many nationalities represented in the UAE. This forum is especially designed to encourage teachers,who have been nominated by the Abu Dhabi Educational Council, the Ministry of Education, or the Emirates National Schools, to promote a sense of national loyalty and belonging and facilitate the consolidation of our national identity. It is believed that such a program will prepare students to assume their responsibilities to the homeland in the future.

Dr. Abdullah Alraisi, Director General of the National Archives, had this to say about the forum: “We will introduce participants to the National Archives, its functions and objectives, and the services that it offers to its audience of beneficiaries.” His Excellency added that, “The National Archives, in cooperation with its strategic partners – the Abu Dhabi Education Council, the Ministry of Education and the Emirates National Schools – is keen to inspire the educational system in state schools to consolidate our national identity and promote loyalty and belonging amongst students. The National Archives is also seeks to enrich the educational process and bridge the gap between teacher and student as part of its contribution to the national educational process and for the success of the educational process in state schools.”

Included in the program of the National Teachers Forum, is a lecture delivered by Dr. Aisha Bilkhair, Research Advisor at the National Archives. The lecture is entitled, “History and Culture of the United Arab Emirates,” and will endeavor to show how the happiness of the UAE people has its foundations in mutual tolerance and acceptance. In addition, it will point to the role played by the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in instilling values implied by the meaning of its original name, which was Emirates of the Reconciled Coast.  The lecture will also address the historical background of the UAE, which has its origins in the civilization of Umm al-Nar, showing that the UAE is not a recently emerging civilization. Finally, the lecture will briefly touch on salient characteristics of  UAE society as well as its societal norms and values. It is hoped that the lecture will motivate foreign teachers to make a positive impact while educating their students and adhering to best practices during the educational process so as to inculcate positive rather than negative attitudes. This lecture will also allow teachers to prepare students for living in one of the best nations in the world.

A tour of the National Archives is to be scheduled as part of the list of activities at the forum. Forum participants will explore the various facilities at the National Archives, which are research friendly. The tour intends to inform participants of the myriad of materials that are available to the researcher, including maps, historical documents, photographs and multimedia.

After visiting Shiekh Zayed Bin Sultan Nayan Hall and reviewing the materials available there for research concerning the creation of the UAE, participants will visit the Emirates Library.This library provides both written and electronic materials for researchers to peruse. Visitors will be able to make use of specialized sources that provide information about the historical nature and cultural heritage of the UAE, and be shown how to make the best use of the resources of the library irrespective of the country the participants come from or their particular needs and requirements.