Star International School, Mirdif, unites educators at TechFest 2025
More than 200 educators, EdTech innovators, and STEAM leaders discussed ways to incorporate AI-powered and tech tools to drive better student and teaching outcomes
Dubai, UAE: Star International School, Mirdif, part of International Schools Partnership (ISP), successfully concluded TechFest 2025, a pioneering conference that showcased the future of learning and offered a deep dive into technology's role in transforming education across disciplines.
Attracting over 200 educators, EdTech innovators, and STEAM leaders from across the UAE and beyond, as well guests from the ISP network globally, TechFest 2025 provided a dynamic platform to share best practices and explore collaborative opportunities in both English and Arabic. With the two separate language strands each session focused on insights and strategies that can further enhance student learning, well-being, and digital safety. Through expert-led workshops and panel discussions, the event highlighted real-world applications of technology and its seamless integration into teaching and learning.
Prominent dignitaries at the event included Ahmed Hindam, former Senior Inspector at KHDA and one of the founding members of DSIB (Dubai School Inspection Bureau), and Dr. Sajida Al-Bashir, Supervisor of Quality and Assessment at Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge.
Leading on the event, Clive Gibson, Assistant Principal and Head of Educational Technology at Star International School, Mirdif, said: 'TechFest 2025 ignited vital discussions on leveraging AI to enhance education and create engaging learning outcomes for all. As an ISP LabSchool, we are proud to be at the forefront of educational innovation in the UAE and we believe TechFest 2025 has set the stage for transformative advancements in education.'
A key highlight of the event was a presentation on Flash Academy, an innovative platform supporting multilingual learners. Dan Groves, School Leader for Educational Technology at The British School of Malaga, Spain, part of the ISP Lab Schools network, shared compelling data demonstrating Flash Academy's impact on student performance and its role in accelerating their language acquisition.
The TechFest featured interactive workshops, engaging presentations, and hands-on demonstrations of smartboards, learning apps, virtual reality in education, and AI-powered tutoring systems.
Hussain Alhamo, Head of IT, ISP Middle East shared this about the event: "It is wonderful that Star International School, Mirdif has taken the lead on organizing an event like this focused on EdTech, and bringing together teachers and tech enthusiasts from around the UAE to explore how technology is transforming learning. At ISP we are focusing on EdTech and how to enhance EdTech implementation across our schools, fostering innovation, encouraging collaboration, and investing in tools that enhance digital learning experiences. As our regional LabSchool, Star International School, Mirdif, lead by the Principal, Neal Oates and the Head of Education Technology, Clive, the event showcased the innovative projects the school has been involved in, while also emphasizing the importance of integrating technology into both English and Arabic teaching and learning."
Rory Galvin, Director of Learning, ISP Middle East said: 'TechFest 2025 ignited vital discussions on leveraging Edtech tools and AI to enhance and create engaging learning outcomes for all. As an ISP LabSchool, we are proud to be at the forefront of educational innovation in the UAE, championing innovation that not only supports academic outcomes but also cultivates the broader life competencies our students need: creativity, critical thinking, multilingualism, and adaptability. This aligns with both our ISP EdTech Strategy and Dubai's E33 vision- using digital innovation to drive equity for all learners, engage students meaningfully in their learning, and raise standards of excellence across our schools.'
As part of the ISP LabSchools initiative, 11 schools across their global network have been selected to become dynamic environments for experimentation and learning based on EdTech. Spanning the USA, Europe, Iberia, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, India, and Malaysia, the schools serve as testing grounds for new EdTech solutions focused on areas such as academic achievement, language acquisition and life skills, offering unique insights and perspectives on the integration of technology in education.
About International Schools Partnership:
Moved by curiosity and empowered by self-confidence, students from ISP Schools thrive throughout their lifetime.
International Schools Partnership (ISP) is a global community of 81 international schools across 22 countries. We champion a transformative approach to learning that goes beyond the classroom. By igniting our students' curiosity and growing their self-confidence, we empower them to become the next generation of changemakers.
Our unique approach to learning recognises our students as collaborators in the learning process. We focus on developing the knowledge and lifelong skills that help them thrive beyond their time at school. ISP students benefit from teaching excellence, international opportunities, and careers guidance. Our schools have access to a global network of experts and our teachers and leaders are supported to continuously improve through extensive professional development programmes.
ISP. Where confidence grows.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Janine Alamir
janine.alamir@bcw-global.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
14 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: How parents can support their children through new AI school curriculum
As the UAE strives to be a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) development, a new educational mandate will revolutionise learning, impacting both students and parents. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, AI will be integrated into the school curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade, covering foundational concepts, ethical considerations, and real-world applications. This move aligns the UAE with other forward-thinking nations like China, which are also introducing AI education early on. For UAE parents, this presents both an exciting opportunity and a unique challenge. While AI will, undeniably, shape their children's future, many adults may feel they are playing catch-up with technology. With a compulsory AI curriculum, a crucial question arises: How can parents effectively support their children and navigate this new frontier of AI education and EdTech tools? This is the essence of 'smart parenting' in the AI age. Dubai-based parent of two and AI brand and content strategist Abha Malpani Naismith observes, 'As a mum and AI advocate, introducing AI from age four is timely and essential. Our children are growing up in a world reshaped by AI. Teaching AI literacy ensures they are not just passive users but informed, responsible creators and problem-solvers, equipped to thrive in an AI-integrated future.' Understanding the curriculum The UAE's new curriculum will be comprehensive, aiming to provide a deep understanding of AI. It encompasses ethical awareness and practical applications, not just coding or robotics. Parents should familiarise themselves with the basics of AI concepts like machine learning and ethical implications to engage in meaningful conversations with their children and support their learning. Dr Naomi Tyrrell, AI trainer and consultant, and mother of two adds, 'Children often learn new technology faster than parents. This offers an opportunity for intergenerational learning. Safety and ethical use are paramount, so discussing AI use and ethics alongside online safety is crucial. Parents must not solely rely on schools to inform children about all risks and dangers.' Engaging with children about AI Parental engagement is key. Via open discussion of what children are learning in AI classes, we can ask about projects, tools, and what they find interesting or challenging. Because AI is evolving, this dialogue must be ongoing. Parents can encourage questions, explore online resources together, and make it a shared learning experience. This reinforces school learning and strengthens the parent-child bond. Malpani Naismith notes, 'Introducing AI in schools doesn't necessarily mean more screen time. It's about age-appropriate exposure that builds curiosity, critical thinking, and responsible use. Parents must manage screen time outside school, ensuring children unplug, play, explore, and build offline experiences.' She further suggests focusing on 'valuable' screen time that involves using AI for problem-solving, building, or expressing creativity. Age-appropriateness and developmental stages Dr. Tyrrell explains, 'Parental support must be appropriate to children's ages and abilities. Developing awareness of different AI types and models will help support children's learning. Generative AI allows instant access to knowledge.' What a kindergartener needs to learn differs vastly from a 12th grader. Parents should understand the scope of each stage and advocate for a balanced curriculum. Concerns about complexity or different approaches can be discussed with the school. Real-world applications and home learning One of the strengths of the UAE's curriculum is its focus on 'real-world applications' of AI. Children might be learning how AI is used in healthcare, transportation, or environmental conservation. Parents can reinforce these concepts at home. For example, to discuss how smart devices use AI, explore AI-powered apps together, or even conduct simple AI-related experiments. Encouraging children to think critically about how AI impacts their daily lives can deepen their understanding. 'To optimise children's AI learning, parents should familiarise themselves with mainstream AI tools – learn what they can do well and what they are not so good at! Learning how AI tools work – even at its simplest level – can be helpful to support children's learning as they are likely to ask questions,' says Dr Naomi Tyrrell. 'The responsibility isn't just on schools; it's on us as parents to grow with our children. We need to stay informed, understand the tools they're learning, and create a healthy balance at home. That means reflecting on our own screen habits, asking schools the right questions about how they are bringing in AI into the curriculum. And it's not enough for us to just be using AI, we need to also work on our AI literacy — our ability to understand, use, and critically engage with artificial intelligence in a meaningful and responsible way,' says Abha Malpani Naismith. Balancing technology and traditional methods While AI and EdTech offer great opportunities, maintaining balance is crucial. Over-reliance on technology can hinder other developmental aspects. We must ensure children still engage in traditional learning methods like reading physical books, handwriting, and face-to-face interactions. Dr. Tyrrell suggests preparing children for change by discussing how technology has evolved. 'Explore AI's possibilities and what it means for your family, community, and the world. Discuss critical questions together, like access, environmental implications, and ethical concerns.' She also advises using parental controls, limiting screen time, and encouraging other off screen activities. She also warns against over-reliance on AI, which can essentially deskill us, and our real-life social interactions. Digital literacy and ethical awareness Digital literacy is a non-negotiable skill. Parents must prioritise teaching their children how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. This includes understanding online safety, protecting personal information, and identifying misinformation. With the inclusion of 'ethical awareness' in the AI curriculum, parents should engage their children in conversations about responsible AI use, data privacy, and the potential biases within AI systems. These are critical discussions that will shape how the next generation interacts with technology, and, importantly, encourage critical thinking and understanding of how our data is used and problem-solve privacy concerns amongst others. Choosing reliable EdTech The abundance of educational apps and online tools can be overwhelming. Parents must be discerning when selecting EdTech resources. Consulting with teachers and other parents can also provide valuable insights. British schools in Cambridgeshire and Middlesex involved in a new AI pilot programme have highlighted significant gains in student confidence and engagement as part of a group of 20 across Britain using specially-developed AI writing programme Writer's Toolbox. Whilst reservations from teachers included the need for children to learn how to hand write properly, the programme and the software relates to where the children are individually, not just their age, but also their progress and provides instant feedback. This is encouraging self-confidence and motivation, especially in boys, participating schools found. Dr Ian Hunter, founder of Writer's Toolbox and former university professor, says: 'We're encouraged by the early results of the British pilot. Schools and educators have been immensely supportive. I think one of the things the teachers are telling us is that, in the midst of the genuine concerns around AI, if we carefully construct purpose-built AI for the education sector, it can help amplify the work of the classroom teacher and provide customised learning at scale.' AI and EdTech can be powerful tools for supporting diverse learning styles — particularly where platforms offer personalised learning experiences, adapting to a child's pace and learning preferences. 'It could be argued that AI and EdTech tools 'level the playing field' in education,' says Dr Naomi Tyrrell. 'Features like real-time translation, speech recognition, and closed captioning improve accessibility for students with additional language or literacy needs.' Concerns and misconceptions Malpani Naismith highlights the need to guide children in using AI wisely and nurture soft skills, like empathy and critical thinking. The UAE's AI agenda will significantly impact future opportunities. By embracing AI education, the country is preparing its youth for future careers. Parents can support this by fostering a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability. Dr Naomi Tyrell concludes: 'Common concerns parents may have about AI in education are that AI will replace teachers, reduce critical thinking, compromise data privacy, or expose children to biased or inappropriate content. Some may worry that reliance on AI will make learning impersonal or that children will become too dependent on technology and screens. To address these concerns, it's important to emphasise that AI tools used in the right way can enhance and not replace – they can provide more tailored support and free up time for more meaningful interaction with teachers and peers. The ethics and risks are not being ignored — educators and developers are increasingly embedding ethical safeguards, data privacy protections, and bias-awareness into AI tools – because they know they have to! Parents can play a key role by staying informed, guiding their children's use of AI responsibly, and maintaining open dialogue with schools and children about how these tools are being used to enhance, rather than replace, human-led learning.'
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
CNTXT AI and Actualize partner to launch Dialect-Aware Arabic AI Voice Agent, targeting GCC's $2.2bln Conversational AI Market
Dubai, UAE – CNTXT AI, a Data and AI enabler driving AI readiness in the region, has partnered with Actualize, a leader in real-time voice automation, to launch a next-generation Arabic AI voice agent that understands and responds to regional dialects in real time, enhancing customer engagement across key service touchpoints. The collaboration addresses persistent challenges in Arabic voice technology — from underrepresentation of regional dialects to the need for privacy-compliant, locally hosted deployments. With the GCC's digital economy accelerating, voice automation is emerging as a critical layer in customer operations. According to IMARC, the GCC conversational AI market is expected to grow from $325 million in 2024 to over $2.1 billion by 2033, expanding at an annual rate of 23.6%, driven by rising demand for personalized, on-demand voice services. This partnership responds directly to that demand — offering a ready-to-deploy, Arabic-native voice agent that meets regional enterprise needs from day one. The AI voice agent combines Munsit, CNTXT AI's proprietary Arabic speech-to-text model, with Actualize's voice automation platform to deliver accurate voice interaction. The Arabic AI voice agent is now available for public trial with no sign-up or downloads required. Built for High-Impact Use Cases The Arabic voice agent is tailored to high-frequency, high-value business scenarios where (timely, context-aware voice communication enhances efficiency and customer satisfaction.) such as: Booking Confirmation – Automatically follows up with customers to confirm appointments, reducing no-shows and improving operational efficiency Receptionist Automation – Answers and routes incoming calls in the appropriate dialect, enhancing caller experience with culturally aware interaction Sales Agent Support – Engages leads through outbound voice calls, capturing interest, qualifying intent, and escalating hot leads to human agents Order & Payment Follow-Up – Calls customers to verify order details, confirm deliveries, or issue payment reminders, improving conversion rates and cash collection Government Services – Enables voice-enabled digital kiosks and e-service platforms with dialect recognition "Voice AI built for our region's linguistic diversity is no longer a future concept — it's a business necessity," said Mohammad Abu Sheikh, CEO of CNTXT AI. "By combining Munsit's dialectal intelligence with Actualize's automation infrastructure, we're making it possible for organizations to serve Arabic-speaking customers with clarity, confidence, and care." A Regionally Tuned Solution for Arabic Speech Traditional speech technologies often fail to capture the depth and diversity of Arabic speech. Munsit, the speech-to-text model powering the voice agent, was developed to address this directly. The model has been independently benchmarked on six public datasets, outperforming industry leaders like OpenAI's Whisper and Meta's SeamlessM4T in Arabic speech recognition accuracy. The integrated voice agent supports real-time transcription, and localized pronunciation handling across dialects — while respecting regional data sovereignty and compliance requirements. "Arabic deserves tech that speaks its language literally and culturally." said Muhammed Shabreen, CEO at Actualize. "This integration gives enterprises across MENA the voice tools they need to automate customer-facing operations while respecting language and cultural nuance." ABOUT Actualize Actualize is a leading AI Agentic platform enabling enterprises with voice, chat, and workflow automation. Built to humanize digital interactions, Actualize delivers real-time AI agents that are intuitive, context-aware, and fluent in English, Arabic (with regional dialects), and over 50 other languages. Trusted by organizations across the UAE, Qatar, and the UK, Actualize blends advanced NLP with deep system integration to automate high-frequency interactions and provide 24/7 service that feels truly human—at scale. ABOUT CNTXT AI CNTXT AI is a UAE-based Data and AI company that enables organizations to prepare, build, test, deploy, and scale sovereign AI solutions while maintaining full data control. Our comprehensive suite of solutions transforms data into actionable AI applications—seamlessly, securely, and without compromising control. From AI-ready data pipelines to scalable deployment and industry-standard validation, we ensure AI adoption is practical, compliant, and optimized for real-world impact.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
The Drill SaaS Tech teaches crisis via interactive publishing
That's the verdict of Gerry McCusker, a 30+ year PR veteran who has built the first Arabic-language crisis training tool for the future called The Drill. Crisis management training has finally met the digital and interactive age, via a software solution that spells the end for tabletop and flip-board crisis rehearsals. The Drill's live, online technology dramatises the way organisations prepare for crises with an interactive methodology that delivers training outcomes via realistic and time-sensitive publishing. And clients don't need any special facilities, software or venues to access this innovative tool. Creator of The Drill crisis simulation portal, Gerry McCusker, has tested and proven that his new digital technology can immerse clients into a wholly realistic PR disaster, safely within a secure online portal, enhancing crisis planning and preparedness. Clients login, and for the next 4-8 hours all their communications - email, online, phones and content creation - are contained and escalated within the fully realistic, media-rich environment. The Drill simulates multi-channel pressures - from crisis logs to emails plus online news media, radio and TV reports and social media. 'Digital technologies have revolutionised how interests attack brands and businesses online. Our portal revolutionises how companies train staff to handle such threats.' says McCusker. As a crisis learning portal, The Drill's interactive environment helps clients probe the right questions and formulate strategic - and online-savvy - crisis responses. It's unique in that it guides clients through an issues management methodology, while allowing them to experience real-life crisis challenges, curve-balls and 'tests'. The product had its pre-launch at The International Emergency Management Society conference in San Diego in September 2016, and since then has been deployed by clients and peak bodies from Sydney to Singapore and Sharjah. Clients include organisations spanning the agriculture, construction, education, finance, food, healthcare, infrastructure and Oil & Gas sectors. 'We believe The Drill offers clients the worst day of their professional life. And after they've done our drill, they'll be well-prepared for when it all gets real,' McCusker concludes. About The Drill: The Drill is the premier, boutique online crisis simulation technology, developed by seasoned crisis communications experts to provide bespoke, real-time training experiences for organisations across various sectors. Launched in 2016 at The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS) Annual Conference in San Diego, The Drill has since been adopted by numerous corporations and government agencies. Offering a realistic replication of the pressures experienced during actual crises, The Drill crisis simulator enables participants to engage in interactive publishing and strategic decision-making within a controlled, online environment. The platform delivers tailored crisis scenarios ranging from cyber attacks to product recalls, accommodating training sessions for small executive teams to large, remotely located groups. Its flexibility allows for scaling up to conference-sized cohorts, with the largest session to date involving around 220 participants. The Drill remains committed to enhancing organisational resilience through innovative, interactive crisis management training, ensuring clients are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of modern crises. For more, please visit
