Sharjah Education Academy Establishes Centre for Teaching Excellence with International Partner

A transformative partnership between Sharjah Education Academy and Advance HE will create the emirate's first Academic Professional Development Centre, positioning Sharjah as a hub for internationally recognised teaching excellence.

The architecture of educational excellence rests upon those who build it. In recognising this fundamental truth, Sharjah Education Academy has embarked upon a strategic partnership with Advance HE, a globally influential UK-based organisation dedicated to advancing the quality of higher education. This collaboration marks a decisive moment in the emirate’s commitment to nurturing academic talent and establishing institutional frameworks of lasting quality.

The partnership agreement, signed by Khawla Al Hosani, Vice Chancellor of Sharjah Education Academy, and Alistair Jarvis CBE, Chief Executive of Advance HE, will give rise to Sharjah’s first Academic Professional Development Centre for Teaching Excellence. The centre will pursue Advance HE accreditation, enabling it to offer professional development pathways that align with internationally recognised standards. This represents a significant evolution, as Sharjah Education Academy transitions from facilitating isolated professional development opportunities to building the institutional capacity necessary to deliver programmes of international calibre.

The initiative embodies the educational vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, whose commitment to developing Emirati talent and establishing Sharjah as a centre of educational excellence has long guided the emirate’s strategic direction. As we reported earlier, the University of Sharjah’s advancement to an elite global tier in prestigious rankings demonstrates the calibre of excellence toward which such efforts aspire.

The professional development framework encompasses the Advance HE Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, structured programmes tailored to individual needs, mentoring relationships, assessor training and pathways towards internationally recognised Advance HE Fellowship. Through this structured approach, academic staff and higher education professionals will gain access to leading practice and expertise whilst achieving professional recognition on the international stage.

Beyond individual professional advancement, the partnership commits to building lasting institutional expertise within Sharjah. The Academy will collaborate with Advance HE to refine and develop its professional development programmes, establishing the conditions for accreditation. This groundwork creates opportunities for eligible participants to gain professional recognition through Advance HE Fellowship, subject to relevant accreditation requirements.

The collaboration extends further still. It grants the Academy access to Advance HE’s international networks, specialist research capabilities and knowledge resources, whilst opening pathways for future collaboration with other higher education institutions across Sharjah. This broader ecosystem approach promises to strengthen professional capacity across the emirate’s institutions, fostering closer working relationships and shared commitment to educational excellence. Notably, these efforts build upon Sharjah’s existing emphasis on ethical frameworks for education, such as the comprehensive ethical framework for artificial intelligence in schools established by the Sharjah Private Education Authority.

Khawla Al Hosani emphasised that the partnership represents “a strategic step in developing the Emirate’s higher education system”, moving toward institutional frameworks that deliver programmes aligned with international standards. She articulated an ambition that extends beyond individual capability development to positioning Sharjah as “a centre for teaching excellence and academic professional development that serves higher education institutions, raises the quality of education and strengthens its impact on students and the wider community.”

Alistair Jarvis CBE noted that the partnership will “bring international recognition of teaching excellence and, by building expertise within Sharjah, help to nurture home-grown Emirati talent for the long term.”

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This partnership demonstrates the broader momentum within the Emirates toward establishing internationally recognised centres of excellence in higher education and professional development. As neighbouring emirates strengthen their educational infrastructure and international standing, the competitive landscape of regional education continues to elevate, raising standards across the UAE’s institutions and creating pathways for professional mobility and talent exchange across emirate boundaries.

The establishment of accredited professional development frameworks in Sharjah creates opportunities for educators and academic professionals throughout the region to gain international professional credentials without requiring overseas study or relocation. This development supports the UAE’s strategic objective of building self-sufficiency in talent development and reducing dependence on external expertise, whilst ensuring that professionals remain connected to international best practice and global networks.

Source: WAM