Members include representatives of ministries as well as local and federal authorities

Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, addressed the first meeting of the General Committee of the National Commission for Education and Science, which was recently reconstituted as an advisory body to the National Commission to strengthen the UAE’s presence in various forums and enhance relations with regional and international organisations.

The meeting was attended by representatives of ministries as well as members of the local and federal authorities. The members reviewed the workflow of the General Committee, its vision, and its terms of reference, in addition to presenting the achievements of the National Commission, the annual report for the past years, and its strategy for the years 2023-2026. A working group was formed consisting of representatives of the member bodies of the General Committee to follow-up on the strategic plan of the National Commission for Education and Science.

In addition to this, the challenges facing the National Committee were discussed and important topics in the fields of education and science were reviewed.

In her speech during the meeting, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, stressed that the formation of the committee reflects the Ministry’s keenness to follow

up and support the efforts led by the UAE at various levels, both with regards to the relations it has with other countries and inter-governmental organisations as well as with regards to the agreements, memoranda of understanding and coordination meetings that fall within its framework. It is tasked with studying and expressing opinions about them, contributing to strengthening the country’s position through its cultural diplomacy and soft power.”

Her Excellency continued: “By reinstating the committee, we seek to develop a mechanism to work with international and regional organisations and support the UAE’s efforts in the field of education, culture and science. This would expand the scope of cooperation with various international organisations in a way that consolidates the country’s leading position in the global arena with regard to these key sectors.”

The General Committee will undertake a set of tasks that serve to benefit from the cooperation with various parties in the implementation of educational, cultural and scientific programmes and the development of relations with the concerned authorities with the National Committee. It will study and express opinions on treaties, conventions and memoranda of understanding related to international organisations in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It will also study the reports and working papers submitted by the official delegations of the UAE within the conferences and general meetings of the organisations, sharing observations and recommendations with the relevant authorities.

It will also lead the decisions and recommendations of conferences and general meetings of organisations, directing the concerned authorities in the country to benefit from them, while also strengthening the relations that connect them with similar national committees in other Arab countries, and countries around the world. This would facilitate communication between the government agencies overseeing education, culture, science and with various organisations around the world.

The General Committee will also have a say in the matters referred to it by the Chairman of the National Committee on projects and activities of organisations, and other matters related to the competencies of the National Committee. It will discuss the annual report prepared by the General Secretariat on the work of the National Committee, taking what it deems appropriate in this regard. In addition to that the General Committee will take all necessary measures to strengthen the close cooperation ties between the National Committee on the one hand, and governmental and non-governmental agencies concerned with education, culture, science, information and communication on the other. It will also approve a plan to foster cooperation between the concerned authorities in the country and their counterparts from regional and international bodies.

Along with the Ministry of Culture, the  General  Committee includes representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of  Economy, the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, and  a representative  of  the Office of the  Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and the National Commission for Education and Science.

The General Committee seeks to achieve a number of objectives such as promoting education for sustainable development and global citizenship declared by “UNESCO”,  while also  supporting efforts to expand learning opportunities and the quality of education through information and communication technology. It aims to support initiatives to protect cultural heritage and multiculturalism in cooperation with “international organisations such as ISESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and ALECSO (Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation).

To ensure safe, supportive and stimulating learning environments, the Committee supports many other subcommittees for Education, Heritage and Science to ensure best practices in these vital areas.