Nursery leaders collaborating in an interactive workshop during the Leadership Lab initiative at Sharjah Education Academy

Sharjah Education Academy Launches the “Leadership Lab” Initiative for Government Nurseries under the Theme “Imagination to Impact”

Sharjah Education Academy (SEA) launched the first cycle of the “Leadership Lab” initiative yesterday morning, designed specifically for leaders of government nurseries in Sharjah, under the theme “Imagination to Impact”. The initiative aims to equip nursery leaders with the necessary knowledge and skills for data-driven, participatory planning, ultimately contributing to the achievement of the strategic goals of high-quality early childhood education in Sharjah Government Nurseries.

The initiative includes a series of carefully designed interactive and experiential stations aimed at supporting educational leadership at the nursery level. These experiences enable participants to conduct in-depth analyses of the nursery environment, understand children’s needs, and identify specific challenges and opportunities, thereby steering clear of generalizations and fostering evidence-based decision-making.

Leadership Lab branding banner with the theme Imagination to Impact at SEA

The session also welcomed a select group of experts and administrators from Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), who enriched the discussions and provided valuable insights to support the development of learning environments across the emirate’s nurseries, reinforcing collaboration among key educational stakeholders.

H.E. Ms. Khawla Al Hosani speaking at the Leadership Lab launch event in Sharjah

In this context, H.E. Ms. Khawla Al Hosani, Vice Chancellor of Sharjah Education Academy, stated: “We are pleased to launch the Leadership Lab series, which has been thoughtfully designed to empower leaders of Sharjah Government Nurseries by enhancing their knowledge and skills in data-driven participatory planning, in line with modern educational approaches and contributing to Excellence in early childhood education in Sharjah.”

“We work closely with nursery leaders to provide guidance and support that contributes to continuously improving the performance of the nurseries. At the Academy, we take responsibility for ongoing enhancement and innovation to ensure safe, engaging, and enriching learning environments for children in the Emirate of Sharjah.” She added.

The Leadership Labs initiative also aims to foster a culture of collaborative learning through the launch of Networks for Learning Communities (NLCs), which enable leaders to exchange experiences and develop practical, effective improvement plans supported by concepts of collaborative planning, visionary leadership, and institutional foresight.

The initiative also introduced the AMIRA program, which offers a rich space for reflection, imagination, and strategic foresight. It empowers participants to develop inspiring strategic visions that reflect the current realities and aspirations of their nurseries, and to translate these visions into actionable steps that create a tangible impact within early childhood environments.

Interactive display showing data-driven planning tools used in the Leadership Lab workshops

Among the program’s activities was the “Field of Impact,” an open platform for sharing ideas and presenting future scenarios. The session focused on identifying enablers and support mechanisms that can be activated at the system level to ensure the sustainability of improvement and the advancement of institutional performance in nurseries.

About Sharjah Education Academy

Sharjah Education Academy continuously seeks strategic partnerships with leading local and international institutions and academic experts to achieve its objectives. With such partnerships, it guarantees developing educators through diverse and innovative academic programs based on scientific research and access to global competitiveness in education. And by raising the level of teacher performance, student outcomes will advance to a new level of talents and qualified capabilities to meet the aspirations of the wise leadership to draw a road map for a brighter future.

Dr. Salma Waly
Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education

Dr. Salma Waly, awarded as an outstanding Arab American under the age of 40 in 2022, is an innovative educator dedicated to harnessing education’s transformative potential to build communities. Throughout her career, Dr. Waly has worked in various educational domains, including higher education teaching and research, school leadership, and designing and evaluating tailored programs across continents.  

With extensive experience working in diverse settings, including the United States, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Japan, Indonesia, China, and South America, Dr. Waly’s leadership is evident in orchestrating effective teamwork, meticulous project management, and impactful communication strategies.

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