Culture & Education | Thursday 3 October, 2019 12:45 pm |

Pearson, the world’s learning company, welcomed the participation of more than 150 principals and professionals from educational departments and schools across Riyadh and Jeddah on October 1st and 3rd. Organised with the aim to foster the skills students need for the future, the Forums focused on future-oriented education that will help learners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) excel in their careers.

The Principal Forums followed a ‘Forward Thinking’ theme and explored data and evidence on what new learning methodologies can help lift student outcomes. Focused on inspirational instructional leadership, the events explored the most effective ways to connect the latest research and resources to the current programmes in schools across the country. More importantly, they provided educators with innovative ways to engage ‘Generation Z’ students in learning, and to ensure that they successfully progress to higher education and employment opportunities in the 21st-century. 

The Forums featured a keynote speech from the Global Director of Education at KidZania, Dr Ger Graus who addressed the importance of providing exciting new learning opportunities for students.

“We need to focus on helping students build the essential skills of communication, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, perseverance and growth mindset. Generation Z (Gen Z) students respond positively to educators who are creative and model the kinds of skills that they want to develop in their students,” said Dr Ger Graus. “The Think Forward Principal Forums drives the skills agenda on the different professional, creative and technical skills that will give students a competitive edge when navigating the expanded opportunities that are available today.”

“Millennials makeup over a quarter of Saudi Arabia’s population and continue to play a significant role in the nation’s economic development. According to a recent survey by Deloitte Middle East, 58 per cent of Saudi youth have ambitions to start their own business, while globally only 38 per cent have the same goal,” said Kathryn Booth, Head of Academic Qualifications for Pearson Middle East.

“The Saudi youth also have high self-expectations, with 68 per cent who believe that their ambition to launch their own business is achievable, while 70 per cent expect that they will reach a senior level in their chosen career path. With such high positive indicators for Saudi Arabia’s Gen Z will bring a different set of demands from the previous generation and will disrupt the workplace more than millennials ever did,” added Booth. 

Principals who attended the forums were provided with the latest updates on Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) and International Advanced level qualifications, including the transferable skills embedded within the qualifications to help students develop the core 21st-century competencies of critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity.

At the Forums, Pearson also introduced BTEC (vocational/life-long learning) qualifications, designed to equip students with the technical skills they need to successfully enter the workforce. 

With a mission to help people make progress in their lives through learning, Pearson is a high-quality provider of academic and vocational qualifications amongst other offerings, which help equip students in KSA with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in higher education and employment. Pearson’s education framework provides a strong evidence base for effective learning and teaching and defines what high-quality pedagogy looks like in the classroom, and how educators can best prepare for, assess and respond to student learning.