David Lees, Principal at Citizens School in Dubai, emphasises the importance of entrepreneurship and personalised learning in shaping the educational approach of his organisation. He believes that these elements are crucial for preparing learners for future challenges and creating an environment where innovation and individual growth are prioritised.
الكاتب: citizensschool
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DisruptEd 003 with Samer Hamadeh
Welcome to the third episode of DisruptEd, offering a look into the future of education, in conversations with experts discussing research and real-world applications. The podcast, produced by Citizens School explores how breakthroughs in learning and teaching are shaping the way we prepare learners for the future.
DisruptEd is hosted by Dr. Adil Alzarooni, a serial entrepreneur, lifelong learner, and founder of Citizens School.
In this episode, Dr. Adil speaks with Samer Hamadeh, a seasoned entrepreneur in the F&B and entertainment industries. Samer shares how his unconventional career journey – from launching creative nightlife concepts like Stereo Arcade to founding the award-winning Akiba Dori – was shaped by personal passion, risk-taking, and a desire for freedom.
Their conversation dives into redefining success, embracing failure, and how today’s education can nurture entrepreneurial thinking and future-ready mindsets.
Listen or Watch Now
Listen or watch the episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. As this is a new podcast, we appreciate your feedback and ideas on who to interview next.
To connect with Dr. Adil, please follow the links below.
Connect with Dr. Adil
LinkedIn /adilalzarooni
Instagram /dradilalzarooni
TikTok /dradilalzarooniConnect with Samer
Instagram /iammrbrightside
LinkedIn /samer-s-hamadeh -
What school leaders expect from GESS Dubai
K-12 leaders from across the GCC weigh in on their expectations for the event, its impact on the sector and recommendations on what they believe will add value to such events.
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Citizens School is Taking on the 30×30 Dubai Fitness Challenge
Citizens School is ready to take on the 30×30 Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), encouraging the entire Citizens community – from mentors to learners and their families – to make fitness a daily habit.
Since 2017, the 30×30 DFC has motivated millions of participants to embrace a healthier lifestyle by encouraging them to engage in 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days.
Citizens School is taking participation to the next level this year, introducing different daily activities across the campus and to do at home to help inspire a fitness-focused mindset in our learners and the community for years to come. Our range of daily activities promise to bring fun and enjoyment to every age group while also promoting teamwork, movement and overall better wellbeing.
We’re looking forward to seeing the entire Citizens community come together to make fitness a priority at this year’s 30×30 DFC! Check out our calendar of daily activities, post your activities on Instagram and be sure to tag us @citizensschoolme.
To download our 30×30 DFC calendar, click here.
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UAE schools break from classrooms and move to project-based learning to teach real-life skills
Some UAE schools are moving away from the age-old model of traditional classrooms and subjects in a bid to reform education, revamp learning and properly prepare pupils for the future.
Considering it outdated by today’s standards, they no longer want to mirror the system of separating subjects or having pupils sitting behind desks memorising what they have been taught.
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DisruptEd 002 with Talib Hashim
Welcome to the second episode of DisruptEd, where we explore the future of education through expert conversations on research and real-world applications. Produced by Citizens School, this podcast examines how advancements in learning and teaching are shaping how we prepare learners for tomorrow.
DisruptEd is hosted by Dr. Adil Alzarooni, a serial entrepreneur, lifelong learner, and founder of Citizens School.
In this episode, Founder Dr. Adil Alzarooni sits down with Talib Hashim, Managing Director of TBH Consultancy and a leader in Emiratisation. Together, they dive into the shift from employment to empowerment, the evolving UAE job market, and why preparing Emiratis for entrepreneurship and private sector roles is vital for the nation’s future.
DisruptEd brings you insights into the future of education and entrepreneurship, featuring in-depth conversations with experts on the latest research and real-world applications.
Tune in now to hear how Citizens School and thought leaders like Dr. Adil are reshaping the future of learning. 🎙️
Topics covered
[00:00] Introduction of Talib Hashim and his Emiratisation efforts.
[01:27] Talib’s shift from employment to empowerment of local talent.
[02:56] Talib’s transition from headhunting to entrepreneurship in advisory services.
[04:51] Changing attitudes towards government and private sector jobs.
[06:17] Influence of family and societal expectations on youth career decisions.
[09:09] The changing public sector job market and its impact on youth job preferences.
[10:33] Historical context of Emirati preferences for public sector employment.
[12:55] The value placed on government jobs for stability and retirement.
[17:26] The challenges and impacts of Emiratization quotas in the private sector.
[21:13] A renewed focus on value creation in Emirati hires, beyond quotas.
[26:06] Enhancing the education system to prepare students for the private sector.
[28:56] Employer feedback on recent graduates.
[39:08] Challenges and opportunities of fostering entrepreneurship in Emiratis.
[56:06] The importance of educating families to support diverse career paths for Emiratis.Listen or Watch Now
Listen or watch the episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. As this is a new podcast, we appreciate your feedback and ideas on who to interview next.
To connect with Dr. Adil or Talib, please follow the links below.
Connect with Dr. Adil
LinkedIn /adilalzarooni
Instagram /dradilalzarooni
TikTok /dradilalzarooniConnect with Talib
LinkedIn /talibalhashimi
Instagram /therealtalib
TBH Consultancy /tbh -
DisruptEd 001 with Raya Bidshahri
Welcome to the first episode of DisruptEd, offering a look into the future of education, in conversations with experts discussing research and real-world applications. The podcast, produced by Citizens School, explores how breakthroughs in learning and teaching are shaping the way we prepare learners for the future.
DisruptEd is hosted by Dr. Adil Alzarooni, a serial entrepreneur, lifelong learner, and founder of Citizens School.
In this first episode, Dr. Alzarooni sits down with Raya Bidshahri, the founder and CEO of the School of Humanity, an innovative online high school that is redefining education for the 21st century. Their discussion focuses on how reimagining education can empower the next generation, highlighting the importance of adaptability, critical thinking, and lifelong learning in shaping a brighter future for all.
Topics Covered
[00:45] Introduction of Raya Bidshahri and the School of Humanity.
[01:33] Raya’s background and journey into education.
[03:04] Inspiration from alternative schools and their impact.
[05:10] Issues with the current curriculum and teaching methods.
[07:13] The industrialisation of education and its impact on society.
[10:19] The need for continuous learning and reskilling.
[12:18] The importance of first principles thinking in education.
[15:48] The digital experience at the School of Humanity.
[17:51] The concept of ikigai and its role in education.
[22:06] Licensing and regulatory challenges for online schools.
[26:26] Acceptance of alternative school graduates in top universities.
[31:12] Preparing students for the entrepreneurial lifestyle.
[35:09] The importance of innovative education for the region.
[39:08] Raya’s personal failures and lessons learned.Listen or Watch Now
Listen or watch the episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. As this is a new podcast, we appreciate your feedback and ideas on who to interview next.
To connect with Dr. Adil or Raya, please follow the links below.
Connect with Dr. Adil
LinkedIn /adilalzarooni
Instagram /dradilalzarooni
TikTok /dradilalzarooniConnect with Raya
Raya on LinkedIn /rayabidshahri
School of Humanity sofhumanity.com
School of Humanity on Instagram /sofhumanity -
The Story of Bers & Artem, Two Young Innovators at Who Created The Earth T-shirt.
“Maybe one day we will become famous designers, but for now we are two learners at Citizens School who learned a new skill and now have our names on the school uniform,” – Artem & Bers.
Bers & Artem are two Year 7 learners at Citizens School, who have an exciting story to share. What started as a simple PBL (Project Based Learning) at school in Year 6 turned into something super exciting – they designed a Tshirt that is now part of the official school uniform for Citizens School. Featured in August edition of The Junior Trumpet Magazine, read more about how Bers & Artem conceptualised and created the Earth T-shirt here.
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Education Reimagined: Citizens School Partners with GHD to Renew Entrepreneurship Curriculum for Years 1-8
Citizens School Dubai partners with GHD, a global professional services company, to redevelop its Entrepreneurship curriculum for learners in Years 1-8, launching in the upcoming academic year.
Leveraging design thinking and project-based learning as core teaching methodologies, the redeveloped curriculum immerses learners into real world challenges, preparing the future generation for a world that values entrepreneurial skills and future-ready mindsets. Key topics covered in the curriculum closely tie to emerging global issues that have a significant impact on future generations. Prominent among these are Sustainability and Digital and AI Literacy, alongside other essential themes such as Growth Mindset, Global Citizenship, and Health and Wellbeing.
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Young Innovators at Citizens School turn Classroom Project into School Uniform
Discover how two young learners at Citizens School turned a classroom project into School uniform. A collaboration between two young innovators, Bers & Artem from Year 6 (now in Year 7) has led to creation of a unique T-shirt design that is now part of Citizens School’s official school uniform. Read more about how they created the design and our curriculum in Khaleej Times.