Dubai: A new club that will offer students aged 13 to 16 workshops and master classes to nurture their creativity was launched by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) on Tuesday.
The Dubai Saturday Club will provide students with workshops that focus on themed topics across four tracks that include well-being, creativity and design, entrepreneurship and technology.
Registration for the club is now open. The club will bring different schools together twice a month for the next three months.
The first event will be held on March 5 and will feature international speakers that will talk about design thinking. The event, which will be held at the Dubai Design District, will be free of charge.
“To keep making progress in education, we have to come up with creative ideas and innovative solutions where we inspire school students to think outside the box and work collaboratively. Students will find real-life solutions by showcasing their innovation and creativity at the Saturday Club,” Dr Abdullah Al Karam, director-general of KHDA, said.
Students will select their theme and use the skills and knowledge to design a product or service, which would help solve problems in the future.
Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness and Innovation (CHI) at KHDA, said, “One of the strengths of the Saturday Club is that it helps students get away from their usual school routine and meet students from other schools. It values them and gives them an insight into a world of work they would not normally have.”
Al Mualla told Gulf News the first event will take in 100 students who have registered. She said the KHDA hopes to take in more students in the Dubai Saturday Club events to come. There will be no criteria or examination for choosing students.
With students from 183 nationalities studying in Dubai, the initiative will help unite students, social entrepreneurs and inspirational speakers while providing them with a platform to speak, share and learn from each other.
Explaining the idea further, Al Mualla said, “We want to nurture young people’s talent, build self-esteem and show them pathways and careers in the creative industries. This is a new range of careers they would not necessarily have thought of.”
Global research shows the direct correlation of happiness to increased academic performance and future well-being in adult life.
KHDA will work in partnership with Dubai Design amd Fashion Council, D3, Dubai Creative Cluster Authority and The Sorrell Foundation.
Students who spoke to Gulf News welcomed the club concept.
“It’s great because learning is not all about studying books. Students can learn a lot more from engaging with other students over memorising books,” said Palestinian student Yousuf Ali, 16.
Jordanian Salwa Oudeh, 14, was happy to hear about the launch of the club.
“I am interested in joining because meeting students from other schools sounds fun. I hope the club will include fun hands-on activities as well,”she said
Participation details
How to participate in Saturday Club
Entry to the Saturday Club is free of cost and the first event will take place on March 5.
For more information about the Saturday Club, contact 800 KHDA or write to info@khda.gov.ae
Noor Nazzal, Staff Reporter