The fifth Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education concluded on February 15 at the Sharjah Education Academy campus in University City, held under the patronage and in the presence of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Organised by the Sharjah Education Academy in collaboration with the Sharjah Private Education Authority, the two-day summit was held under the theme “Collaborating for Impact.” More than 10,000 education leaders, policymakers, researchers, teachers and specialists from the UAE and abroad took part in discussions on advancing education quality and long-term sustainability amid global change.
The programme was structured around three main tracks, which organisers said were designed to provide a practical framework for system improvement. The summit concluded with strategic recommendations covering policy, governance and school-level practice, extending from early childhood education to higher education and lifelong learning.
Under the theme “Strengthening Connections: Collaboration Across the Education Ecosystem,” participants called for moving beyond short-term reforms and fragmented initiatives toward greater alignment between policy, practice, governance and capacity development. Speakers highlighted the need for closer coordination among regulators, schools, universities and the private sector, alongside stronger engagement of families and communities in education decision-making. Recommendations included aligning financing, workforce development and quality assurance within a unified framework.
In sessions focused on “Innovations in Learning: Transforming Education Through Technology and Practice”, participants addressed the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools in education. Discussions stressed embedding ethics, equity and human oversight in AI applications, while designing data systems that support learning outcomes rather than regulatory compliance. Delegates also emphasised professional development for leaders and educators in data interpretation, digital tools and evidence-based improvement, alongside promoting authentic assessment practices and strengthening links between research and policymaking.
Under “Inclusion and Empowerment: Ensuring Access and Opportunity for All Learners”, participants focused on reducing barriers to equitable access and adopting inclusive policies that guarantee quality education for all students. Early Childhood Care and Education was identified as a priority area, with calls to align policy, financing and workforce preparation to strengthen long-term outcomes in education, economic participation and social wellbeing.
Speakers also highlighted the need to balance reform urgency with sustained institutional capacity-building, grounded in trust, professional learning and system resilience.
Organisers said the recommendations reflected practical consensus among policymakers and education leaders and translate the summit theme into implementable steps aimed at long-term system development.
At the close of the event, the Sharjah Education Academy and the Sharjah Private Education Authority announced that the sixth edition of the summit will take place on March 27 and 28, 2027.