Enabling the future of education with technology IN ASSOCIATION WITH
EMIRATES NATIONAL SCHOOLS
DIGITAL REPORT 2020
02
Enabling the future of education with technology 03
w w w.e ns . s ch . a e
E M I R AT E S N AT I O N A L S C H O O L S
Abdulrahman Khaiwi, Head of Information Technology (IT) at ENS, explains how the school’s digital transformation is driving its next-generation educational capabilities
I
t was in 2002 that Emirates National Schools (ENS) first began its journey to become a leader in the UAE education
sector. Based in Mohamed bin Zayed City, ENS was already the recipient of prestige early on, 04
as it had been commissioned by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s presidential decree. The organisation soon expanded to five campuses (Mohamed bin Zayed City, Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi City, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah) and currently teaches more than 12,000 students across the country. Combining elements of curricula from the UAE Ministry of Education, USA Next Generation and Colorado Academic Standards, ENS prides itself on providing its pupils with a rigorous and exceptional educational standard. However, like many organisations seeking to modernise their daily operations, ENS needed help from someone who understood how to harness digital transformation. Abdulrahman Khaiwi joined the company in 2017 after many years
05
w w w.e ns . s ch . a e
E M I R AT E S N AT I O N A L S C H O O L S
working in the telecoms industry. “Etisalat was a big chunk of my career,” he explains. “For the last nine years, I was handling the senior manager role and gaining exposure to a lot of the latest and greatest technologies.” Looking for a fresh challenge brought Khaiwi to a sector he hadn’t previously considered: education. “I was thinking to myself, ‘schools, what do they need?’ Then, when I investigated ENS further and saw the size of the school, its multiple locations, its data 06
centre, I realised the opportunity.” After becoming the Head of Information Technology (IT), Khaiwi began a thorough survey of the school’s digital infrastructure.
“ When I investigated ENS further and saw the size of the school, its multiple locations, its data centre, I realised the opportunity” — Abdulrahman Khaiwi, Head of IT, ENS
Emirates National Schools ( ENS ) — 17 Years of Achievements CLICK TO WATCH
|
2:56
07 Scheduling multiple meetings with
of working so that the culture shift
school principals, campus directors
could align itself with the people.
and teachers, he started to build
The main challenge, he explains,
a holistic strategy for implementing
was changing the perception of IT
the changes he saw as necessary.
from its ‘legacy’ origins to a more
“I really like challenges; I really adapt
contemporary understanding. “It was
to changes,” he says. “I had to break
seen as only computer and printer
through barriers and shape the
support. They’d have one or two
leadership to the desired culture.”
members of staff on campus and just
Establishing understanding was a
call them for anything.” It was a reac-
critical part of Khaiwi’s plan, as was
tive operating style and one which
fostering ownership and pride in the
never quantified problems or high-
new ways of working to ensure that
lighted areas for improvement with
changes were retained. Then, it was
hard data. “We realised that we could
a case of broadcasting the new way
add value to services and become w w w.e ns . s ch . a e
E M I R AT E S N AT I O N A L S C H O O L S
08
“ We listen to others’ experiences and then imagine how it could help us. The main target is keeping our focus always on education” — Abdulrahman Khaiwi, Head of IT, ENS
part of ENS’ overall mission,” he says.
build a completely modern IT team.
After this revelation, Khaiwi became
After briefing upper management
determined to deliver a smarter, more
about his findings and receiving
efficient way of delivering IT to the
approval, he was able to do just that.
classroom. Using a ‘four-pillared’
Focusing on driving efficiencies,
scheme to focus the transformation
Khaiwi implemented a centralised
(planning, people, vendor manage-
system to allow for an easier way to
ment and customer-centricity), he
manage, monitor and provide solu-
came up with a plan to shape the
tions. Designing simple applications
development. “Without planning you
which empowered teaching staff to
will never achieve any of your targets,
solve their own issues — such as a sin-
or whatever you achieve will be just
gle sign on and self-service portal for
by luck,” he states. His vision was to
changing their own passwords — has 09
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
Abdulrahman Khaiwi My career started in Lebanon, working six years in IT Operations in a bank. After, I moved to UAE, Sharjah Municipality as computer operator and programmer for two and half years. From there, I joined Etisalat as Chief Supervisor IT. I spent 25 years of my illustrious employment garnishing accolades and growing my career. The last nine years at Etisalat, I held the position of Senior Manager in charge of operations for all Etisalat Data Centers across the UAE. In early 2017, I joined Emirates National Schools as the Head of IT. My métier is visualising and executing a strategic plan for digital transformation covering all aspects and layers of services. w w w.e ns . s ch . a e
INSPIRE CREATIVITY IN A HEALTHY & ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ENDLESS COLLABORATIVE POSSIBILITIES WITH CLASSROOMCARETM INTERACTIVE FLAT PANELS
BenQ Interactive Flat Panels are your ultimate interactive display to achieve a touch-enhanced, and connect entire class for a smooth and fun learning experience. This taps into the dynamic possibilities of the classroom, helping teachers build a healthy and engaging learning environment. The panels include: - Total Eye-Care solutions - Germ Resistant Screen - Proficient cloud whiteboard for enhanced class par ticipation and foster collaboration with students beyond locations and platforms. LEARN MORE
TM
EZWrite Cloud Whiteboard Solutions
X-Sign Broadcast
ClassroomCare Technologies
For Online and Offline Collaborations
Broadcast School Messages with One Click
Germ-Resistant Screen Smart Eye-Care
Account Management System
Device Management Solution
Easily Retrieve Online Class Materials
Centralised Control over Multiple Displays
enabled ENS’ IT department to focus
Regarding the partner companies
on developing more complicated and
that are enabling ENS’ digital trans-
exciting projects: internet of things
formation, Khaiwi says that there
(IoT) integration, augmented reality,
some, like Microsoft, have an influ-
virtual reality, artificial intelligence
ence so widespread that adoption of
(AI) and more. However, of paramount
the technology is simply a necessity,
importance to Khaiwi and the school
not a choice. However, one partner
is the proper implementation of new
providing equally essential and mod-
tech. “We do not just implement
ern technology to ENS’ classrooms
‘hyped’ technology for the sake of
is BenQ, a Taiwanese consumer
it,” he remarks. “We listen to others’
electronics company. Supplying inter-
experiences and then imagine how it
active flat panels (IFPs) which allow
could help us. The main
the exchange of information, video
target is keeping our focus always
capabilities and interactive features
on education.”
not previously available, Khaiwi isn’t
“ The domain of education is a noble one and needs to be respected, as this is how we prepare the future of our communities”
hesitant in lavishing BenQ’s products with praise. “From day one, I realised they were an extremely helpful tool in the classroom for everyone,” he explains. “They enable the students to open gateways to vast educational resources, truly taking their education to the next level.” With ENS’ digital culture brought up to date and exciting technolo-
— Abdulrahman Khaiwi, Head of IT, ENS
gies being trialled for use, Khaiwi is pushing forward with creating new applications. One such development currently in the works is remote
We prepare them to be future leaders CLICK TO WATCH
|
1:00
w w w.e ns . s ch . a e
11
E M I R AT E S N AT I O N A L S C H O O L S
2002
Year founded
1,000+ Number of employees
12
13
“ I had to break through barriers and shape the leadership to the desired culture” — Abdulrahman Khaiwi, Head of IT, ENS
w w w.e ns . s ch . a e
E M I R AT E S N AT I O N A L S C H O O L S
14
learning or ‘proximity’ learning.
the students and adhere to cultural
“Students in a different classroom
and regulatory guidelines.
can listen, interact and work with the
Proud of ENS’ accomplishments
teacher as if they were standing in
and the work it continues to do, Khaiwi
front of them,” says Khaiwi. “This is
explained what fuels the organisa-
not simply video conferencing; this
tion’s ongoing passion for excellence.
is a complete collaboration enabled
“The domain of education is a noble
by an audio-video solution that can
one and needs to be respected,
even record the session.” However,
as this is how we prepare the future
true to ENS’ philosophy, he is cautious
of our communities.” For Khaiwi, IT
to ensure that all new projects benefit
has an essential role to play in this
15
“ We realised that we could add value to services and become part of ENS’ overall mission”
mission. “This is how we shape the future, by giving the new generation an enhanced route to information; to help them improve the world and to make it better.”
— Abdulrahman Khaiwi, Head of IT, ENS
w w w.e ns . s ch . a e
EMIRATES NATIONAL SCHOOLS MOHAMED BIN Z AYED CITY UNITED AR AB EMIR ATES
www.ens.sch.ae
P0WERED BY