Latest news with #GEMSSchoolofResearchandInnovation
Dubai Eye
23-05-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Two-time Olympic champion steps in as sports advisor at Dubai's new flagship school
Two-time Olympic gold medallist and President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, will step in as special advisor for sports at the flagship GEMS School of Research and Innovation that will open in August. Coe will bring his vast experience in elite sport and youth development to support the school's vision, said Gems in a statement. In his advisory role, Coe will work with the school's senior leadership team to ensure that excellence in physical education and wellbeing is fully integrated into the learning experience, supporting students to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong health and physical habits. 'The facilities and ambition at SRI are world-class. But more importantly, the vision to develop well-rounded global citizens who understand teamwork, perseverance, and personal bests is one I wholeheartedly share," he said. The school, pegged as the "most expensive", features state-of-the -art facilities, including a 400m track, 50m Olympic-standard swimming pool, FIFA-standard elevated football pitch, and a world-class gymnasium. Coe's "experience will be invaluable in shaping a truly integrated and future-ready education at the GEMS School of Research and Innovation," highlighted Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of GEMS Education. The school earlier announced the appointment of former UK foreign secretary William Hague, former Chief Inspector of Ofsted Amanda Spielman, and former UK Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb in advisory roles.
Zawya
15-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Former UK Foreign Secretary Lord Hague of Richmond to become GEMS School of Research and Innovation's Honorary Patron
The distinguished British statesman brings huge experience, including as former Leader of the UK Conservative Party Lord Hague is the Chancellor of Oxford University and has co-authored important policy papers on AI and edtech in schools this year DUBAI, UAE – Former UK Foreign Secretary, Lord Hague of Richmond, will serve as Honorary Patron of GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI), a flagship new school set to redefine the future of education when it opens in Dubai in August 2025. In his new role, Lord Hague will support the launch and strategic positioning of this pioneering school, with a particular focus on the best teaching talent, the importance of innovation, next generation AI and edtech, and exceptional learning environments that SRI is spearheading. Enrolments are now open (see here). Lord Hague, who is the Chancellor of Oxford University, is a senior British statesman with a highly distinguished career in public service. He was the Leader of the Conservative Party from 1997 to 2001, Foreign Secretary from 2010-14, and also served as First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Wales, and Leader of the House of Commons. He brings exceptional experience in leadership, diplomacy, and public policy. Lord Hague is also a respected author, columnist, and global commentator. Lord Hague said: 'GEMS is driving forward innovation across its schools and preparing young people for an increasingly complex, technology-driven world. This is why I am delighted to support GEMS School of Research and Innovation as Honorary Patron. 'This landmark school is designed from the ground up to equip young people with the skills and mindset needed to face the challenges of a fast-changing, tech-driven world. I look forward to contributing to its ambitious vision and to helping place innovation and global competitiveness at the heart of the educational experience.' Lord Hague's appointment follows the publication of a series of policy papers he has co-authored with former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair on the opportunities of advanced technologies, highlighting the urgent need for education systems to embrace artificial intelligence. Their reports call for bold, coordinated action. GEMS Education Chairman and Founder, Mr Sunny Varkey, welcomed Lord Hague's appointment as SRI Patron, saying: 'We are honoured and privileged to welcome Lord Hague as the Honorary Patron of GEMS School of Research of Innovation. Lord Hague's stature, wisdom and global perspective will be invaluable as we prepare students not just to succeed, but to lead in an uncertain and rapidly changing future. He shares our belief that innovation, academic excellence, and values-based education must go hand in hand.' GEMS School of Research and Innovation will feature world-class, hand-picked teachers, ground-breaking new AI and edtech tools, and unparalleled facilities. Enrolments for the school are now open ahead of the doors opening in August. In addition to his role as Honorary Patron of GEMS School of Research and Innovation, Lord Hague will offer advice to the school's senior leadership team on matters related to new technology, innovation and artificial intelligence. GEMS Education already benefits from a world-class team of advisors that includes Ms Amanda Spielman, former Chief Inspector of Schools at Ofsted, who chairs the GEMS Academic Council, and Sir Nick Gibb, former UK Minister of State for Schools. As the world's oldest and largest private K–12 education provider, GEMS Education is widely regarded as one of the most impactful education groups globally, having educated over half a million children since its founding more than 65 years ago. About GEMS Education Every day, GEMS Education has the privilege of educating more than 200,000 students from more than 176 countries through its owned and managed schools around the world. With nearly half a million alumni who in turn have influenced countless millions of lives, GEMS has been recognised as one of the most impactful companies in any sector globally. Founded in the UAE in 1959 and now the largest and most respected K-12 private education group in the world, it holds an unparalleled track record of providing diverse curricula and educational opportunities to families from all socio-economic backgrounds. What began as a single school in a private home in Dubai remains a family business to this day. Its inspiring Chairman and Founder, Sunny Varkey, and his sons, Dino Varkey, the Group Chief Executive Officer, and Jay Varkey, the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, continue to provide vision, insight and strategic leadership across the organisation. Through its growing school network and philanthropic initiatives, GEMS is committed to fulfilling its vision of putting a quality education within the reach of every learner, everywhere. Each year, GEMS students graduate to join the world's leading universities. Over the past five years alone, they have been accepted into over 1,050 universities in 53 countries – including all eight Ivy League institutions in the United States and all 24 Russell Group universities in the United Kingdom. GEMS alumni have gone on to successful careers in all sectors around the world, including a large proportion reaching CEO and C-suite status. For further information about GEMS Education, visit or contact: Leen Haffar, Senior Account Executive, Four
Zawya
03-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
GEMS Education launches ‘Next Billion Innovation' startup fund for future creators and entrepreneurs
Initiative to initially launch at new GEMS School of Research and Innovation Scheme complements GEMS Innovation Challenge and incubator programme Dubai, UAE – GEMS Education today launched the 'Next Billion Innovation' startup fund, a new initiative designed to empower and support GEMS students in delivering the next big solutions with the potential to make a global impact. The USD1 million fund will initially be made available to students at GEMS' newest school, GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI), opening in Dubai in August 2025. SRI pupils will also have priority access to hands-on support and direct pathways to global startup ecosystems thanks to GEMS' partnership with innovation platform Plug and Play Tech Center, which provides an incubator programme for the most promising student projects Following this first phase, access to the new fund will be expanded to encompass the longstanding annual GEMS Global Innovation Challenge (GIC), which invites students from all GEMS school to develop solutions that address pressing global challenges and have the potential to make a significant positive impact on society. The aim is to provide student changemakers with the resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to bring their visionary ideas to life, with pupils benefitting from the guidance and mentorship of industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, whose invaluable support will help students refine their ideas, overcome challenges, and navigate the path from concept to market. Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of GEMS Education and The Varkey Foundation, said: 'The entrepreneurial mindset doesn't have an age barrier. At GEMS Education, we have always been passionate about supporting our student innovators in transforming their ideas into impactful solutions that can be taken to market and that will eventually help make the world a better place. 'The Next Billion Innovation startup fund represents our long-term commitment to fostering the next generation of global leaders and entrepreneurs. We are investing USD1 million to ensure our students need not look elsewhere for funding – because the best ideas should be driven by passion, not financial constraints. 'This initiative builds on the success of the GEMS Global Innovation Challenge and reflects our belief in the power of innovation. The 'Next Billion' is more than just a number – it is about creating the next billion-dollar idea, impacting the next billion people, and unlocking the next billion possibilities. 'Through our partnership with Plug and Play Tech Center, students will have direct access to a global network of mentors, investors, and global organisations, ensuring they receive the support needed to scale their ideas into world-changing ventures. It fully supports our GEMS promise to see the genius in every child.' All GEMS schools encourage, nurture, and support student entrepreneurship and innovation – and this will be most prominently displayed at GEMS School of Research and Innovation. The school is set to host a dedicated creator and entrepreneurship academy that will provide students with year-round access to state-of-the-art facilities including a 'Disruption Hub', innovation rooms, and design labs. From these spaces, students will be able to develop, prototype, and launch their ideas with direct mentorship from industry leaders, university research labs, entrepreneurs, and specialist educators. From AI-powered startups to cutting-edge product design, the academy will empower students and foster the next generation of creators and changemakers. Already, GEMS students can point to a long track record of entrepreneurial breakthroughs that have made global headlines. These include Aadit Palicha, a former student of GEMS Modern Academy, who quit Stanford University to set up Zepto, which provides top-quality groceries to the doors of millons of customers in India and has been valued at USD5 billion. Aadit is just 22 years old. Through the Next Billion Innovation startup fund, the most promising solutions developed by GEMS students will have the opportunity to attract investment to further develop and scale their projects, paving the way for substantial growth and impact. Selected projects will have the chance to gain vital international exposure, with students presenting their solutions on global platforms. This will not only highlight students' innovations and achievements but also connect them with a broader audience and potential collaborators. About GEMS Education GEMS Education is one of the oldest and largest K-12 private education providers in the world and a trusted and highly regarded choice for quality education in the Middle East and North Africa region. As a company founded in the UAE in 1959, it holds an unparalleled track record of providing diverse curricula and educational choices to all socio-economic means. Having started with a single school run from a private home in Dubai, GEMS remains a family business to this day. Its inspiring Founder, Sunny Varkey, and his son, Dino Varkey, who is Group Chief Executive Officer, are responsible for providing vision, insight, and strategy across the organisation. Every day, GEMS has the privilege of educating students from over 176 countries through its owned and managed schools globally. And through its growing network, as well as charitable contributions, it is fulfilling the GEMS vision of putting a quality education within the reach of every learner. Every year, students graduating from GEMS schools progress to the world's best universities. Over the past five years, GEMS students have been accepted into over 1,050 universities in 53 countries including all eight Ivy League universities in the US and all 24 Russell Group universities and colleges in the UK.
Khaleej Times
01-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Will AI take over our jobs, leave us redundant?
Every generation has its own villain. If our ancestors were once plagued by war and disease, millennials have to outwit a new-age adversary: artificial intelligence (AI). Last year, Goldman Sachs predicted that 300 million jobs would get replaced by AI globally and there is no dearth of such statistics. With AI already taking over jobs across industries and investments in the technology growing exponentially, workers across the globe are on edge, wondering how long it will be before their roles are declared redundant. But top executives don't foresee a future where AI will completely replace humans – at least, not yet. No one is perfect, not even AI, and there have been serious concerns regarding AI and data privacy, its biases, and limitations in handling unstructured data and understanding human behaviour. Thus, modern workplaces try to balance the human and AI workforce by using AI-powered tools and platforms to lessen the burden of routine and administrative work on employees, and allow them to focus on tasks where human presence is indispensable. Human vs artificial intelligence How can educational institutions teach a generation of young learners who are so wired to the digital world that they might need a second to remember that 'Apple' is also the name of a fruit? The answer seems to lie in using learning tools students are most familiar with – which could mean less blackboard and chalk, and more virtual reality and augmented reality. However, AI in education has attracted criticism for making students overly reliant on it for their schoolwork. 'Educators must focus on teaching students how to use AI responsibly as a tool to enhance their work, rather than as a substitute for their efforts,' says Dino Varkey, Group Chief Executive Officer, GEMS Education, whose soon-to-be launched GEMS School of Research and Innovation will reportedly adopt the latest AI has to offer for students and teachers. He adds that AI in education 'serves to augment rather than replace human roles'. For instance, AI automates administrative chores like 'lesson planning, grading and attendance management, and frees up educators' time to focus on other tasks like interacting with students, providing mentorship, and fostering critical thinking and creativity'. When used right, AI has endless potential. It can break down complex subjects for students, eradicate language barriers through AI translation tools, foster global collaborations between students and educators, and address the serious shortage of teachers. It can also make learning more personalised by providing feedback based on students' performance data, and create inclusive classrooms by generating customised lesson plans for students, including those with special needs. 'But the nuanced guidance and inspiration that teachers provide cannot be replicated by machines,' says Varkey. The hospitality sector, too, doesn't seem to be in a hurry to eliminate humans from jobs even though AI innovations like pizza vending machines, self-serving kiosks, chatbots, virtual concierges, and robot waiters are already a reality, and are only likely to get more sophisticated. This could be because unlike other industries that are data-driven, the hospitality industry runs on human connections, intuition, and emotional intelligence which AI will never be able to replace, explains Gates Hospitality CEO and founder, Naim Maadad. He and his team use AI in the business to 'either enhance the guest booking journey or streamline back-of-house operations' — both of which don't affect their interactions with guests. 'It's the server who goes the extra mile, or the host who instinctively reserves their preferred table,' points out Maadad. 'Personalised service is not just about efficiency; it's about understanding and anticipating guests' needs in ways only people can. The warmth of human connection remains hospitality's greatest differentiator.' 'In an increasingly automated world, the most memorable experiences will always be those shaped by people, not machines,' he adds. Balancing data and emotions Robo-advisors may have made wealth management more accessible and affordable, but even a data-driven sector like finance doesn't function solely on something as clinical as numbers – alongside data, they also need to process emotions. Experienced finance professionals often tap into their knowledge of human psychology, interactions and market dynamics to make good decisions, explains Damian Hitchen, Regional Head APAC-MENA region, and CEO of Saxo Bank MENA. 'People want guidance, reassurance and strategies tailored to their personal goals. Financial advisors and wealth managers interpret AI-generated insights, understand complex financial situations, build trust by understanding emotions, risk tolerance and long-term aspirations, and offer advice that goes beyond data-driven insights. Human judgment and emotional intelligence are still very important.' AI has had a significant impact on the sector in other ways through automation, he explains. Operations across sub-sectors like banking, insurance and fintech have become faster, safer and more personalised. It handles repetitive tasks like 'processing transactions, improving credit underwriting by automating data collection and analysis and detecting fraud in realtime'. It even helps investors to spot market trends and tweak their strategies in real time. And yet, Hitchen asserts that although AI is powerful, 'it won't replace humans entirely, at least in the finance sector… AI might find it difficult to grasp the complexities of market trends, geopolitical events, motivations, emotions, behavioural biases, or the intricate rules that govern the financial world'. Can AI save lives? AI's role in healthcare is a topic of universal interest: one of its most-talked about advantages is that it has been known to help make quicker diagnoses by analysing medical images. Kimberley Pierce, CEO at King's College Hospital London, in Dubai, says that AI 'is reshaping healthcare in ways we could only imagine a few years ago.' 'We're using AI-powered breast mammography to detect abnormalities faster and with greater accuracy, allowing us to catch potential issues earlier,' she elaborates. 'And with AI-driven clinical documentation, our physicians can spend less time on paperwork and more time focused on their patients.' And while all this might sound exciting (more time for doctors to save lives!), Pierce stresses that AI remains 'an assistant and a partner'. 'Healthcare isn't just about diagnostics and data; it's about human connection, critical thinking and the ability to make complex, ethical decisions in real-time, which will always be irreplaceable.' So while AI can analyse vast amounts of medical data, help predict patient outcomes and even enter the operation theatre through robotic surgeries, it is no match for a skilled physician. 'AI is a game-changer, but it's not a replacement for human expertise,' she adds. AI in real estate Issa Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, KASCO Developments, however, has a different opinion about AI's impact on the real estate industry. He expects 'team sizes across the industry to shrink as much as 50 per cent over the next few years as the technology automates, replaces, and optimises many current job functions.' 'Some basic customer engagement functions have been replaced by AI agents and we expect it to continue to reduce the human capital required to execute some jobs — certain tasks that required larger teams may now only require one or two people assisted by AI,' he adds. At his company, Rahman says that they use AI to brainstorm and visualise ideas. 'During go-to-market and execution, we use it to support data analysis, document preparation, project coordination, and filing.' And in an ever-evolving market like the UAE, it can help to 'anticipate market trends and identify investment opportunities'. Although he doesn't foresee a future where AI will completely replace humans, he does expect it to make a 'very significant chunk of the current workforce' redundant. 'Jobs that require a human touch, especially in a field that relies heavily on trust and relationships, will survive. One of the biggest problems with AI is that it fails to take into consideration human factors that guide decisions, such as ethical and moral considerations. Therefore, there always needs to be some kind of human supervision over AI. The extent of that supervision, however, will reduce over time,' he says.
