Calling on the world to create a new chapter in the history of global education transformation, Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is welcoming visitors from around the world to explore, experience and embrace the message that “The Future is Human”.

Powered by LG Electronics, the two-level Dubai Cares Pavilion located within the Opportunity District, takes visitors of all ages including children, youth and adults on an immersive journey through its various zones. In addition to highlighting Dubai and the UAE’s journey before, during, and after education, each activity within these zones delivers a message about the importance of various stages of learning for children and culminates with an exciting glimpse into the future of education, skilling and work for youth and adults. In the month of October, the pavilion welcomed nearly 16,000 visitors from around the world.

His Excellency Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Commissioner General for the Dubai Cares Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares, said: “The Dubai Cares Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has exceeded all expectations and is proving to be a magnificent showcase of what makes the UAE one of the most generous nations in the world. Following a couple of years of preparation and close cooperation with Expo 2020 Dubai as well as the amazing support we have received from our sponsors and partners, we are now excited to welcome the world to discover this story and take them on an enriching journey into the future of education, skilling and work.”

Every activity at our pavilion has been carefully designed to appeal to visitors of all ages in a fun-filled manner while also giving them a sneak peek into what lies ahead of us in the future. From students to parents and professionals, to world leaders, every visitor to our pavilion will discover the power of education in shaping our future as they engage in a series of enlightening experiences developed in partnership with industry-leading education experts from around the world. Through it all, they will come to realize that while disruption is here to stay and transform our lives, the future is human and will always be,” Dr. Al Gurg added.

Celebrating the UAE’s enduring commitment to promoting education

The ground level experience will leave visitors of all ages including children and youth engaged in fun-based learning. Right from their arrival itself, guests will be treated to an enriching experience in “The Awakening” zone as they go on the UAE’s deeply inspiring journey into education. They will develop a deeper sense of admiration for the huge emphasis the country’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh ZayedBinSultan Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, placed on education as a building block for the nation’s sustainable growth and development over the course of history.

In the “Dubai Cares Achievements” zone, visitors will then have the opportunity to learn more about the impact of the Dubai Cares movement and how it represents the people of the UAE who are known for their cultural, intellectual and social diversity, their shared values of respect, care and compassion and their collective commitment to transforming education globally.

Letting children be themselves

From an inspirational showcase of the past, visitors will then be invited to learn about the importance of fun-based learning as they engage in a series of interactive activities inside “The Right Start” zone. With the aim of turning misconceptions into ​learning advantages, children are encouraged to express and communicate themselves freely. They can look forward to exploring their voice, feelings and confidence by screaming at the top of their voices, stomping on the ground to participate in a race with friends, as well as use their imagination to create their own comic and story. Altogether, this zone promises an unforgettable time for children and grown-ups alike.

“The overall experience at Expo 2020 Dubai was amazing. The Dubai Cares Pavilion was the best thing to have happened that day. Once the children entered the first zone, they could not contain their excitement. The Roaring Range, where they could scream, shout, and just be themselves, was the most outstanding experience any child would want to have. And why just children, even adults like myself would grab that opportunity to vent out. Continuing on the journey, children also got the chance to explore their skills and learn about what job opportunities await them in the future. Giving kids of this age such an opportunity was truly outstanding and comes from a far-sighted vision of building a comprehensive nation. The time spent at Expo was truly memorable and worth experiencing again,” said Vibhuti Vats, Middle School Teacher at DPS Dubai.

A sneak peek into the future

A highly visual transformation tunnel will then take visitors down a path from the current education norms to a glimpse into the future before they step inside the “The Future of Education” zone. Here, they will have the opportunity to enjoy an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience created by H-FARM, the biggest European innovation platform located in Italy that provides innovative education for children, young people and adults to be able to face the new challenges of tomorrow, enables a business haven platform for youth start-ups, supports companies to create new business models, as well as prompts digital transformations. Removing the boundaries of current day classrooms and traditional learning style, this zone gives visitors a glimpse into the future of remote learning through a multi-channel technological platform, as they take lessons in Space, Human Anatomy and Art. Students can look forward to interacting with their classmates, grabbing virtual objects, and completing exercises and tests in this one-of-a-kind learning experience powered by VR technology and embedded in mixed reality.

“We are proud to present our project that looks to the future of education by exploring new perspectives on teaching and learning in an international and extraordinary context such as Expo 2020 Dubai,” commented Riccardo Donadon, CEO of H-FARM. “I am thankful that Dubai Cares believed in our vision of a new school, a place that is no longer just physical but also multi-channel, that can bring together students in virtual classrooms wherever they are. More technological, more profiled, more innovative, more family-friendly and closer to students: that is the future of education.”

Finally, the “Skills of the Future” zone features6 futuristic space pods that have an intelligent simulator system powered by GLEAC, a human skills development platform that helps people learn and apply human skills through simulated real world situations. Visitors will explore what lies ahead for our next generation and how we can best prepare the youth for the jobs of the future. Students can look forward to exploring their strengths and discovering the human skills they will need to succeed and thrive in the future as they participate in a short survey that allows them to learn about themselves and find out what jobs they will be best suited for.

“Many of the jobs in the next five years will evolve or cease to exist and while we may not know the hard skills needed yet, we all have transferable human skills such as creativity and critical thinking. The GLEAC experience at the Dubai Cares Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubaiallows you to understand yours and sharpen them with three months of free mentorship from global experts with micro-practices,” said Sallyann Della Casa, Founder and Chief Identity Hacker, GLEAC.

Visitors will also be invited to take action by joining the Dubai Cares movement and learning about the various ways in which they can support the organization’s mission – from volunteering and donating to suggesting ideas that can help make a difference in the lives of children and youth globally.

On the first floor, students can look forward to being part of various interactive workshops. In the month of October, a total of 2,445 students took a tour of the pavilion, while 1,160 students aged 6-12 years participated in 55 story-based workshops designed by Kide Science and organized in collaboration with Finnish education experts at both Kide Science and Upiopi.

The ongoing story-based workshop offers 6–12 year-old students the opportunity to play an active role as learners and UAE engineers to help a fictional character Fatima, whose education has been interrupted due to an earthquake, in designing and building a new school. In addition to releasing their imagination and out-of-the-box thinking, children get to work as engineers to discuss the importance of education, emotional well-being and learn how each of us have a role to play in being active agents of change.

Every student participating in these workshops receives one of two kits provided by Skechers; one kit includes a backpack and a pencil pouch while the other includes a sipper and a tote bag.

Founder and Chairwoman of Apparel Group, SimaVed, said: “Funding education has always been an important strategic vertical of Apparel Group philanthropy and CSR strategy. We believe that education will serve as the catalyst to transformative change and we want to ensure that we support children from all walks of life with access to such an educational experience. This contribution is another step in our ongoing collaboration with Dubai Cares to support global education projects and we are very proud of our association.”

In addition, this floor also features a Podcast Room, a talk space (theatre-style) for RewirEd Talks that can be booked by partners and organizations to host their own events and conferences within the Dubai Cares Pavilion at no cost.

The Dubai Cares Pavilion’s sponsors include LG Electronics, Skechers and Audi.

To learn more about Dubai Cares’ various engagements and initiatives at Expo 2020 Dubai, please visit: www.dubaicares.ae.