BITS Pilani, Dubai hosts first-ever STEM Teachers Award ceremony

• The initiative is in line with the UAE Government’s Vision and the Ministry of Education’s National Strategy for Higher Education 2030

• STEM Teachers Award for High School Teachers in the UAE saw 13 teachers from across UAE take awards in eight categories

Dubai, UAE:  The first-ever STEM Teachers Award for High School Teachers in the UAE, held by Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Dubai Campus (BPDC) in association with Science India Forum (SIF), UAE Chapter was held on April 29,2023, on the BPDC campus. It celebrated 13 UAE educators in eight categories with a flair for teaching the next generation, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, popularly known as STEM.

The awards, which recognized the work of teachers, are in line with the UAE Government’s Vision and the Ministry of Education’s National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, which focuses on creating a forward-looking education system for a skilled future generation.

The event began with an invocation and welcome note, followed by the Director of BPDC Prof. Srinivasan Madapusi’s address. On the occasion, he said: “Teachers matter. They sacrifice a lot for the sake of their profession, and their hard work must be recognized through awards such as these. The STEM educators we celebrate today are true innovators who have through their dynamic teaching practices led the way in promoting student learning in the community. To all the winners, thank you for your dedication and congratulations!”

SIF UAE President Dr Satish Krishnan added: “I’m extremely proud to be a part of this prestigious award that BITS Pilani Dubai Campus is giving to STEM teachers. The importance of STEM cannot be stressed enough; it is the language of the digital age; and educators who are at the forefront of the trend must be recognized and appreciated. To BITS Pilani Dubai Campus and all the leading teachers, congratulations.”

This was followed by the felicitation of the judges – Dr. S. Gurumadhva Rao- Former Vice Chancellor and Senior Advisor, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University;

Dr. R. Roop Kumar- Professor, BPDC; Dr. Maneesha – Associate Professor, BPDC; and Dr. Alavikunhu Panthakkan- Assistant Professor, University of Dubai.

The awards were presented by category and interspersed with vibrant student performances.

Udaya Prakash Balakrishna, from Our Own High School in Dubai, and Surya Vignesh, from Global Indian International School in Abu Dhabi, shared the coveted STEM Teacher of the Year Award at the STEM Teachers Awards for High School Teachers in the UAE ceremony, held on April 29 at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Dubai Campus.

Nisha Ramesh from Our own English High School, Sharjah- Boys, won the Best teacher award for excellence in Instructional Leadership. Hemaben Atul Shah, from Our Own English High School, Sharjah- Girls, took home the title of Best Teacher Award for Academic Excellence. The Best Teacher Award for Innovation in Pedagogy went to Siju Philip from Global Indian International School, Dubai.

The Best Teacher Award for Outstanding Digital Transformation went to Aarti Chopra of The Winchester School in Dubai and Shaki Ali from Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi. The Best Teacher Award for Intiating Diversity Inclusion and Well- being went to Radhika Misra, of Our own English High School, Sharjah-Boys, and Dileep Krishnan Poruppath from the Emirates School of Establishments-Um Kulthoom, School of Al-Ain.

Meanwhile, the Best Teacher Award for Community Engagement was shared by Leena Maniyath, from Sunrise English Private School, and Sini Haridasan from Our own High School, Dubai.

Teachers from two schools shared the prize for Best Teacher Award for Outstanding Projects:  Mahaalakshmi Ravindran, Delhi Private School, Dubai, and Arsha Bhooshan, from Gems our Own Indian School.

Nominations for the awards that recognized educators in eight categories – Excellence in Instructional Leadership, Academic Excellence, Innovation in Pedagogy, Outstanding Digital Transformation, Best Teacher Award for initiating Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing, for Community Engagement, for Outstanding Projects and STEM Teacher of the Year Award – were made by the candidate themselves or their school, students, colleagues and family members.

After the ceremony, a gala dinner was held, which was attended by teachers, students and various dignitaries.

About BITS PILANI Dubai Campus

About BITS PILANI Dubai Campus: The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Dubai Campus, is a premier institution for engineering and technology education, renowned for its dedication to providing quality education since its establishment in 2000. As one of the pioneering institutions in Dubai, it holds the distinction of being ranked as the top private university of India in Engineering and Technology, and is also among the Top 200 Universities in QS Asia University Rankings 2023. BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus is awarded a 5-star rating from Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Government of Dubai in partnership with QS based on four core categories namely, Teaching, Research, Employability and Internationalization. With a diverse student population from over 20 countries worldwide, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus offers a range of programs including B.E, M.E., M.B.A. and Ph.D. in various engineering and allied disciplines. With several BITS Pilani alumni holding leadership positions in leading companies across the globe, it is a testament to the excellence of education imparted at the institution.

For more information visit https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/dubai/

Science India Forum UAE is a non-profitable voluntary organization dedicated to the service of society through the advancement of Science & Technology.SIF UAE like its parent organization VIBHA (Vijnana Bharati), believes in promoting and popularizing Indian sciences for the service of society. Active in UAE for the past 16 (since 2006) years; the organization has been functional in not only introducing India’s rich scientific heritage (right from ancient to modern) to the student community but also motivating them to take up pure science as a career and inculcate the moral value of giving back to the society.SIF UAE is propelled ahead through its activities through dedicated volunteers from various professions and supported by the Embassy of India Consulate General of India, UAE and sponsors from UAE.

For more information visit https://www.sifuae.com/