The American University of Beirut (AUB) recently hosted the 12th annual gathering of the TAMAM Steering Team, an event sponsored by Her Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, under the theme “TAMAM Educational Movement: Fostering Partnerships for Educational Reform in the Arab Region from a Grounded Perspective.” This gathering, held in Amman from February 9 to 11, 2024, marked a pivotal moment in the quest for educational transformation across the Arab world, drawing over 250 participants from a broad spectrum of educators, school leaders, researchers, and members of the TAMAM network.
The TAMAM project, standing for “Tatweer Al-Mustanid Ila Al-Madrasa” or School-Based Improvement, embodies the vision of transforming schools into self-renewing institutions that foster leadership and societal development. It aims at building broad-based leadership within schools and beyond through educational innovation and reform. The gathering served as a platform to celebrate the project’s accomplishments, reinforcing the participative vision for school reform and fostering a stronger network of collaboration among educators across the region.
The event was marked by a series of enriching sessions and discussions. The opening ceremony featured an inaugural session with speeches delivered by the sponsor of the conference Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan; Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, the Jordanian minister of higher education and scientific research; Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president; Dr. Fares Dahdah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at AUB; and Dr. Sally Turkie, chair of the TAMAM advisory board.
Associate Professor Rima Karami, director and principal investigator at TAMAM and chair of the Department of Education at AUB then delivered the opening address. This was followed by an exhibition showcasing the innovative efforts of more than 30 schools from eight Arab countries, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of the TAMAM project’s endeavors in school-based improvement.
The opening ceremony also included the honoring of Khaled Ali Turki, the founder and chairman of the board of Khaled Ali Turki & Sons Company and of the Dhahran Schools, and the main funder of TAMAM for seventeen years.
Keynote addresses and panel discussions delved into various facets of educational reform. Topics ranged from exploring the linguistic and cultural dimensions of Arab learners, empowering students as leaders and change agents, to the importance of partnerships between educational institutions and families for community-rooted schools. These discussions not only provided insightful perspectives but also underscored the need for innovative educational practices that prioritize student leadership and active involvement.
The gathering also focused on building partnerships for sustainable development, illustrating how TAMAM functions as a robust collaboration between practitioners and researchers. This synergy aims to create practical, research-informed solutions for educational improvement. Sessions highlighted the significance of family-school partnerships and professional networking among schools, emphasizing collaborative action research as a vital support for development.
Throughout the event, discussions emphasized the importance of enhancing the leadership capabilities within the TAMAM Professional Network, aiming to solidify the foundation for ongoing school-based improvement initiatives. Interactions with policymakers and educators underscored the imperative of melding innovative practices with educational policies, championing a united approach to reform. This collective endeavor seeks to navigate the complexities of educational transformation, ensuring that the fruits of innovation are effectively integrated into the fabric of educational systems across the Arab region.
This year’s gathering not only celebrated the strides made in educational reform but also set the stage for future endeavors, with the TAMAM network poised to continue its vital role in shaping educational policies and practices across the Arab region.
About TAMAM
Since its inception in 2007, as a result of a memorandum of understanding between the Arab Thought Foundation and the American University of Beirut, the TAMAM project has grown from an experimental research initiative into an extensive educational network spanning nine Arab countries. It involves over 1000 educational practitioners in 72 institutions, working alongside educational researchers, trainers, and ministry representatives. The project’s impactful contributions to enhancing teacher performance and educational reform were recognized with the UNESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Prize for Outstanding Practices and Efforts to Improve Teacher Performance in 2022, underscoring its significant influence on the educational landscape in the Arab world.
About AUB
Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. A teaching-centered research university, AUB has more than 800 full-time faculty members and a student body of over 8000 students. AUB currently offers more than 120 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, MD, and PhD degrees. It provides medical education and training to students from throughout the region at its Medical Center that includes a full-service 365-bed hospital.
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