The story behind my "HCTeachers OF Tomorrow" initiative began in AY 2023, when the UAE Government expanded the Emiratisation mandate to include employment of locals in private sectors. What started as a policy response transformed into a movement to ignite and showcase Emirati Teacher Excellence across the UAE, and soon, to the world. As the focal person for Industry Partnerships, I developed a series of strategic programs that bridge our students with key stakeholders, fostering employment readiness and leadership opportunities, while reciprocating industry support through collaborative engagement. One of the cornerstone projects was the Yatir Employment Summit (YES-Education), a career networking event that brought education stakeholders together to explore apprenticeship opportunities, employer expectations, fair compensation models, and the transition from work placement to long-term employment. The summit also opened doors for applied research collaboration between the Education division and industry partners. Additionally, the Innovation Event and Carnival Day invited school teachers and students into student-led workshops and activities that demonstrated early childhood best practices. These interactions allowed partners to witness firsthand the creativity, capability, and professionalism of our students. To further extend industry engagement, I hosted Round Table Discussion with senior leaders from private and government schools. Their insights helped refine the ECE curriculum and apprenticeship model, ensuring our program remains relevant to market needs. The initiative also included its flagship program - HCTeachers of Tomorrow Research Presentations and Workshops, where students shared applied research output exploring inclusive pedagogy, Emirati culture, and best practices in early years. These findings have influenced partner school strategies and validated the real-world value of our academic work, many of which have been adopted by participating schools. Together, these projects form an integrated platform that bridges theory and practice, celebrates Emirati teaching talent, and positions HCT as a leader in educational innovation and industry collaboration.
Finalist
Engaged Academic of the Year Award
Dr. Robin Ogdol
Finalist Engaged Academic of the Year Award
Higher Colleges of Technology - United Arab Emirates
"HCTeachers of Tomorrow- "Igniting Emirati Teacher Excellence through Harnessing Strategic Industry Partnerships""
Engage on social media
https://tinyurl.com/EngagedAcad(From UAE to the World: HCTeachers of Tomorrow Reaches Triple-E Awards Stage)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15U6DKH3QZ/(Proud Moment: HCTeachers of Tomorrow Earns Global Finalist Spot)
Summary
Key People
Dr. Robin Ogdol
Faculty, Events and Partnership Lead
Faculty of Education,
Higher Colleges of Technology
Jose Roan Adorna
KS3 Mathematics Teacher, Instructional Coach
High School Mathematics,
GEMS Founders School, Al Barsha Dubai
Aisha Alteneiji
Campus Division Chair, supported Robin's initiative
Faculty of Education ,
Higher Colleges of Technology
Dr. Priti Verma
Executive Dean, supported Robin's initiative
Faculty of Education,
Higher Colleges of Technology
Acknowledgements
First, I would like to thank the Higher Colleges of Technology and the Faculty of Education for giving me the opportunity to serve as the focal person for Division's Events and Industry Partnerships. This role has allowed me to achieve one of my inspirations of broadening and deepening the skills and expertise of my Early Childhood pre-service teacher students by building strong, lasting relationships with our industry partners, including both government and now private school sectors. Thanks to Dr. Priti, and Ms. Aisha, for all the support in driving this initiative forward.
All thanks to my students, whose genuine commitment and shared passion for excellence continue to drive meaningful change in the Early Childhood Education landscape of the UAE.
In addition, I would like to thank Sir Jose, the key person who supported me throughout this new challenge of opening opportunities for our graduates, for myself as an academic, and the entire Faculty of Education to engage with private school institutions. His support extended above and beyond apprenticeship and employment opportunities, He also supported me in building strategic partnerships and fostering meaningful engagement with them.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family - my mom, dad, two brothers, sister, in-laws, nieces, nephew, and also Ogdol, Adorna, Van de Meeberg, Yambot, Roque, relatives, and everyone who serve as my cheerleaders. You all serve as my constant inspiration to continue striving for purpose, growth, and meaningful impact in the field of education. Sending virtual hugs and kisses with consent.
With appreciation and love - Robin
Images
Event where industry partner school teachers and students participated in Education student-led math activities and workshops on early years best practices.
A student-led events for industry partner school teachers and students focused on Integrated Curriculum, Interest-Based Learning and Naturalistic Instructional Approach
An event held with senior leaders from industry partners to explore opportunities for strategic collaboration.
Applied research collaboration on culturally responsive instruction and inclusive pedagogy with Ajman Academy
Flagship program of the initiative where applied research of students were presented, followed by workshop for Industry Partners on early years best practices
Career networking event that navigated apprenticeship-to-employment pathways, employer expectations, graduate skill alignment, mutually beneficial compensation models, and opportunities for applied research collaboration.
Meeting with Industry Partners on potential sponsorship, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for our students.
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
This initiative serves as platform that ignites the potential of HCT Emirati teaching talent through strategic collaborations and engagements with industry partners.
The Yatir Employment Summit (YES Education) transformed the typical career fair into dynamic networking event. Students got chances to talk to the leaders of the private schools regarding apprenticeships, employer expectations, fair pay, and applied research. Some students received apprenticeship opportunities with stipends, while others were offered jobs even before they graduated.
The Innovation Event and Carnival Day allowed school partners to observe student workshops that employed Integrated Activities, Interest-Based Learning, and Naturalistic Instructional Approach. School teachers learned effective strategies for implementing integration, recognizing the importance of tapping into students’ natural curiosities, and promoting learning through natural environments. These gatherings allowed partners to experience theory in action through culturally responsive, child-focused practices that reflect current best practices in early childhood education.
Round Table Discussions provided school leaders with a platform to give feedback. Their contribution resulted in additional practicum hours and classroom management training in the ECE curriculum. They also believed that their voices were heard, which demonstrates that the program aligns with the needs of schools today.
The project culminated in Research Presentations and Workshops in which students presented applied research on inclusive pedagogy and Emirati culture. The findings were embraced by many schools, which commended their relevance and influence.
Collectively, these projects transformed passive partnerships into effective collaboration, created employment opportunities, influenced school practices, and enhanced the leadership of HCT in applied early childhood education.
My leadership in the HCTeachers of Tomorrow initiative was one of the defining factors in earning me the esteemed HCT Teaching Excellence Award 2025, a testament to my impactful and innovative contributions to education.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
Leading this initiative taught me that lasting partnerships occur when stakeholders are viewed not simply as beneficiaries, but as catalysts for change and drivers of success. Engagement becomes lasting if it is transformational. By giving our partners the voice in shaping your curriculum, program or institution, and positioning students not as mere interns but as emerging professionals and contributors, we build the foundation for sustained and meaningful collaboration.
My advice as a leader is simple yet bold – listen with an intent, lead with others, and act with vision. Engagement is not a checklist, it is a relationship. The initiatives must be flexible and leave room for feedback, continuous improvement, and collective impact. True innovation emerges from our courage to reimagine traditional models of career fairs, presentations or workshops. Innovation usually starts with the question – “What would happen if I did this differently?”
Lastly, do not underestimate the ripple effect of demonstrating excellence. What may seem like a single event, such as a student-led workshop, a well-presented research presentation, or a meaningful conversation with a school leader, might seem small, it often triggers a chain reaction of impact that goes beyond the original scope. Excellence has a way to echo. It builds credibility, creates trust, and fosters collaborative participation. In this regard, excellence serves as the driver of change, providing students with skills that are relevant in modern classrooms and at the same time preparing them to shape the future of the education sector.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Building on the success of the HCTeachers of Tomorrow project, I plan to expand the partnership with other schools by mentoring a colleague to become a co-leader of the journey. It is essential to delegate leadership roles to the new generation of professionals to maintain the pace, bring new ideas, share the load, and guarantee the continuity of the process, not limited to one person. Through developing leadership in others, the faculty of education will be able to increase its innovation potential, adjust to the needs of partners, and extend the scope of its programs.
To deepen industry partnership, I will navigate possibilities of launching shared community outreach initiatives for a cause such as providing tuition free weekend lessons to underprivileged children, and or establishing cost efficient early childhood centres. In fact, me and my students’ proposed Al Sidrah Nursery is currently in development. It would be a low-tuition early years facility, established to serve as a community support hub and a new apprenticeship site for our pre-service teachers. These will not only develop local communities but also position our institutions as active advocates of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, promoting inclusive and equitable quality education. Of equal importance, such collaborative work may serve as a powerful eye-opener for our industry partners, highlighting the transformative importance of collaborative work that goes beyond employment and the measurable collective impact that can be achieved through intentional engagement.
I aspire to create a legacy of educators who lead with a purpose.
