10 – 12 November 2026
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Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 & 3
Professor Rana Tamim
Professor, CEO and Founder - University of Toronto & EduBridges
Prof. Tamim is the Founder and CEO of edubridges. She is a Professor of Educational Technology and the former Dean of the College of Education at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates, where she also served as Advisor to the Provost. Currently, Dr. Tamim offers graduate courses at OISE, University of Toronto, and the Faculty of Education, Wilfred Laurier University. Her teaching experience spans more than 30 years and includes university instruction and supervision; adult in-service training, and K-12 teaching and coordination in different countries. She has a rich educational leadership experience in different institutions and at different academic levels with extensive skills in national and international program accreditation. Dr. Tamim has an established publication record in top tier peer reviewed journals with a growing outreach as reflected by her more than 9,800 google scholar citations. Her research interests and expertise include knowledge synthesis through systematic reviews for the purpose of informing policies and improving educational practice; with a focus on educational leadership and the impact and role played by digital technologies in enhancing student learning and designing student-centered learning environments.
Speaker Sessions
GESS Talks Live
1628
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Panel Session: Stories from the Trenches: Supporting Early Career Teachers
Session Summary:
This panel will centre the voices of early career teachers as they share personal narratives that reflect the realities of entering the profession today, their aspirations, the challenges they face, and the ways they are growing through experience. Too often, the perspectives of beginning educators are underrepresented in professional dialogues, despite the valuable insights they bring from the front lines of the classroom.
Through authentic storytelling, panelists will illuminate the tensions between preparation and practice, the need for responsive mentorship, and the importance of feeling seen and supported during the critical early years of teaching. The session will also open space for discussion on how schools and systems can more effectively retain early career teachers, not through generic programs or rigid frameworks, but through intentional, relational support that honors their evolving identities as educators.
Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of new teachers and some actionable ideas for fostering inclusive, empowering environments that nurture their development and strengthen the profession as a whole.
Speakers:
Professor Rana Tamim
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Professor, CEO and Founder - University of Toronto & EduBridges
Carine EL Yamani
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Head of English Department; RISE Lead (Research and Innovation for Sustainable Education) - Saint Mary's Orthodox College
Yamna Kamal
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Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher - Al Rayana Charter School
Taiba Albahrani
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Lead Learning Resource Specialist - Yas School
Leaders in Education
1637
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Are Schools Killing Teachers’ Creativity?
Session Summary:
This session addresses a pressing challenge in education today: the need to restore trust in teachers as professionals and central agents of change. Too often, educators are weighed down by rigid compliance measures, standardized templates, and top-down mandates that limit their autonomy and creativity. This presentation calls for a shift, one that re-centers teachers' voices in decision-making and reaffirms their capacity to lead learning in ways that are responsive, meaningful, and impactful.
Drawing on global best practices from high-performing educational systems, the session will highlight concrete strategies for reducing bureaucratic pressure and nurturing a culture of professional trust. Through actionable examples and practical insights, participants will explore how to support teachers in reclaiming their agency and how doing so leads directly to stronger, more empowered student learning experiences. The session invites educators, leaders, and policymakers to reimagine accountability, not as a constraint, but as a shared commitment to excellence rooted in trust, respect, and professional growth.
Speakers:
Professor Rana Tamim
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Professor, CEO and Founder - University of Toronto & EduBridges
Categories:
Leadership and Professional Development
EdTech in Action
1609
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Turning innovation into action: The Professor Rana Tamim interview with Dr Sreejit Chakrabarty
