UAE-led initiative drives regional collaboration, youth empowerment through digital education
The Digital School, a flagship initiative of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has deepened its commitment to digital education in Africa with a prominent presence at the 18th eLearning Africa Conference and Exhibition held in Dar es Salaam. The event, the continent’s largest forum on digital learning and skills development, drew more than 1,500 participants from over 80 countries, including ministers, policymakers, and global education leaders.
As a key partner of the conference, the Digital School led a high-level UAE delegation comprising representatives from the “Ataya” humanitarian initiative of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) and the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT). Together, the delegation spotlighted innovative efforts to accelerate digital transformation in education, build partnerships for sustainable learning, and enhance access for underserved communities across Africa.
At the heart of the UAE’s engagement was a series of landmark announcements and agreements. Chief among them was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The pact aims to boost bilateral cooperation in digital learning and youth empowerment through curriculum innovation and capacity building. The MoU was signed by Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary-General of the Digital School, and Professor Caroline Nombo, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, in the presence of Tanzanian Education Minister Professor Adolf Mkenda and UAE Ambassador Khalifa Al Marzouqi.
Building on the momentum, the Digital School announced the launch of its first regional office in Tanzania. The new facility will serve as a central hub for the “SkillED Academies” Project, a trilateral collaboration involving the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Zanzibar and CERT. The initiative aims to deliver practical, job-ready digital skills to African youth through blended learning models, applied research, and field-based training programmes aligned with national development priorities.
“The Digital School’s presence at eLearning Africa reflects the growing global trust in our model of scalable, inclusive digital education,” said Dr. Al Ali. “We’re not just offering online lessons—we’re building pathways to dignity, jobs, and economic resilience for millions of young people.”
The conference also provided a platform for showcasing the impact of UAE-backed education initiatives. “Ataya” reaffirmed its 2025 commitment to directing proceeds from its annual charitable exhibition toward supporting e-learning across Africa, particularly in collaboration with the Digital School. Hend Al Muhairbi, Director of the Ataya Project, highlighted the UAE’s continued focus on humanitarian aid in education, health, and infrastructure. She noted that the SkillED Academies initiative will expand to several African nations, offering training closely tied to labour market needs.
Khalid Al Hammadi, Acting Chief Business Officer at CERT, echoed these sentiments. “Our partnership with the Digital School is grounded in the belief that education is a strategic enabler. By aligning curricula with 21st-century skills, we’re reshaping the future of learning and employment,” he said, reaffirming CERT’s role in delivering vocational and technical training tailored to real-world demands.
During the three-day event, the Digital School unveiled new digital learning programmes targeting teachers and students in remote regions. It also hosted a ministerial session that convened African education ministers and senior officials to discuss innovative approaches for increasing access to quality education through technology. On the second day, a high-level workshop with African education leaders focused on national strategies for digital transformation and the importance of youth-centred skill development in spurring social and economic growth.
In parallel, the Digital School held over 12 bilateral meetings with ministries, donor agencies, and international development organisations to explore new collaborations. The surge in interest reflects the urgency with which African countries are now prioritising digital education as a cornerstone of their development agendas.
Professor Caroline Nombo welcomed the UAE-Tanzania collaboration, noting that the country had recently overhauled its national curricula to embrace educational technologies. “This partnership will strengthen our digital infrastructure, expand teacher training, and improve learning outcomes for students,” she said.
Since its launch, the eLearning Africa Conference has become a critical forum for shaping the continent’s digital education future. Over 22,000 participants from more than 100 countries have taken part in its previous editions, backed by global players such as UNESCO, the African Union, the African Development Bank, Microsoft, and Google.
