Research

  • Research
  • Contextualized School Design in the UAE: Optimizing Schools for Learning and Well-being
pattern@2x
Email

Contextualized School Design in the UAE: Optimizing Schools for Learning and Well-being

School design has important effects on student academic success and well-being. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many schools built in the 1970s were designed with a pragmatic view, focusing on cost and generalizability. As schools seek to upgrade and align their buildings with contemporary approaches to schooling, it is important to understand what design elements are working and what can be changed to improve student learning and well-being.

This policy paper discusses the findings of a recent case study of a local private school in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah regarding students’ and teachers’ current school experiences, sense of connection to, and aspiration for their school campus. The findings suggest that students have a strong connection to certain spaces in their school and have a strong preference for creating a calmer, more natural learning environment. Educators echoed students’ desire for a calm, natural environment. Additionally, they stressed the need for spaces that provide flexibility and allow for exploration and collaboration.

Recommended citation:  Maluch, J., & Tandogan, V. (2024). Contextualized School Design in the UAE: Optimizing Schools for Learning and Well-being (Policy Paper No. 79). Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/aqf.0225

Download PDF


Related Content