In Focus

Policymaker Interview

Dr. Waleed Al-Ali

Program Advisor, The Digital School

Dr. Waleed Al-Ali is an advisor at Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI). Among other activities, Dr. Al-Ali directs the Madrasa e-learning initiative, is the coordinator for Dubai Future Council for Humanitarian Aid, and the program advisor for The Digital School. Dr. Waleed is experienced in the areas of strategic planning, innovation management, and ICT innovations in Education. He has worked with leading private and public organizations in UAE including Dubai Holding, UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Engineers Office of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Smart Learning Program. Dr. Waleed holds PhD in Project and Innovation Management, Master’s degree in IT Management and Bachelor’s degree in Information Security.

Anthony Bloome, Founder and Executive Director of the mEducation Alliance, conducted this interview

Anthony: Could you tell us about your background and how you have gotten to where you are now? 

Anthony: Could you give us some background about Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) as it relates to Madrasa.org? 

Anthony: Could you please tell us more about Madrasa’s content the subject areas that are covered? 

Anthony: You spoke about Madrasa.org’s work to Arabicize existing content, has that content also been made available in English? 

Anthony: Is there a particular video on Madrasa that really excited you? 

Anthony: How do you collect feedback for Madrasa.org from its beneficiaries? Either in terms of existing content, or getting ideas for new content? 

Anthony: You mentioned Khan Academy, does Madrasa accept content from any other outside contributors? 

Anthony: You mentioned Madrasa’s multinational reach, what conversations have you had with policymakers about the use of Open Education Resources in general? 

Anthony: What would success look like for the Digital School Initiative five years from now? What do you hope the impact of success will be on the individual level? 

The Mobiles for Education (mEducation) Alliance is a non-governmental organization focused on the evidence-driven and sustainable role of technology in education to advance quality educational outcomes. Initially formed in 2010, the mEducation Alliance is a unique, multi-stakeholder convening platform for government and donor policymakers, other investors, researchers, and practitioners to work together, particularly in lower-resource, developing country contexts. For more information about the Alliance, including about our signature activities, visit the organization web page.

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Jax Chaudhry

Jax Chaudhry leads Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers youth with future ready mindsets for individual success and global impact, through invention. Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Jax loves working with students, families and partners to ensure every student can attain success as they define it. For more than 10 years, she has worked with elementary schools, high schools, education nonprofits and led regional teams and operations to ensure student success.

Michael Leventhal

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning scienceMichael Leventhal is co-founder of RobotsMali, a pedagogical and AI4D laboratory and STEM education center in Bamako, Mali. RobotsMali has trained thousands of students from elementary school to high school in computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence, coached national robotics teams that have won 32 medals in international competitions, and developed technologies using AI and robotics for the social and economic development of Mali. Before becoming an educator in Mali, Michael worked as a technologist in Silicon Valley.s, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.

Enouce Ndeche

Enouce Ndeche is the founder and Director of Vijana Amani Pamoja ,VAP a community scheme based in Nairobi Kenya that uses the power and the popularity of the game of soccer/football as a catalyst for social, educational and economic empowerment.Enouce holds a degree in sociology from Egerton university and he is also the 2020 individual award recipient “Diversity and Inclusion Eminent Leader Award Enouce is also a certified Sports Philanthropy and Executive, George Washington University and is a 2023 Gratitude Network fellow.

Kenneth Y T Lim

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning sciences, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.