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The World Giftedness Center at Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences organised a specialised workshop titled “Gifted Education in Times of Crises: Understanding Educators’ Role, Parental Responsibilities, and Best Support Practices,” bringing together 152 educators, researchers, and professionals with an interest in gifted education.
The workshop explored effective approaches to ensuring the continuity of education and support for gifted learners during times of crisis, while highlighting the complementary roles of teachers, parents, and policymakers in creating flexible learning environments that respond to the unique needs of gifted students under exceptional circumstances.
The workshop was delivered by Dr. Maxwell Peprah Opoku, a gifted education expert, who examined the key challenges facing gifted learners during crises and discussed strategies for supporting their academic, social, and emotional development through flexible educational practices, stronger school-family partnerships, and responsive education policies.
Commenting on the initiative, H
E. Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, said:
“Gifted students represent a national asset and a strategic investment in the future of our societies. Ensuring the continuity of their education and the development of their talents, regardless of the circumstances, requires an integrated support system that nurtures their potential at every stage. Through the World Giftedness Center, the Foundation is committed to providing specialised scientific platforms that promote knowledge exchange and the sharing of international expertise, supporting the continuous advancement of gifted education practices and programmes. We also believe that strong collaboration between schools, families, and policymakers is fundamental to the sustainability of gifted education, ensuring that gifted learners receive the educational and emotional support they need to continue excelling and innovating, even in times of crisis.”
The workshop addressed several key themes, including the role of educators in supporting gifted learners during crises, parents’ responsibilities in fostering a supportive home learning environment, and the contribution of policymakers and relevant stakeholders to developing an integrated framework for gifted education under exceptional circumstances. Participants also explored a range of practical approaches and successful experiences that promote the continuity of gifted education programmes while creating flexible and inclusive learning environments that enable gifted students to continue learning, growing, and innovating.
The workshop forms part of the World Giftedness Center’s ongoing efforts to advance specialised knowledge in gifted education, facilitate dialogue and the exchange of expertise among specialists and practitioners, and promote the continuous development of educational practices that support gifted learners. The event recorded an outstanding 99.11% participant satisfaction rate, reflecting the growing interest in gifted education and the importance of strengthening support systems for gifted learners across diverse learning contexts.