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AFG WORKSHOP IN DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

On April 28 and 29, 2004, teachers and administrators from member international schools from the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Europe assembled at the Towers Rotana Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for a first ever regional workshop on the Accreditation for Growth accreditation protocol. The workshop was proposed by Brent Mutsch, superintendent of the Saudi Aramco Schools and member of the International Schools Advisory Committee and Roger Hove, superintendent of the American School of Dubai and a member of the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools. Responding to what they perceived as heightened interest in a strategic planning protocol for accreditation of international schools, Dr. Mutsch and Mr. Hove proposed that the Middle States staff offer a workshop for interested educators in the region and offered to host the event.

Thirty-two heads of school and internal coordinators attended the two-day workshop. They represented international schools in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Cyprus, Pakistan, India, Jordan, and South Africa.

Dr. Kenneth Kastle, Associate Director of CSS, conducted the workshop, which focused on developing knowledge and understanding of the concepts, ideas, and commitments underlying the AFG protocol, organizing the school’s planning effort, identifying important areas of student performance for improvement, hosting a Validation Team, implementing the school’s plan for improvement, and maintaining the planning momentum over the seven years of the accreditation period.

Those attending reported that, in addition to the knowledge they gained about the protocol, they appreciated the opportunity to meet with colleagues from other international schools to share experiences and obtain ideas about using AFG as the organizing framework for school improvement. Educators from several schools that have been accredited through the AFG protocol for some time were particularly valuable resources.

Visit our link to the photo of attendees.