Mapping the Evolving Teacher Professional Development Landscape in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract One of the goals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to be the centre of excellence in both education and research in the Middle East. Radical educational reforms have been introduced with substantial governmental support provided to ensure that the essential standards of quality are met in terms of teacher professional development (TPD) as the country transitions to a knowledge-based economy. Given UAE’s unique demographic landscape, it is of great interest to map the evolving TPD landscape in the country from its historical beginnings to the current initiatives being done and future initiatives being conceptualized in government and private schools. The paper focuses on TPD in the following areas: early childhood, special education, educational leadership, health and physical education. The resulting shifts in the UAE educational landscape as a function of the pandemic across these specific disciplines are discussed. The impact on field experiences among preservice teachers and the continuous professional development opportunities for in-service teachers are further explored. Moreover, the authors will touch on some best practices and challenges in providing TPD in the UAE, in light of stringent quality assurance systems in teacher education. It is argued that there is a lack of centralization by way of a cohesive framework that effectively structures the implementation of a TPD model that is aligned and customized to the needs of its stakeholders. This provides a unique opportunity for educators to chart their own roadmap and collectively define the evolving educational landscape. Keywords: teacher professional development in UAE, teacher training in the UAE