ABSTRACT
Educational reform in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a series of changes that have played out over time, each change informing the next. This chapter describes an innovation that the Zayed University College of Education went through to update its original field-based program, established in 2000. Educational reform around the world has moved forward with research informing practice. The UAE Vision 2021 includes the goal of a world class education in a knowledge economy. The program innovation required a bridge from the past to the present and future to ensure that the UAE citizens are prepared to take the lead in assuring that the UAE goals reach fruition. The chapter will review the status of education at the point the innovation began and the types of changes that were required, describe stakeholder feedback and research litter that supports the changes necessary, include a description of the process and the changes made, and conclude with a description of the leadership lessons learned in making this shift, which will also inform future innovations.
