The Emirates News Agency reported that Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities announced plans for the conference to examine how educational frameworks can translate visionary policies into tangible benefits for families. The event will gather academics, policymakers and specialists to review strategies that integrate learning systems with family support structures across the UAE and wider region. University officials outlined sessions focused on curriculum development, community engagement and long-term societal outcomes, with the gathering scheduled to feature presentations of research findings and best practices.
Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri, chancellor of the university, stated in the announcement that the conference builds directly on national priorities established for the Year of the Family. Al Dhaheri noted that the initiative declared by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan seeks to position the family as the core unit for individual development and social stability. The chancellor added that educational institutions play a central part in realizing these goals through targeted programs and collaborative research.
A UNESCO statistical overview for 2026 found that the UAE achieved near-universal enrollment rates in primary education, with figures exceeding 98 percent for both boys and girls in recent reporting cycles. The global monitoring tables compiled by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics placed the UAE among regional leaders in access metrics, though challenges remain in addressing gender differences at higher levels of schooling. Such data underscore the context for discussions at the upcoming conference on linking educational gains to family well-being.
OECD PISA 2022 results for the UAE indicated that 55 percent of students attended schools where at least half of families initiated discussions with teachers about academic progress, down from earlier survey periods. The assessment also highlighted that 53 percent of 15-year-olds were immigrant students, a proportion stable since 2012, reflecting the diverse makeup of UAE households. Conference participants are expected to consider how these demographic patterns influence family-focused educational policies.
The university has previously organized related events, including a symposium on family and national identity held in February 2026 that coincided with the Year of the Family declaration, according to the institution’s public statements. That gathering emphasized the family’s role as a foundation for societal cohesion amid contemporary pressures. Organizers for the new conference intend to extend those themes by concentrating on practical educational interventions and measurable impacts.
Additional sessions will review international models of family-supportive schooling drawn from GCC experiences and global case studies, the university announcement indicated. Participants will assess how teacher training, parental involvement initiatives and digital learning tools can reinforce family units. The event forms part of a series of activities across UAE institutions responding to the national focus on family development throughout 2026.
