Taaleem: Harnessing Technology to Improve Learning Outcomes

Taaleem: Harnessing Technology to Improve Learning Outcomes

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Wael Omar, Group Head of IT, explains how education provider Taaleem is utilising technology to deliver a high-quality learning experience

Taaleem, translating as ‘education’ in Arabic, is the second-largest K-12 premium education provider in the UAE. 

Since 2003, the organisation has been establishing, operating and managing early childhood, primary and secondary schools in Dubai, with its portfolio growing to the extent that it now looks after a substantial network of more than 30 educational institutions. 

More than 37,000 students are currently benefiting from the differing curricula offered by Taaleem schools, including British, American and International Baccalaureate (IB).

At the heart of proceedings is a dedication to delivering a high-quality education for young people, implementing benchmark educational initiatives and nurturing an exclusive learning environment.

Achieving all this is made easier by Taaleem’s ability to attract, retain and develop the very best educators.

This leaves Taaleem well positioned to fulfil its mission, which has remained the same since its inception: to be a caring organisation that communicates effectively and delivers excellent service to enable students and staff to compete on the global stage.

It’s this very objective that attracted and inspired Wael Omar, Group Head of IT, to join back in 2010. 

“The sector wasn’t new to me,” says Wael, “but I saw an opportunity to grow and an opportunity to drive significant technical advancement.

“It’s overwhelmingly rewarding to see how technology can improve outcomes and operational efficiencies, in addition to assisting with teaching and learning.”

Transforming the IT department

Plenty has changed at Taaleem since Wael took up his first position as IT Infrastructure Services Manager almost 15 years ago.

In addition to the continued enlargement of its portfolio of schools, Taaleem went public in November 2022, completing an IPO that raised Dh750 million (US$204m) in support of its growth strategy. 

Going hand in hand with this transition was a deeper commitment to sustainability and desire to not only educate but contribute positively to its surroundings.

Meanwhile, on the IT front, Taaleem’s infrastructure has changed dramatically – largely as a result of Wael’s steely determination to transform his department. 

Having arrived to discover a disjointed team working in silos, he soon put forward his vision for the future. 

“Securing buy-in required effort because senior management traditionally used to see IT as a cost centre rather than a business enabler,” Wael admits. “However, we have successfully shifted this perspective by demonstrating how IT provides a competitive advantage and significantly contributes to delivering top-quality education for our students.”

By 2014, Wael was in a position to put his strategy in action, beginning with the adoption of cloud technologies and continuing with the consolidation of services from decentralised silos to a shared IT service delivery model. 

Adjusting to remote learning

On the subject of evolution, Taaleem – like thousands of other education providers across the globe – was left with little option but to evolve at pace when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

As mentioned, Wael and his employer took a forward-thinking by adopting cloud services relatively early, moving the company’s workload and infrastructure over to the cloud from 2014.

By 2017, most of that workload had been integrated into the cloud and, already, Microsoft Teams had been deployed across all Taaleem institutions – putting them streets ahead of a significant proportion of the world’s schools and workplaces. 

Put simply, the learning platforms and infrastructure required to make the smooth transition to remote teaching and learning were already well-established when schools were ordered to close to prevent the spread of the virus in March 2020. 

“We take pride when it comes to how well prepared Taaleem was for remote learning,” Wael continues, speaking from the IT department’s perspective. “It was seamless for us; we didn't even need to flick a switch. 

“All students needed to do was have their laptop or tablet and their credentials, log on to our services and they were ready to go. We supported our students and teachers very quickly and effectively while maintaining high educational standards during the pandemic.”

The remote learning at Taaleem is both comprehensive and interactive. IT specialists leverage advanced digital platforms to facilitate live classes, virtual collaboration and access to a diverse range of educational resources. 

It’s an approach that ensures students receive the same high-quality education they would otherwise enjoy in a physical classroom, but with added flexibility and support.

Cybersecurity a top priority for Taaleem

Cybersecurity is constantly top of mind for Wael and his team, with the safeguarding of students and faculty members treated as a priority. 

The IT department at Taaleem implements a host of robust security measures and controls, as well as conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate potential risks. 

However, Wael’s belief is that, in the cybersecurity realm, “your weakest link is your end users”. The most important element of his cybersecurity strategy, therefore, is raising awareness. 

Central to this policy is Taaleem’s cybersecurity training platform, which simulates cyber-attacks to assess the end user’s knowledge. Based on the results, cybersecurity awareness campaigns are tailored to particular individuals and users are enrolled on a frequent basis to prepare them for emerging risks. 

Despite the well-documented and growing threat presented by increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks – powered by technologies like generative AI – Wael says Taaleem has managed to avoid any major incidents. 

Where difficulties do arise is in ensuring staff members keep up with students in the awareness stakes. 

“Like I said, students are native to technology, so, based on our cybersecurity training and simulation campaigns, they are quite aware – unlike our staff,” Wael goes on. “Training our staff to recognise and respond to threats is a big challenge.

“You can invest millions of dollars implementing information security controls to protect against sophisticated cybersecurity threats, but, unless you’re investing in your end users, everything will go to waste.”

A deep commitment to sustainability

Having gone public, the need for Taaleem to abide by certain regulatory frameworks has amplified in recent years. 

As explained in its latest ESG report, for 2022-23, the organisation’s various initiatives and disclosures are driven by alignment with the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and the UAE Net Zero 2050 national initiative.

Taaleem outlines that the majority of its emissions fall into the Scope 2 category, adding that this is being addressed through a focused transition to renewable energy sources. At the time of the report being compiled, it was generating an impressive 617,470 kWh through solar initiatives.

The company has also taken accountability for Scope 3 emissions, effectively tracking emissions from school buses – amounting to 8,291 metric tonnes of CO2e for the same period. 

In the context of IT, Taaleem has begun using more environmentally friendly technology within classrooms, with traditional interactive projectors replaced by eco-friendly versions from Epson. 

Wael continues: “Paper is obviously very important in schools, but we are moving towards digitalising and trying to go paperless. We’ve implemented a centralised managed print service with enforced print quotas to minimise waste.

“We also work with one of our partners to recycle our old IT kit in a more environmentally friendly manner.

“Other departments have their own initiatives, but we are deep in our commitment to sustainability.”

Partnerships prove crucial to success​​​​​​​

Taaleem collaborates and partners with a host of industry-leading vendors in order to provide state-of-the-art technology and high-quality teaching and learning resources. 

Among them is the aforementioned Epson, which is equipping schools with interactive, laser projectors, as well as centralised print management based on Epson printers and photocopiers.

Meanwhile, IT giant HP is furnishing institutions with end-user computing and network infrastructure, such as its wireless network based on HPE Aruba. 

Another trusted partner – this time in the security space – is Fortinet. Taaleem has FortiGate firewalls deployed at each site, with SD-WAN interconnectivity between locations.

“These strategic alliances not only enhance our IT, but also ensure our classrooms are equipped with the latest technology,” says Wael. “We’re creating a dynamic learning environment that is responsive to modern educational needs.

“Such partnerships are crucial to your success. Having the right path partner by your side allows you access to cutting-edge technology and expertise, which internally helps us to deliver high-quality education and maintain operational efficiency and excellence.”

Digital transformation journey continues

Looking ahead, Wael is laser-focused on helping Taaleem to advance its digital transformation efforts and expand its IT infrastructure. 

Plans are afoot to open new schools to meet growing demand and the organisation is set to deepen its commitment sustainability in a bid to leave a positive, lasting impact on the environment. 

Through all this, what will undoubtedly remain is Taaleem’s tireless commitment to innovation and quality, holistic education. 

“It’s exciting times ahead,” Wael adds. “Business is growing, more schools are needed and we're continuing on our digital transformation journey.”

Acknowledging that transformation is constantly being driven by emerging technologies, the IT leader expects to see greater adoption of AI and machine learning in the coming years. He also predicts that virtual and augmented reality will play a bigger role in creating immersive, interactive learning environments. 

“Overall, the future will be defined by the blend of technological innovation, enhanced security and a commitment to sustainability.”

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