Khalifa Al Neyadi (ZU Master Alumni of 2016) sharing his experience at the Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration program, College of Education.
An Interview with Khalifa Musabbeh Al Neyadi 2016 Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate with Distinction College of Education – Zayed University
Q: Sandra Baroudi (College of Education): Can you please tell me a few words about your background?
A: Khalifa Al Neyadi: I started my career with an HCT Diploma in Math. After working as a math teacher for several years, I decided to complete my bachelor’s degree at Zayed University. I graduated from Zayed University with a Bachelor of Education and worked as a math teacher for grades 5-9. In 2016, I graduated from Zayed University with a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration. Thus far, I was employed as a math teacher for ten years, a math head of faculty for three years, and as a School Vice-Principal for two years. I am currently employed as a Lead Principal at Khalifa Bin Zayed Secondary School in Al Ain.
Q: Sandra Baroudi (College of Education): What is your main reason for choosing Zayed University?
A: Khalifa Al Neyadi: The main reason why I chose Zayed University for both my undergraduate and graduate studies was because of the learning environment. Zayed University faculty are very professional, administration and staff are extremely cooperative, and the environment is friendly and genuine. During my undergraduate studies I was immersed in an authentic learning environment and I felt that I belonged to this place. That’s why I decided to pursue my graduate studies at Zayed University as well. Throughout my master’s degree program, I noticed that the curriculum was relevant, up to date, comprehensive, and that it offered a variety of topics that expanded students’ knowledge. What I truly appreciated was the constant application of learning to real life situations and especially to the context of the UAE. I think that this helped students to build their leadership styles and to reflect on their learning. For instance, at the end of the first semester, I remember being at a stage where I could start reflecting, comparing, implementing, and discussing the theories and concepts of leadership that I had studied and relating them to the real world. As for the faculty, I would say that they were very humane, meaning that they took into consideration our many challenges as students, workers, and parents. They are very qualified, and they all have very different teaching styles. They motivated me a lot and pushed me to give more and perform better. They were up to date, skilled, and inspired us to become lifelong learners. They also encouraged collaboration and teamwork in class. I also would like to mention that I learned from each faculty’s pedagogical style as much as I learned from the curriculum. Each instructor had his or her own way of motivating students to read until it became a habit.
Q: Sandra Baroudi (College of Education): Please tell us how this degree prepared you for career advancement.
A: Khalifa Al Neyadi: My master’s degree program was an amazing and rich experience. This journey shaped and molded my ideology about education in general. I need to mention here that the experience I had during my master’s degree program at Zayed University helped me to win the UAE President’s Award for Distinguished Teacher and to be promoted from a math teacher to a Vice Principal, and on to a Principal in a very short period of time. Now, I feel I am ready to go forward and pursue a doctoral degree in the educational field that will help me to achieve my goal of making a difference in other people’s lives.
Q; Sandra Baroudi (College of Education): What was your overall educational and non-educational experience during your studies at Zayed University?
A: Khalifa Al Neyadi: I cannot sum up all the benefits of my master’s degree study here, but I can explain the transformation that it brought to my professional career and personality. My presentation skills improved, my knowledge about educational leadership deepened, my evaluation and assessment tools became more authentic, my perspective on how to be an authentic leader became more solid and real, my professional relationship with esteemed professors and leaders expanded, and my network of professional connections widened. Additionally, my reading interests became more varied, my planning skills more organized, and my writing stronger. More importantly, I have gained deep knowledge about the teaching profession and the role that I can play in improving my own and my students’ performance. Lastly, I am proud to say that my teaching methods diversified, my vision as a leader became clearer, and my career looks more promising than ever.
Q: Sandra Baroudi (College of Education): What was the impact of the master’s degree program on your personal development?
A: Khalifa Al Neyadi: The essential point here is that in the courses we took we learned how to assess and evaluate one’s leadership style and its effectiveness and impact on others. Leaders’ moral commitment and vision are major factors for effective leadership. Throughout the program, I was able to shape my own leadership style and to become more genuine in my own profession. Additionally, I benefited a lot from studying the characteristics and dimensions of transformational and transactional leadership styles, and I was able to practice them in my own professional context. I would like to end my interview session with Winston Churchill’s words: “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” So, it is all about change... Why do we need to change? What do we need to change? How do we facilitate change? When should we implement change? The Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration program offered by the College of Education at Zayed University focuses on school leadership and creating the best learning and professional growth environment for students and teachers. The program is offered over four semesters in English on Zayed University’s campuses located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The program is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders, administrators or managers in schools, such as educational policy makers, cluster managers, principals and vice principals in K12- schools, Educational Zones, and educational agencies. The Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration program is designed to meet the needs and interests of school leaders and those aspiring to lead in the many dynamic fields associated with education such as principals, vice-principals, heads of faculty, and teacher leaders. Designed on a learning-outcomes-based model, the program ensures that students graduate with the ability to apply best practice in educational leadership to meet the changing needs of students in the twenty-first century. Graduates will be prepared to provide leadership as educators, administrators and facilitators of educational change within schools. As Zayed University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the program is world-wide recognized for further education and employment in private and public-sector organizations. Zayed University’s graduate programs are also accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education. Furthermore, the College of Education is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Admission to the Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration program for Spring 2021 is now open to males and females of all nationalities and a range of scholarship opportunities is available to Zayed University alumni.
Inquire about the admission requirements and application process or apply now by contacting the College of Education before 22 November 2020 at +971-2-599-3605/cgs@zu.ac.ae or visiting the website at www.zu.ac.ae
