ABU DHABI, 8th September, 2023 (WAM) — The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) has launched the conservation education online portal as part of its 'Conservation Education: the Houbara Model' programme.
The new portal was unveiled at IFHC's pavilion on Friday at ADIHEX, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Intended for UAE public education teachers and students, the portal offers an entertaining range of educational lessons, interactive games, and information about Al-Sana'a, focusing on Emirati heritage, social traditions, and etiquette.
The innovative portal also aims to highlight the principles of sustainability and environmental conservation concerning challenges such as pollution, climate change, and other threats facing humans and wildlife.
With the portal now live, students can register and access various educational practices, which will assist them in gaining deeper insight into many subjects, including science, geography, mathematics, and social studies.
During the ceremony, Hamda Al Ameri, Senior Education Specialist at the IFHC, said, "The portal seeks to achieve IFHC's strategic goal of shaping the thinking mindset of future conservationists. With the support of our partners and in line with the educational objectives of UAE, IFHC has charted a roadmap to further the vision of its 'Conservation Education: the Houbara Model' programme and other initiatives to aid in the preservation of wildlife species on a larger scale."
Furthermore, the portal aims to enhance the learning experiences of young students and offer access to interdisciplinary modules created in the form of gamified educational models. The portal also provides educators and teachers with professional development opportunities and helps them prepare lessons in more engaging ways that will effectively influence the minds, behaviours, and career aspirations of students.
Currently, the portal offers three educational videos narrated by renowned experts Dalmook Al Muhairi and Hamad Al Raisi. These videos showcase the traditions and heritage of the Emirati culture, lending insight into the significance of a "Majlis" and the life of a Houbara conservationist and his passion for his profession and nature.
The portal also features four additional educational games, including "Centennial in Review", a game which reflects the story of the first 50 years of successful conservation efforts in the UAE, "Journey of a Bird", a game launched as a classroom tool allowing students to take on the role of an ecologist to explore the animal behaviour of Houbara, while learning about mathematical, geographic, and scientific concepts from the K-12 curriculum as well as the "Immersive Desert Survival Challenge" and the "Free the Houbara Challenge".
The launch of the portal was held in the presence of representatives from the UAE Ministry of Education, the Emirates Foundation for School Education, Houbara ambassadors, and other ADIHEX visitors.