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Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chancellor of the UAE University, Professor Mohamed Albaili, Deputy VC for Academic Affairs, opened the 2^nd International Conference for Gifted and Talented, in the presence of experts and educational specialists from the UAE, Arab, and foreign universities, on Tuesday morning, May 19^th, 2015, at the Crescent Building Theater in Al Ain Campus.

Professor Mohamed Albaili said: “The Conference acquires its importance from its slogan (Towards National Strategy for Enhancing Creativity), which is consistent with the year of innovation in the country, as the University is keen to achieve the national visions in vital areas that support innovators and inventors, thus contributing to the strengthening of the areas of innovation, especially in the education sector”.

Professor Albaili stressed that the talented are national and global wealth that neither has geographical boundaries nor time limits, and the UAE University is responsible to provide an ideal incubator for innovation and excellence, hone the skills in all areas, and develop sustainable strategic plans to cope with the diverse developments in various fields.

For her part, Ms. Hessa Sultan Al Zaabi, Director of Strategy and Corporate Excellence Department of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance, thanked the UAE University for hosting the Conference at its second session, confirming the leading and outstanding role played by the University in higher education and scientific research on the one hand, and in supporting the talented and innovators on the other hand.

In detail, the axes of first- day sessions of the Conference, which lasts for three days, are divided into three main sessions; the first one addressed the policy of detection and identification of talented people in government and private schools, and showing an experience for caring about the talented people with special needs, while the second session focused on (Robot) contests and their role in the development of technical innovation for the skills of 21^st century, while the third session addressed counseling and some character dimensions for the talented students and how to recognize creativity and talent in children.