In cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization "UNESCO"

Coinciding with the United Nation s International Day of Education, the United Arab Emirates University participated in a two day event on January 24^th and 25^th, 2021.  The United Arab Emirates University collaborated with Learning Planet and UNESCO to raise awareness about the importance of learning and education, especially during the times of the pandemic.

This initiative comes within the efforts of the UAE University to strengthen partnership with UNESCO in facing the Covid 19 pandemic - and to synchronize the world around the celebration of the International Day of Education.

As schools, universities and youth are severely affected by the pandemic, the #LearningPlanet Festival invited everyone, everywhere to share and celebrate the most important things they have learned.

The two day event started off on the 24^th of January with a walkathon followed by a conversation about the university s first civic engagement program symbolized by the green balloon. The two day even promoted ​​learning, by spreading culture and knowledge to the community of Al Ain and the global community, focusing on the role of the UAE and the continuity of life long learning. Education is the key to helping people around the world understand the importance of sustainable development as a vital concept for our common future.This special initiative was aimed to engage the community and students in Al Ain to have an open discussion on the importance of learning whatever the circumstances.

The event titled, UAEU #Learningplanet Walkathon was live streamed on zoom, and was organized by the Deanship of Student Life at the United Arab Emirates University

in cooperation with Learning Planet and UNESCO. The theme of the festival was, "Learning to take care of oneself, others and the planet. The event which was planned as a traditional walkathon was transformed into a zoom walkathon with students, instructors and staff from the university walking in five different locations in both Al Ain and Dubai while discussing how learning has truly transformed during the pandemic and what we can do as individuals to contribute to society and the environment.

After the Walkathon, on  January 25^th, Dr. Naeema Al Darmaki, the Dean of Student Life and Ms. Melissa Mosher, Civic Engagement Advisor for Student Life, had an exciting conversation via Zoom about their new Civic Engagement Program #UAEUGreenBalloon.  The discussion centered around the new program and how important and relevant it is for each of us as individuals to do are part which can create a ripple effect to the rest of society,  like the way H.H. Sheikh Zayed had done with the United Arab Emirates.  If one man can create a positive impact that imagine what we can do if we volunteer. The discussion continued on about how we as humans learn by doing and volunteering can transform all parties participating, creating compassionate, professional human beings who are able to experience the importance of helping others and how it ties into work experience and employability.

The vision of the United Arab Emirates University stems from the strategic KPI goal of promoting the University s role in empowering both the students and the community of Al Ain to continue life-long learning by participating in volunteering. The symbol of the green balloon stems its first volunteer activity in which the university worked with cancer patients.  The green balloon symbolizes happiness, compassion, volunteering and lifelong learning through practice.