as published by GEMS:
Why a ‘GEMS Education’?
For over 50 years, GEMS Education has approached its educational offering from a unique perspective.
We have always believed that a high quality education, with an international outlook, is critical in an increasingly competitive global environment. ‘Globalisation’ maybe the catch-cry of today but we have acknowledged its impact for decades, and prepared our students accordingly. (See world wide university acceptances for GEMS students, including in the U.S under the GEMS Difference below).
Through our global network of award winning schools GEMS Education is providing a high quality holistic education to over 100,000 students from 140 countries. The sheer diversity of nationalities in GEMS schools provides students with a unique international understanding through interaction and by studying and experiencing other cultures and belief systems. This global cross cultural experience is extended further through a special initiative where GEMS students are linked, via video-conferences, to students in non-GEMS schools around the globe.
GEMS provides education to students in Europe, Africa, North America, Asia and the Middle East. Many GEMS parents are aspirational, career minded professionals so the GEMS network of schools provides parents with the opportunity to transfer their children from one GEMS school to another as their circumstances change.
GEMS has selected a team of world renowned educators to ensure it delivers global best practice in the field of education. These include leaders who have excelled in education reform, curriculum development and teaching and learning practices. They are unequalled in international experience and include individuals who have established schools all over the world.
GEMS employs over 9,700 education professionals, specialists and staff from 62 countries. All GEMS teachers have access to the GEMS Professional Development programme which is one of the largest, most comprehensive in-house programmes of its type in the world. Over 150 senior academics are trained in international accreditation, inspection methodologies and school self evaluation.
GEMS Education is supported by a network of eminent, international advisors which include world leaders and experts who are “game –changers” and influencers on the global stage. GEMS Education has strategic partnerships with the Clinton Global Initiative, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, the World Economic Forum and Microsoft.
GEMS is also leading the world by becoming the first educational organisation of its type to introduce a parent engagement strategy into all its schools. International research is clear. The biggest single reason a child does well in their education is when their parents take a real, active and consistent interest in what they are learning in school at home. Research suggests that a parent who is actively and consistently engaged in their child can add the equivalent of two to three years of extra education to that student over a school career. When parents are engaged children get better grades, have fewer discipline problems and are more likely to be successful in their lives.
GEMS first school was founded by educators and run by educators. It was a school that defined our approach to education.It was an approach built around listening to the community and tailoring our schools to the community’s needs. 50 years later the company has seen a remarkable expansion from a family run business to a multi-national company with global reach and reputation. GEMS Education is making private education accessible to communities all around the world.
The GEMS Difference
GEMS Education’s multi-faceted approach to learning prepares students for the rigors of higher learning and equips them with the skills and versatility they require for professional employment.
We believe that a quality education is about Ad Vitam Paramus – ‘preparing for life’. The GEMS approach to learning is one which focuses on academic excellence and also on helping students develop their character, values, personal leadership and the spirit of enterprise necessary for them to achieve their full potential as global citizens and leaders of the future.
Over the last three years alone, GEMS students have been accepted into 567 universities in 36 countries. Graduating GEMS students have been accepted by some of the most prestigious universities and colleges around the world. GEMS students have gone to 12 out of the top 15 universities in the world and 36 of the top 50 universities in the U.S. In the last ten years alone, GEMS students have won over 300 international and regional awards for academics, sports and the arts. Furthermore, all our schools significantly exceed all national and international benchmarks in student outcomes.
GEMS values-driven education is expressed through our four core values which are woven into every curricula offered by GEMS Schools and are at the core of our DNA. They are not symbolic, we live and breathe them. We encourage independent learning, empowering students to take on responsibility. Through our values our students become confident, tolerant, resilient people of integrity, capable of both leadership and compassion. Through our CSR initiatives, GEMS students also develop a social conscience. They are taught the values and responsibilities needed to become active members of the community, something which the modern world is desperate for.
GEMS Core Values include:
World Citizenship - Empowering students with a global and local perspective.
Universal Values - Accepting that we are all different, recognising that we are all the same.
Leadership - Developing each student’s individuality and discovering their potential.
Forward Thinking - Developing skills for the future, our educational programmes help students to become flexible thinkers who are able to question existing thinking, adapt and creatively meet the demands of the future.
Our values are woven into every school program and are expressed through a multitude of activities which are designed to hone individual talents, grow skills and aspirations.
Some of those activities include:
- The World Scholars Cup www.scholarscup.org
- The Global Young Leaders Conference, Washington www.cylc.org/gylc
- The Young leaders Programme, London www.london2012.com/get-involved/education/young-leaders
- Empower Peace – Women2Women International Leadership Program www.empowerpeace.org
- The World Schools Debating Championships www.schoolsdebate.com
- World Challenge www.world-challenge.co.uk
- Tony Blair Faith Foundation www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org
- The Model United Nations Simulation Conference www.unausa.org/mun
- Women Empowerment Programme ( internal)
- The Astronaut Virtual Training programme www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/nes2/home/index.html
- World Robotic Olympics www.wrouae.ae/intl/en/index.php
- F1 in schools www.f1inschools.com
- The Young Entrepreneurs competition (internal)
- Overseas Nature Camp, Duke of Edinburgh Programme www.intaward.org/
- TEDx www.ted.com/tedx
- Round Square – Committed, responsible global citizens. www.roundsquare.org/
- The summer internship programme ( internal)
- Debate Mate www.debatemate.com
- Light a Billion Lives – with TERI, India – GEMS Schools are supporting this initiative. www.labl.teriin.org
- Best Buddies International www.bestbuddies.org/
- The Children for Children Programme (internal)
- The Oorani project rediscovering India. www.anandcharity.org/content/project-oorani-0
Philanthropy – Schools with a conscience
Through GEMS four core values GEMS schools are heavily focused on philanthropy. They are schools with a conscience. Each has their own charitable activities that fall under the Varkey GEMS Foundation. Students are taught the real meaning of compassion.
For every student enrolled at a GEMS School one hundred underprivileged children will be impacted. The Foundations aim is to support 10 million children globally. We are humbled and honored to have former U.S. President Bill Clinton as the honorary Chair of the Varkey GEMS Foundation.
We are proud to say that over the past 50 years, GEMS students, teaching staff and corporate staff have raised over $US 50 million for charities around the world.