The Circle Academy
A bold initiative by the Ugail Foundation, to empower people across a spectrum of ages and abilities.
Source - FB The Circle
Professor Hassan Ugail, born in Hithadhoo, is well known for his work on computer-based human face analysis including, face recognition, face ageing, emotion analysis and lie detection. He received his BSc degree with First Class Honors in Mathematics in 1995 and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 1996, both from King's College London and pursued his PhD from the School of Mathematics at the University of Leeds in the year 2000. His research was in the field of geometric design. Prof. Ugail is currently serving as the Director of the Centre for Visual Computing at Bradford University, United Kingdom.
Prof. Ugail's foundation, in an effort to encourage youth to thrive, initiated the Circle Academy in May 2020. The Academy is a training institute providing a modern and comfortable space in which people can meet, read, learn, and carry out intellectual work. Its programs are targeted towards youngsters aged between seven and 14 years; the age they believe to be perfect to infuse creativity and thinking skills. The programs create novel learning initiatives for its members to reach their full potential and help them to carry out curiosity-driven initiatives, through which they enhance their own lives and make the world a better place.
The Academy at present offers coding and critical thinking as its main program, where structural elements of coding are used through activities such as step-by-step problem solving and performing algorithms. Formulated as an extra curriculum activity for children outside of formal schooling, the program aims to develop thinking skills while enhancing creativity. All the programs have input from UK tutors which is a hallmark the academy ensures. The program is currently conducted online via half hour Zoom sessions, with activities mainly focusing on creative open-ended questions that develop critical thinking skills, as well as activity-based learning. The Academy reports that students are more interested in learning, as their only competition is against themselves.
Trained by qualified tutors from the UK, the Leaders of tomorrow is an exclusive offered by The Circle Academy, for about 40 handpicked students. This program aims to instill further leadership skills, cultivate self-confidence, and teach how to communicate and collaborate with others, with the objective of building the next generation of leaders in the Maldives. At The Circle Academy, the focus is on the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum. Its current enrolment stands at over 800 students. The Academy said that one of its recent programs, Creative English, received applications from over 7,000 students.
The Circle also comprise of the 'Catalyst', which are dedicated programs for people to develop their innovative thoughts, pitch their creative ideas and ultimately realise business products from them. The Catalyst program helps individuals or groups to turn an innovative seed idea into a fully-fledged business. These involve skill trainings as well as marketing of the businesses while assisting them in the initial development of the business.
If you step into the field of experts, you build yourself in to an amazing character. It is another milestone in life I have achieved by being a volunteer at Ugail Foundation. Group ethics, norms, respect, reputation, commitment and being heard and valued helps me in building myself in to the human I dream ofd becoming.”
Although the Academy is currently run by a team of about 20 individuals, it plans to expand reach through hiring more tutors. It runs programs throughout the year, with student intakes starting in January of each year. Prof. Ugail says he is amazed by the profound support from parents wishing for their children to inculcate skills beyond the formal education system. He also outlined future plans to conduct sessions as extra curricular activities in schools and other education institutions.
The Ugail Foundation said it believes in enhancing lives through utilisation of modern science and technology, and that the initiative will help future generations be more aware of the world around them, allowing more informed decision-making in choosing career paths. It focuses on promoting science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) through its dynamic curriculum, a much-needed focus in the Maldives.
