The Digital School, a key initiative of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has announced a strategic global partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. The landmark collaboration, unveiled at the World Government Summit, aims to expand high-quality digital education for learners in remote and underserved communities worldwide.
A Strategic Alliance For Future-Ready Education
The partnership underscores the UAE’s commitment to advancing innovative education solutions and fostering global collaboration to ensure equitable access to learning. The agreement was announced in the presence of Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Board of The Digital School.
Omar Sultan Al Olama stated that the partnership reflects the UAE’s direction towards expanding cooperation with global partners to develop innovative solutions that create wide-ranging positive impacts on communities. He noted, “Digital connectivity has become a strategic necessity to ensure equitable access to education especially in remote and underserved areas.”
Ryan Goodnight, Senior Director of Market Access and Development at SpaceX, highlighted the potential of the collaboration. “We’re thrilled to deliver high-speed connectivity to the UAE’s new global model for digital education with The Digital School and their students. With Starlink, students in remote, underserved, or connectivity-challenged areas can access online learning, real time collaboration tools, global scholarships, and career resources, sparking curiosity and growth.”
Combining Connectivity With A Comprehensive Learning Ecosystem
This initiative integrates Starlink’s advanced satellite internet capabilities with The Digital School’s comprehensive educational framework. While Starlink provides reliable, high-speed broadband connectivity, The Digital School will deploy a complete digital education ecosystem.
This includes tailored digital education programmes, advanced learning platforms, curated digital content, and sustainable capacity-building programmes for educators. The model is designed to transform simple connectivity into a structured, accredited, and impactful learning journey for students.
Initial Rollout Targets 100 Remote Sites
The first phase of the partnership will target 100 remote sites across the globe. As a successful proof-of-concept, three schools in the Kingdom of Lesotho have already been equipped with Starlink connectivity and The Digital School’s integrated systems.
These schools received not only internet access but also computers, a dedicated digital learning platform, a digitized national curriculum, and comprehensive teacher training programs, ensuring a sustainable and measurable educational impact from the ground up.
About The Digital School
Launched in November 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, The Digital School is the first accredited digital school of its kind by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Operating under the MBRGI umbrella, it aims to empower learners in underprivileged communities, as well as refugees and displaced populations, through flexible hybrid and distance learning models. To date, the initiative has benefited more than 800,000 learners and trained over 30,000 digital educators, with content available in seven languages.
Source: Zawya
