ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, has announced the Miral Impact Fund, in partnership with the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, Abu Dhabi Government’s official channel to receive social contributions. This fund strengthens Miral’s commitment to delivering measurable social and environmental impact across Abu Dhabi and marks an evolution of its CSR strategy while reinforcing Ma’an’s role in advancing sustainable social responsibility throughout the community.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: 
https://www.multivu.com/miral/9373451-en-impact-fund-launched-partnership-with-authority-of-social-contribution

Attended by H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, and H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, the agreement for the Fund’s establishment was signed by H.E. Abdullah Al Ameri, Director General of the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, and Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral.

The Fund is designed to be a catalyst for responsible growth and community development. It will focus on four key pillars: Conservation, Art & Culture, Health & Wellbeing, and Education & Skills Development, each delivering measurable social impact through dedicated programmes and initiatives.  Representing a key step in addressing Abu Dhabi’s evolving priorities, the Fund embodies Miral’s commitment to shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. It also provides a transparent platform for corporate and community contributions, creating lasting value.

Dr. Mohammad Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said: “Launching the Miral Impact Fund marks a defining moment in our journey to shape destinations and create a positive legacy. Over the years, we have embedded social responsibility within our business, and this fund is the natural next step in turning our CSR strategy to measurable action. Aligning with Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, our partnership with The Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an will channel collective contributions towards real social and environmental impact, from conserving our marine life and environment to empowering our communities and inspiring future generations.”

The Fund’s inaugural initiative, ‘Guardians of the Arabian Gulf’ will be led by the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, aiming to protect marine ecosystems and endangered species while training future conservation leaders.

His Excellency Abdullah Humaid Al Ameri, Director General, Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, said: “As the official channel to receive social contributions, the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an raises and deploy funds to partners to support projects across various sectors including the environment sector to directly impact the community. We are dedicated to working with the private sector to support them in achieving their Corporate Social Responsibility goals by connecting them with projects that address social priorities and support community development. Through this partnership, we continue to direct community contributions toward initiatives that empower communities, preserve our environment, and advance Abu Dhabi’s vision for a sustainable and inclusive future.”

The Fund is governed by a joint Miral and Ma’an Steering Committee, supported by an advisory group that ensures transparency and the effective use of contributions. Members include Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi‏, Group CEO of ‏Miral, as Chair; Taghrid Alsaeed, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications & Events at Miral, as Vice Chair; Mahmoud Abu Alhaija, Executive Director of Finance, Miral; H.E. Maysa Alnuwais, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Volunteering,  Ma’an; H.E. Faisal Alhmoudi, Executive Director of the Social Investment Fund,  Ma’an; and Elie Daher, Committee Secretary.

The Miral Impact Fund invites partners, organisations, and individuals to join in building a more sustainable future.

Contributions and proposals can be made through the fund’s webpage: miral.ae/miral-impact-fund

IMPORTANT NOTES TO EDITORS:

Pillars of the Fund:

• Conservation: Protecting natural ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices including seagrass research, sea-turtle and bird-of-prey rescue and rehabilitation, and fostering future conservation leaders under the Guardians of the Arabian Gulf initiative, while strengthening community awareness and environmental stewardship across Abu Dhabi.
• Art & Culture: Nurturing local talent, preserving heritage, and strengthening creative communities to enrich Abu Dhabi’s cultural identity.
• Health & Wellbeing: Enhancing community health through preventative care, active lifestyles, and mental health awareness.
• Education & Skill Development: Developing future talent and capabilities, needed for a knowledge-based economy and lifelong learning.

Miral Impact Fund Launched in Partnership with the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an to Champion Environmental Stewardship and Social Impact

School leaders convened in Bali to focus on future-ready education

Five new regional communities launched to support teachers across Southeast Asia and Pacific region

BALI, Indonesia, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge), has brought together more than 340 school leaders and teachers from around the world at an international conference in Bali, Indonesia, focused on preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing future.

The Cambridge Schools Conference (CSC) welcomed delegates from over 200 Cambridge International Schools across 37 countries. Bali, which is home to 19 Cambridge schools, provided the setting for the face-to-face CSC. The conference theme was drawn from Cambridge’s new report. Future-ready: Preparing learners to thrive in the future, and explored how schools working with Cambridge can equip young people with the resilience, adaptability and skills required in an era of global transformation.

Across the three-day conference, educators examined innovative approaches to teaching and leadership and shared best practice. Dr Ben Schmidt from Cambridge University Press & Assessment said:
“This conference was extremely valuable because it gave us the opportunity to hear directly from school leaders and teachers, to learn from their experiences, and to exchange ideas on the latest approaches to teaching and learning to equip our students for the future.”

New regional communities launched to support teachers
The conference marked the launch of five new Cambridge communities designed to support teachers and leaders across the Southeast Asia and Pacific (SEAP) region. This comes at a critical time for global education. According to UNESCO, the worldwide shortage of teachers is expected to reach 44 million by 2030^[1]. In Indonesia alone, recent figures suggest a shortfall of approximately 1.3 million teachers, with some currently practising without formal certification^[2]. The communities are:

• Cambridge Sustainability & Climate Action Community
  Led by Jennifer Angeles of SIS Group of Schools, Jakarta, this community will explore how schools can embed sustainability and climate awareness into learning and everyday practice. Open to educators to join via Facebook, the group will support schools seeking to reduce their environmental impact, engage students in climate action, and foster a culture of responsibility for the planet’s future.

Jennifer said: “Because the world is changing, and so must we. Climate action is not just an issue — it’s here right now, and it’s affecting real lives and communities. This community is a space for teachers, educators, and educational leaders to share ideas, collaborate, and together make an impact that actually changes lives.”

• Cambridge Innovation & Entrepreneurship Community
  Led by Manmeet Kaur, Humanities Teacher at HELP International School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this community will focus on nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial thinking in the classroom. Discussions will centre on how to inspire problem-solving, encourage student-led initiatives, and build the confidence needed to turn ideas into action. This community is available to join through LinkedIn.

Maneet said: “The careers we have today may no longer exist in the next five to ten years, that’s why we must equip learners not just with technical knowledge, but with future-ready skills and an entrepreneurial mindset that helps them adapt, learn from failure, and thrive in change.”

• Cambridge Adaptability & Wellbeing Community
  Dr Poonam Shokeen, Academic Director at SBS International School Chiang Mai, Thailand, will lead a community on Facebook focused on practical strategies to help students build adaptability and resilience. The group will also share approaches to strengthening wellbeing systems for both learners and educators.

Poonam said: “Through this community, educators will learn about ideas to support the wellbeing of their community. It’s very important that we learn from each other, take care of ourselves as educators, and develop strategies to fill our own cup of wellbeing so that we can support others, such as our students.”

• Cambridge Future-Ready Learning Community
  Led by Matthew Gallagher from Nobel International School, Selangor, Malaysia, where he teaches Cambridge Global Perspectives & Research teacher, this Facebook community will connect educators exploring how future-ready learning is embedded across subjects and age groups. Conversations will highlight interdisciplinary approaches that nurture critical thinking, collaboration, communication and ethical reasoning.

Matthew said: “I’m welcoming teachers from all across Southeast Asia Pacific who are interested in improving their skills and making sure that their kids are prepared for the future. You’ll be able to learn from other teachers and myself on how best to support your kids moving forward.”

• Cambridge AI & Digital Skills Community
  Led by Liam Egan, Head of EAL/EIP at UCSI International School Kuala Lumpur, this Facebook community will focus on thoughtful and responsible approaches to artificial intelligence in education. The focus is not on tools for their own sake, but on classroom practice, policy, assessment and professional judgement. For leaders, it offers insight into how schools are navigating AI thoughtfully; for teachers, it provides ideas, reassurance and the sense that they are not navigating this shift alone.”

Liam said: “AI is already shaping how students read, write, think and access information, but many schools are still figuring out how to respond in practical and responsible ways. This community allows educators to slow down, ask better questions, and focus on how AI can support learning without undermining core skills like literacy, critical thinking and human connection.”

Speaking about the rationale for creating the communities now, Kanjna Paranthaman, Regional Director, Southeast Asia & Pacific, for International Education at Cambridge, said: “Cambridge is a community of more than 10,000 schools across 160 countries. Within our SEAP region, one of the things we’ve realised is there’s a strong desire for educators to connect. With so much experience and knowledge available, we want to help them to gather and share best practice that will then translate to hundreds, if not thousands, of classrooms.”

References:
1.    Global report on teachers: addressing teacher shortages and transforming the profession,
UNESCO, 2024.
2.    Addressing Indonesia’s Teacher Shortage: Strategies and Collaborations for Quality Education
Tanoto Foundation. October 2023

HONG KONG, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The “City of Heroes Vibrant Honggutan” Nanchang Honggutan (Hong Kong) Cultural & Tourism Promotion Conference was held in Hong Kong on Dec. 16, 2025. The event was hosted by the Nanchang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism and the People’s Government of Honggutan District, and organized by the Honggutan District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism. The conference aimed to implement national strategies on coordinated regional development and deeper cultural exchange and cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, align with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and use culture and tourism as a bridge to promote mutual visitor flows, shared markets, and co-growth of the industry—telling the Jiangxi chapter of China’s story together.

At the event, Zhang Lianbo, Deputy Head (Deputy District Mayor) of Honggutan District, Nanchang City, said in his remarks that as the core district of Nanchang’s modern metropolis, Honggutan is accelerating efforts to build a cultural and tourism destination with international influence. He noted that this Hong Kong promotion serves as an important opportunity to deepen cooperation between the two places’ cultural and tourism industries, and expressed hopes to work with Hong Kong partners to explore collaboration potential and expand development space. Xin Congjin, Chairman of the Hong Kong China Tourism Association, responded that Nanchang boasts profound cultural and tourism resources, and that Honggutan’s modern cultural-tourism development is vibrant and dynamic. He added that Hong Kong’s tourism sector will actively build bridges for connections and help deliver more fruitful outcomes in bilateral cooperation.

The conference unfolded like an immersive cultural-tourism showcase, featuring a rich program of highlights. The dance performance “Dreaming Back to Hongzhou” recreated the grandeur of “Hongdu New Prefecture,” the song “Yingshanhong” traced revolutionary memories, and the ethereal “Ink-Wash Gan River” evoked the beauty of Jiangnan—allowing Hong Kong audiences to experience Honggutan’s cultural charm firsthand.

The destination presentation was organized into three chapters—”Ancient Heritage,” “Red Heritage,” and “Golden Modernity”—offering a panoramic view of Honggutan’s diverse appeal. The Jiangxi Provincial Museum’s “Treasure Box of Gan Culture” and the millennium-old Tengwang Pavilion conveyed deep historical roots. Iconic red landmarks such as the Nanchang Warship and the August 1st Army Building Sculpture Plaza carried the memory of the “City of Heroes.” Meanwhile, modern attractions along the “Honghu 28 Li” corridor—including the Twin Towers, a Ferris wheel, and Jiulong Lake Park—showcased the district’s contemporary urban style and vitality.

Four themed exhibition zones were also set up on site. Signature showcases such as “Nanchang Gifts” cultural-creative products and “Yangshilei” intangible cultural heritage displays enabled guests to get up close to Honggutan’s innovation and cultural depth.

The most exciting news for Hong Kong visitors was the event’s exclusive promotions: 79% special pricing at Nanchang Sunac Land, 30% off at the Nanchang Star Ferris Wheel, and VR park offers as low as 30% off. From attraction tickets to hotel accommodation, the benefits covered the full travel experience with strong value and sincerity.

The event also produced tangible results. Key cultural and tourism enterprises from both places signed a cooperation agreement on “mutual visitor referrals,” laying an institutional foundation for the prosperity of two-way tourism.

Looking ahead, Honggutan will take this promotion conference as a new starting point to continuously optimize cultural and tourism offerings and deepen cooperation with Hong Kong in areas such as visitor market development and brand promotion—making exchanges more regular and diverse. With growing interaction between the two places, more Hong Kong friends are expected to visit Honggutan: to feel the poetic scene of “sunset clouds and a lone wild duck flying together” at Qiushui Square, to enjoy relaxed urban leisure along the Gan River, and to draw inspiration from the spirit of heroes aboard the Nanchang Warship.