The royal-favorite Eton College to offer online courses at UAE schools

A UK high school known for being a favorite among the world's royal families is coming to the UAE this year. 

EtonX, a subsidiary of the prestigious Eton College, is set to launch online courses at schools across the country and in several other GCC nations starting September. The curriculum these classes are based on is part of the school's Future Skills Program.

Under it, "pupils will take part in virtual classrooms and work with children from diverse backgrounds to learn soft skills including communication and resilience."

Students between the ages of 14 and 20 will be able to select from nine courses featuring topics such as critical thinking, verbal communication, creative problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and CV writing.

According to The National, EtonX’s seven-week courses are aimed at preparing children for challenges they are set to face in the future. The classes are designed to be adopted into school curriculums but can also be used as an after-school activity.

To join the virtual courses, students enrolled in the program will get together weekly in groups of eight and will be taught by a tutor in a virtual classroom. The courses will feature a flipped learning method that requires students to come prepared and engage in lessons. They're offered through two options; self-study model and taught course.

Those enrolled will be given the opportunity to interact with students from all over the world, thus enhancing their ability to work in multicultural settings. 

In her statement on the launching of the Eton College courses in the UAE, Catherine Whitaker, chief executive and head of learning at EtonX, explained that communication courses were proving to be the most popular locally.

"There is a climate in the UAE around thinking about education as more than success in exams and that is coming from the government and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai," she said. 

Whitaker also explained that one of the program's main goals is to prepare students to join the future workforce after graduating from university.

"Technology is changing jobs and industries and if you just focus on technical knowledge that can quickly become outdated. Students will need to have skills such as collaboration to deal with those changes," she stated.

For decades, Eton College has been a favorite among members of the UK's royal family.

Both Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and his brother Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, attended the exclusive boarding school. 

The institution is also popular among the country's elite. Prime Ministers of the UK including David Cameron and current PM Boris Johnson were also educated there. 

Several actors and celebrities also attended Eton. These include actors Tom Hiddleston (Thor, The Avengers, Avengers: Endgame, etc...) and Eddie Redmayne (Fantastic Beasts, The Danish Girl, etc...)