Online and hybrid learning has gained popularity in the Middle East since the COVID pandemic, with more parents considering online and blended learning as a genuine school choice. iCademy Middle East has been serving parents in the region since 2007 and is the only KHDA licensed virtual school offering in-person, flexible days for parents in the UAE.
The school has grown significantly and has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). With a continuously expanding student population and a focus on innovating its curriculum and pathways, the school has appointed Tracy Moxley as its new Head of School and Principal, based in Dubai. Moxley takes over from Diane Claver, who served as Head of School for 13 years.
Moxley joins iCademy with 25 years of international school leadership experience. She has been based in the UAE since 2014, holding senior roles with GEMS Education and Aldar Academies among others. Before that, she was head of an international school in Spain and Director of Education of an online academy in Switzerland.
Moxley comes with experience and a commitment to online learning and the opportunities it provides for a diverse range of students.
Commenting on her appointment, Moxley stated, “I am extremely excited to join iCademy as it celebrates its 18th year. I am passionate about the opportunities and flexibility that online learning offers students, and I look forward to leading the school into a new phase of growth and development.”
iCademy’s curriculum is powered by the AMP platform, transforming learning through its research-backed curriculum, cutting-edge tools, and tailored eLearning solutions. This unique approach to learning is specific to iCademy, which has built a flexible learning system with experienced teachers over two decades in Dubai. Students benefit from real-time virtual classrooms and asynchronous learning, receiving detailed feedback on their progress throughout the semester.
The landscape for online and hybrid learning is rapidly evolving, with workplaces and employers across the region moving towards more flexible employment solutions. Parents in Dubai may see flexibility in both work and their children’s schooling as a key component of modern living.
Children in Dubai often choose to attend iCademy’s Knowledge Hub for in-person sessions, enrichment activities, and learning interventions with the Hub’s learning coaches. They have the flexibility to choose the number of days they attend throughout the week and semester. It’s evident that parents increasingly engage with this type of learning, often viewing it as more flexible than traditional schooling and more aligned with independent, self-paced learning for adults.
Similarly, in 2023, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Government Human Resources (DGHR) Department announced results of two surveys on remote working and flexible working hours. The first survey covered 644 companies with over 320,000 employees, while the second surveyed 12,000 employees from the private sector. Findings show that 32% of private companies currently implement remote work policies, with a further 58% expressing readiness to expand remote work. This shift in flexible working naturally leads to discussions about schooling, as workplace changes often mirror changes in the education sector.
Commenting on this shift towards hybrid living and its connection to hybrid schooling, Tracy Moxley stated, “It’s clear that education is adapting to the evolving needs of families, who have benefited from employers’ shift in mindset, with flexible working becoming a norm in Dubai. I know that iCademy’s Knowledge Hub has proven popular for Dubai families who see the benefit of having a learning hub for their children, who can selectively attend, gain the benefits of face-to-face interaction, and also choose to work independently online when it suits them. In my opinion, this is the future but also a very real present for us at iCademy.”
