Shaping Dubai's Future: How Innoventures Education Became Top Choice For International Education

Innoventures Education, a prominent pre-K-12 international private education company in the UAE, has been reshaping Dubai's educational sector since its inception in 2004 by CEO Poonam Bhojani. Recognising a gap in holistic and truly international education offerings in Dubai, Bhojani led the establishment of the company, which opened its first school, Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, in 2005.

This institution notably became the first International Baccalaureate (IB) school in Dubai to receive an Outstanding rating from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). Today, with a student body exceeding 9,000 individuals hailing from more than 120 countries, Innoventures Education continues to play a pivotal role in diversifying Dubai's educational landscape.

Speaking about being one of the most-sought after institutes, Poonam notes: "We have a team of over 1,500 dedicated teachers and support staff operating Dubai's most sought-after schools and nurseries that include Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills and Al Barsha, Collegiate International School, Raffles International School, Raffles World Academy and Raffles Early Childhood Centres. They offer diverse curriculum frameworks including International Baccalaureate, UK National Curriculum, American Common Core, BTEC and Early Years Foundation System."

One of the distinguishing features of Innoventures Education schools is their commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity, catering to a diverse student body while promoting connections to their mother tongues. Each school boasts well-equipped Inclusion Departments that address neurodiversity, learning diversity, and linguistic diversity, ensuring that all students receive a high-quality educational experience tailored to their needs. To this, Poonam says: "The well-established Mother Tongue Programme in our schools focuses on reading, writing and speaking skills instructed in year groups, so children of the same age can develop their home language together. Languages taught currently include Mandarin, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Dutch, German, Finnish and more, using authentic study materials."

On being asked how Innoventures Education has become one of the most-sought after choices in Dubai, Poonam reiterates that the approach adopted by Innoventures Education schools emphasises inquiry-based and learner-centric pathways. There is a strong focus on nurturing independent thought, collaboration, and community care. The curriculum is designed to foster interdisciplinary learning and offers over 50 multidisciplinary subject options, enabling students to venture into nontraditional career paths. Moreover, the institutions prioritize holistic development, encouraging creative and critical thinking alongside intercultural values.

Innovation is at the core of Innoventures Education's ethos. The company has led the way in incorporating digital learning into the student experience across the UAE's education sector. Additionally, a STEM girls group has been established to encourage female participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Poonam adds: "Innoventures Education was the UAE’s first education sector group to incorporate digital learning into all aspects of students’ learning experience — within school campuses and beyond. All our campuses have comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage. Our school facilities and pedagogy are focused on better preparing students for a digital future, including exploring AI tools and gamification in learning. Our schools are pivoting from traditional classroom setups to learner-centric pedagogy and flexible space arrangements. Our STEM girls group is empowering female secondary students by fostering a passion for the subjects, aiming to address the gender gap in these fields.

"This has significantly contributed to a remarkable shift in the gender distribution within the IBDP Higher Level (HL) subjects of mathematics and physics. We have seen a noticeable increase in female enrolment in STEM subjects, climbing from approximately 10% to an impressive 35%."

Looking to the future, Innoventures Education has ambitious plans for expansion, aiming for 40% growth and the addition of two new schools through greenfield projects. The company is extending its reach beyond Dubai, with plans to open a new K-12 international school in Sharjah in partnership with Arada. This forthcoming institution, set to accommodate 2,000 students, will deliver both American and IB curricula. Construction is slated to commence in 2024, with the school opening its doors to the first cohort of students in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Innoventures Education's journey from its founding to becoming a cornerstone of the UAE's educational domain highlights its unwavering dedication to providing inclusive, innovative, and internationally-minded education. With Poonam at the helm, the company prepares for its next phases of growth, it continues to elevate the standard of education in the UAE, enriching the lives of students from around the globe.