Torchbearers of Learning

“The UAE has seen an increase in the number of schools adhering to different curriculums. There has been a great demand for schools as the population has grown, and UAE in its characteristic manner has brilliantly met the ever-growing demands in the education sector,” says Marium Tarar.

Tarar has pursued a teaching career since 2011 and currently teaches at Greenfield International School in Dubai.

After working for a few years in an advertising agency in London, Tarar pursued a degree in PCGE from the University of Reading.

About 14 years ago when Marium moved to Dubai she was unsure initially, but after 14 years in Dubai, this is home for her and her family.

Tarar teaches all subjects as a homeroom teacher and she specialises in teaching English across a wide age range.

Tarar speaking from her teaching experience believes that the standard of education in the UAE is phenomenal. Having taught in the UK, East Africa and Pakistan, Tarar feels that UAE by far offers, the most rigorous education, as well as supports students to reach their full potential. The standard of teaching and learning is maintained throughout the academic year with support from all stakeholders.

There has been a significant increase in the number of schools in the UAE due to the growing demand for incoming students from all around the world.

“Teaching children from different cultural backgrounds has been very enjoyable. I have learned how to teach Maths using some Chinese math teaching strategies from my students as well as helping those that need more English support whilst writing. There are challenges too, especially when you are trying to teach new concepts and learning methods and parents want to teach methods they remember from their school days.”

Commenting on the choices of curriculum offered in UAE she stated that the British curriculum is by far the most popular in the UAE. It is followed by the American curriculum and IB.

The UAE currently offers many higher education courses at universities which are both international and local.

They all have courses and degrees that are recognised internationally and many students have been offered jobs at the end of the degrees.

Teaching young children and seeing them prosper over the years, brings immense joy and fulfilment to Tarar as a dedicated teacher and a mentor to many children over the years.

Rohma Nomani Theunissen

“I come across many talented writers, many more experienced than myself, who struggle to find clients and projects. The issue is not their work, its how they are running their business as or lack thereof. There really isn’t any information out there on how to approach copywriting clients, what services to offer, how much to change or how to tackle projects and proposals. I have built up this program from scratch, integrating real life knowledge and practical lessons that make it easy for anyone who can write to establish, scale and grow a successful copy writing business from the ground up,” says Rohma Nomani Theunissen.

In 2020, Theunissen launched first messaging copy writting consultancy after seeing a gap in the market for high-quality, strategic localised content. Later, she established the GCC’s first luxury and fashion-focused copywriting digital academy in Dubai this year.

Theunissen a highly talented and inspirational graduate, from McGill University and Parson School of Design, with fifteen years of experience in international luxury brands is a pioneer in introducing formal courses in copywriting and how to market one’s skill as a content writer.

Theunissen moved to Dubai after working in New York for several years. Having worked in the corporate world Rohma realised it was time for her to share her love for copywriting and the ins and outs of her own copywriting business.

Theunissen’s expertise in developing powerful brand narratives that merge messaging strategies, positioning and storytelling led her to establish her academy which offers a first-of-its-kind course. From learning how to pick a copywriting niche and set business goals to industry positioning, client strategies, brand building and projects the Academy, walks content and copywriters through every step they need to take to realise their ambitions.

Complete, with a built-in mentorship programme and virtual community that promotes accountability, the academy allows students to graduate with a full copywriting business set up, that is poised for success.

Having survived a brain haemorrhage at the age of 31, Theunissen is passionate about spreading awareness about strokes, and the impact they have on young people and shedding the stigma that surrounds stroke survivors in the workplace. In her free time, she is passionate about spending time with her daughter and husband, and can often be found enjoying a leisurely breakfast at a beachfront cafe on the weekends. Copywriting is very much ingrained in her DNA and she enjoys conducting the courses at her newly founded academy. It gives her immense pleasure to see her candidates do well and excel in their fields.

“One of the most in-demand freelance careers globally, the copywriting market, valued at $21 billion in 2022, is expected to grow to $42 million by 2030. With over 90 per cent of businesses, relying on content to generate leads and sales, both online and offline, the demand for copy and content writers continues to skyrocket, both regionally and internationally.”

Mahvish Gul