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Dr Steffen Sommer is an accomplished education leader with more than 25 years of experience in senior roles across Europe and the Middle East. He joined Misk Schools as Director General in August 2022, after serving as the Principal of Doha College for seven years. Prior to his time in the Middle East, Steffen led top international schools in The Hague, Paris, and Lausanne. As a fluent speaker of six languages, Steffen also served as Head of Languages and a Housemaster at Rugby School, one of the UK's premier independent boarding schools. He was born in Germany and earned his first degree in Language and Linguistics from the University of Leipzig. Following his military service, Steffen worked with car maker Peugeot in France and pursued a PhD in Birmingham UK, before discovering his passion for teaching. In addition to his work at Misk Schools, Steffen is actively involved in education initiatives throughout the Middle East and beyond. He serves as a board member of Outstanding Schools of the Middle East, is a co-founder of the international division of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC), Vice Chair of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), and a Fellow of High-Performance Learning.
This panel explores the unique opportunities and challenges faced by education leaders in the Middle East. From navigating cultural differences to implementing innovative teaching strategies, this panel offers insights and practical advice for school leaders looking to make a positive impact in the region's diverse and rapidly evolving educational landscape.
In this presentation, Dr Steffen Sommer will explore the critical role of school campus design in facilitating 21st-century education. Drawing on his experience at Misk Schools which recently relocated to a state-of-the-art new campus in Riyadh, Dr Sommer will share valuable insights into how he and his team have leveraged the campus's bespoke configuration to optimise interdisciplinary teaching and learning, delivering on the school’s vision and mission, and supporting Saudi Arabia's strategic development plan – Vision 2030. Attendees will leave with actionable takeaways for enhancing the design and layout of their own school learning spaces, and ideas for how they can create collaborative and flexible learning environments that support the ambitions of progressive, modern educators.
Following the excellence of GESS Dubai, we are bringing this renowned exhibition and conference to Saudi Arabia in 2025. There will be a wide range of exhibitors from across the world, showcasing their educational products, and a CPD accredited conference featuring high level speakers and innovative content.
Monday 26 May
Tuesday 27 May
Wednesday 28 May
We are here to answer any questions you might have.