Abu Dhabi, June 30 (WAM) - T4 Education, a global organization dedicated to education development and empowering schools to share best educational practices, has selected the Applied Technology Schools branch in Sharjah as one of the top 10 schools in the world for 2026 in the "Support for Healthy Living" category within the World’s Best School Prizes.

This global achievement is a testament to the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ADTVET) system in promoting innovation and educational excellence. The Sharjah branch, as one of the branches of Applied Technology Schools under ADTVET, was enabled to participate in this global category representing the United Arab Emirates, making it the only Emirati school to reach the final list in this category.

The selection was based on an innovative project developed by the students of the school. This project involves linking student health data with a smart vending machine system designed and implemented by the students themselves. The aim is to promote nutritional awareness and support healthy behaviors within the school environment.

The system identifies the student's health status, including food allergies and other medical conditions. When selecting a food product, it reviews its suitability for the recorded health condition before completing the purchase process. This helps guide students towards healthier food choices and promotes a culture of prevention and health awareness in the school community.

The project reflects the technical and innovative skills of students in applied technology schools, as well as their ability to apply their knowledge in developing practical and sustainable solutions that serve society and support quality of life, in line with the vision of the Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) in preparing qualified national competencies capable of competing globally.

His Excellency Dr. Mubarak سعيد Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Applied Technology Institute and Director-General of ACTVET said: “We are proud that the Sharjah branch of applied technology schools has been selected as one of the top 10 schools worldwide in the category of supporting healthy living. This achievement embodies the success of the ACTVET system in providing an advanced educational environment that encourages innovation and creativity, and reflects the efforts of students and teaching staff in turning innovative ideas into projects with a tangible societal impact.

He added that this achievement confirms the advanced position reached by applied technology schools at the global level, and enhances their role in supporting the vision of the United Arab Emirates to build an innovation-based knowledge economy through the preparation of generations capable of developing future solutions that contribute to serving society and improving quality of life.

The T4 Education Awards for Best Schools are among the most prominent international educational awards. They celebrate outstanding educational initiatives with a positive impact on communities, and honor schools that provide pioneering and innovative models in addressing educational and societal challenges worldwide.