The brainchild of mathematician and a computer scientist Professor Hassan Ugail, theCircle is revolutionising extracurricular education for children in his native Maldives and could soon spread further afield.
We spoke to Professor Ugail about the programme.
Could you explain a little about your professional background and give us a timeline of your career to date?
For as long as I remember, I have always been interested in mathematics and science. I did my primary and secondary school education in the Maldives.
Upon completing my A-Levels in the Maldives, I moved to London to do my first degree in mathematics at King’s College London under a British Council funded scholarship. After completing my first degree with first-class honours, I did a PGCE at King’s College London. I was then offered a scholarship under the Overseas Research Students scheme funded by the British government to do my PhD in applied mathematics at the University of Leeds. In the year 2000, I completed my PhD and then took up a two-year postdoctoral research position at the University Leeds under a EU funded project. I joined the University of Bradford as a lecturer in 2002. I managed to climb up the academic ladder very quickly and became a full professor of visual computing in 2009 at the age of 38.
I now head the Center for Visual Computing at the University of Bradford and conduct world-leading research in the area of visual computing and machine learning. I am particularly interested in computer-based face recognition and face analysis including facial ageing and facial emotion analysis.
What does the Ugail Foundation do and what is the history of it’s setting up?
Although I left the Maldives at a very young age, in my heart and mind I never left the country. I have always had close contact with the Maldives had the desire to help the Maldivians as much as I can. I have always believed in empowering Maldivians is an important and worthy cause. In that sense, Ugail Foundation was established in 2019 to bring together the people empowerment work that I have been doing for over 25 years.
Our mission through Ugail Foundation is to empower people of all ages through learning, education and knowledge transfer.
What is theCircle and what is its mission?
TheCircle is a bold initiative by the Ugail Foundation to empower people across the spectrum of all ages and abilities through education and learning. Through theCircle programme, we provide modern and comfortable spaces in which intellectual stimulation thrives – these are places in which people can meet, read and learn and in these places people can carry out intellectual work.
Through theCircle we also provide innovative online- based learning opportunities for people of all ages.
For example, for the past two years, we have been teaching kids of ages between 7 and 17 years, coding, critical thinking and leadership skill and over 5000 kids have had learning experiences through theCircle programmes so far.
How has theCircle grown?
We started theCircle in 2020 in the middle of the COVID- 19 pandemic. The initial idea was to connect kids with UK based tutors through online means. We started off with a programme called theCircle Kids and initially, we had 400 kids on the programme.
Now we have four learning programmes for kids: Coding and Critical Thinking, Advanced Coding, Creative English and the Leaders of Tomorrow. Each programme is unique in its own right and delivers learning in a very engaging way.
We also run a programme called Let’s Learn English Together for adults which is very popular among the parents.
Could you give some examples of the feedback you have had from children and / or parents about being part of theCircle?
Interestingly, we have 100% positive feedback from the participants of all of our programmes. The reason is, we have devised many ways to engage the participants in their learning.
We also take a lot of feedback and are continuously adapting our content and modes of delivery. Recently, one 12 year old on our Coding and Critical Thinking programme wrote a letter to me thanking me for initiating theCircle and he also said he is looking forward to sending his own children to this programme one day. I have received thousands of such touching letters from kids and parents.
What ambitions do you have for The Circle in the future?
I think the last two years of theCircle project has given us a lot of insight into teaching and learning in an ever-changing world where physical proximity is no longer a barrier. We have also learnt how to engage individuals in the learning process and how to provide controls to the learners. Such mechanisms make learning a lot more meaningful, fun and engaging. Our ambition now is to take this blueprint and see if we can replicate it across the globe.
For more information visit thecircle.mv.