Principal's Message

Hitesh Bhagat

At DIA Emirates Hills, we truly believe in the power of sport as an essential tool to prepare our students for life's many challenges. The skills they learn through sport are not limited to the field; they extend far beyond, shaping them into well-rounded individuals ready to face the world. Participation, performance, grit, and the ability to handle both wins and losses are all integral parts of our sporting philosophy.

Our motto, "Dream, Inspire, Achieve," is perfectly in sync with our vision for sports. We emphasise healthy living, having a fresh mind, and the overall wellbeing of each child through physical activity. Through sports, students learn invaluable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. The spirit and true thoughts of our players reflect these values.

Moreover, we encourage our students to gain exposure to different cultures and engage in multi-sport activities from around the world. This not only broadens their horizons but also fosters a sense of unity and camaraderie. At our school, we believe in the philosophy of "play together, stay together," and it is this sense of togetherness that helps our students thrive both on and off the field.

The kicking of the ball straight in that goal, the cover drive to the boundary, the jump in the pool, the 3-pointer basket, the kick-start to a 100m race, the fierce javelin throw, the blocking of the volleyball -- everything gives us the shiver that we are passionate about the sport. This culture has been developed over years and has helped us to deliver Sport education at this high level.

Passion for Sport is not just a saying but an expression that we hold ourselves to. Standing on that field with students and strategic planning is a moment to cherish for lifetime. The passion on the sideline cheering the team is a feeling of commitment. We here at DIA Emirates Hills play the Sport for the love of the Sport. 

#DreamInspireAchieve 

#PassionForSport

Principal's Bio

Hitesh is a dedicated and innovative professional with over 20 years of rich experience in School Leadership, Administration, Teaching & Training and Student Management. He joined Dubai International Academy in 2007 as a Technology teacher and has progressed through the ranks of school leadership at DIA to be the school Principal. He is an advocate of the IB philosophy and an expert in all four programmes, having led the authorisation process multiple times across the Innoventures schools. He strives to foster an environment where students take ownership of their own learning through student choice and opportunity.

He leads the school’s Academic Committee to develop and action the school’s strategic plan which have led significant school improvements in the areas of student progress, assessment, teaching for effective learning and curriculum adaptation within the annual Dubai Inspection Framework (KHDA).

Hitesh is involved in developing a whole school evidence-based programme focused around wellbeing and the improvement of positive behaviour strategies. He leads the systematic review of the cumulative impact of initiatives on teacher workload and make proportionate and pragmatic demands on staff which has improved staff retention. Working on budgetary planning, student enrolment, the admissions process and succession planning for efficient deployment of resources, leading to the school running at full student capacity is a part of his profile. He directs the quality assurance for teaching and learning including performance management systems, staff observations, appraisal, and data triangulation to ensure the highest standards of Teaching & Learning are adhered, which is reflected in the DSIB “Outstanding” rating in teaching and assessment.

He accomplishes this through facilitating the running of over 50 student led clubs, local and international trips, competitions, sports teams, student council and prefects ensured a more personalised experience for our students. A graduate in Computer Science Engineering, he also has a Master’s in Philosophy for Computer Management. He can be often found on the Cricket field coaching the school Teams and has an excellent record of his teams winning the DASSA championships in Dubai. Hitesh also heads the Group Educational Technology team that helps to maximize the use of technology systems into teaching and learning.