Mohamed Al Hashoum

Mohamed Al Hashoum, a dedicated and innovative educator, has transformed the lives of students and refugees through his remarkable contributions to education and community integration. Born in Harem, Syria, his journey into teaching began with a mathematics degree from the University of Aleppo. However, the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2012 forced him and his family to flee, eventually settling in Austria after a harrowing ten-day journey across several countries. In Austria, Mohamed faced immense challenges, including language barriers and the complexities of the Austrian education system. Determined to rebuild his life and continue his passion for teaching, he mastered German within six months, pursued further education, and immersed himself in Austrian culture. His resilience laid the foundation for an extraordinary career in education, marked by innovation, empathy, and a commitment to fostering inclusion. 

At the Sports Middle School in Nenzing, where Mohamed teaches mathematics, physics, robotics and chemistry to 10-14-year-olds, 25 % of students have immigrant backgrounds. Many face linguistic hurdles and trauma from displacement, particularly following the Ukrainian war. To address these challenges, Mohamed employs diverse teaching strategies, including Montessori methods, educational apps, robotics programming, and experiential learning outside the classroom. 

This fosters collaboration, creativity, and a deeper understanding of concepts, bridging cultural and educational gaps. 

Mohamed’s impact extends far beyond his classroom. In 2016, he initiated free holiday courses for refugee children, teaching German and mathematics to help them overcome educational barriers. His innovative programme “Matech,” integrating mathematics, technology, and language learning, empowered refugee children through activities like robot programming for safety education. The programme earned the European Language Prize in 2017 and exemplifies his ability to merge pedagogy with real-world problem-solving. Through his professional handling of technical innovations, he was also able to seamlessly implement an avatar robot in the classroom for a student with cancer. This cutting-edge technology enables the child to participate in classroom lessons remotely, maintaining academic excellence and fostering a sense of normalcy despite his illness. And his tailored German language programmes have successfully integrated refugee students into mainstream classes, with eight students transitioning within seven months. 

Outside the classroom, Mohamed is a tireless advocate for integration and global citizenship, sharing his personal journey with Austrian communities through lectures and discussions, fostering mutual understanding between locals and refugees. Mohamed is part of the successful robotics team that prepares students for the RoboCup Junior and has achieved great success with numerous national championship titles as well as international awards. In doing so, he promotes teamwork and future-oriented skills.  

Mohamed’s commitment to sustainability is equally inspiring. He incorporates environmental education into his curriculum, engaging students in tasks like calculating CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable practices through school initiatives such as waste separation and partnerships with local farmers. A lifelong learner and mentor, Mohamed equips his colleagues with digital tools and pedagogical strategies for addressing integration challenges. His dedication to education and community development has made him a role model and a beacon of hope for students and educators alike.  

In the face of adversity, Mohamed Al Hashoum has turned challenges into opportunities, empowering the next generation to embrace diversity, resilience, and global responsibility.