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HBMeU launches ‘e-Learning Best Practices Forum’ to recognize excellence in cultivating high-quality learning

[UAE, June 8, 2013] – Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU), conducted recently the “e-Learning Best Practices Forum” as part of on-going initiatives to support and encourage the implementation and improvement of e-learning practices in the Arab world. The announcement of the “Best Practice Award” served as the highlight of the inaugural edition of the e-Learning Best Practices Forum, recognizing educational or corporate institutions that have achieved excellence in creating a technology-enhanced learning environment.
Organized under the theme “Adding Value to Customers”, the inaugural edition of the e-Learning Best Practices Forum was attended by leading personalities in the field of e-learning, including H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief and Chairman of HBMeU’s Board of Governors. The Forum endorsed by the European Learning Industry Group (ELIG), Swiss Center for Innovation and Learning (SCIL) and the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE).

The objectives of the e-Learning Best Practices Award are to raise quality standards in education through e-learning; promote innovation and entrepreneurship in e-learning practices in the Arab world; exchange and share best practices in e-learning in educational institutions and corporates across the Arab world.
H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief and Chairman of HBMeU’s Board of Governors, pointed out the significance of the e-Learning Best Practices Forum as it is an important step to cultivate culture of creativity, entrepreneurship and excellence regionally among both the education sector and business community, in addition to promote the best practices to accelerate the Arab World’s digital transformation into a knowledge society in line with the developments and advanced technologies of the 21st century.

“The Arab World is in an urgent need to develop and launch effective initiatives aimed at further encouraging the adoption of the latest advanced technologies in order to create a technology-enhanced learning environment based on the highest levels of creativity, in line with our quest to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development. Without doubt the e-Learning Best Practices Forum is a significant step towards achieving this goal. Thus, we are committed to further supporting similar leading initiatives, as we are looking forward to continue our efforts to promote academic, educational and organizational excellence in line with the vision and directions of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMeU,”added Khalfan. 
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Dubai Business Women Council, Zayed University inaugurate ‘Emirati Young Women Entrepreneur Leadership Forum.

Forum part of broader initiative by DBWC to empower young women in the UAE
[UAE, 29 May, 2013] – Zayed University in collaboration with Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) inaugurated today (Wednesday, May 29, 2013), the first edition of the Emirati Young Women Entrepreneur Leadership Forum at the Zayed University Dubai Convention Center, Dubai Academic City. Organized under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emirati Young Women Entrepreneur Leadership Forum is being attended by speakers from DBWC who will share their experiences and offer advice to young and aspiring Emirati women entrepreneurs.

Raja Easa Saleh Al Gurg, President of Dubai Business Women Council, who was the keynote speakers at the forum, said: “Entrepreneurship remains one of the key elements in our continuing thrust for women empowerment in the UAE. By encouraging more women to be entrepreneurs, we are harnessing the largely untapped potential of women to become key contributors to the social and economic development of the society. DBWC is therefore looking forward to further strengthen our partnership with Zayed University and other like-minded institutions to organize several more initiatives that promote entrepreneurship among women. The Forum has actually received a very enthusiastic response from women of different social status, and this is a clear indication that we are moving in the right direction towards creating a new generation of successful women entrepreneurs in the UAE.”
 

Raja Al Gurg, President of Dubai Business Women Council.

Founded in 2002, DBWC motivates women to be productive members of the society, while encouraging role models to rise up from the ranks and inspire other women around the world, especially in the Arab region, to discover their true potential. DBWC organises the high-profile monthly event ‘Network Majlis’ to provide information about the latest knowledge, skills and best practices for women entrepreneurs and leaders. For more information about recent DBWC activities, log on to the Council’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dubai-Business-Woman-Council-DBWC/146645812070341

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HBMeU showcases Middle East’s first e-learning initiative based on Facebook.

Social Online Learning under the spotlight at Digital Media Forum 2013
[UAE, May 28, 2013]As part of its commitment to achieve a radical change in education, which is a key component of the UAE Vision 2021, Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU) recently participated in the second annual Digital Media Forum (DMF), the region’s first-of-its-kind conference which was held in Dubai with the participation of high-profile international figures from digital media and social networking. HBMeU Chancellor Dr. Mansoor Al Awar joined some of the leading regional and international experts and professionals to discuss the latest industry trends and exchange knowledge and expertise to help raise the bar of excellence in digital media.

Dr. Al Awar delivered a detailed presentation on the University’s social online learning initiative; Cloud Campus, which serves as the Middle East’s first-ever e-learning platform based on Facebook. Talking about the platform’s operating mechanism, Dr. Al Awar explained that the initiative provides e-learning services through the learner’s personal account on Facebook, under the highest standards of excellence and quality to reach a larger segment of learners in the Arab world and allow them direct access to Arabic online content to help create positive changes in local communities.
Dr. Al Awar further added that the Cloud Campus initiative draws upon an integrated concept that promotes contemporary, world-class learning for learners of different nationalities and age groups by offering them a convenient learning environment and an innovative and interactive e-learning experience under the supervision of senior professionals providing all levels of support and academic advice. Dr. Al Awar further shed light on the University’s strategic offerings, ranging from the various certified programs to financial aid and scholarship schemes and programs.

HBMeU’s Chancellor pointed out the educational, social and cultural aspects of the Cloud Campus initiative which aims to promote social responsibility, encourage the young generation to optimally leverage the available online interactive platforms and information resources and reinforce the culture of e-learning among the youth, in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the University, to reach as many learners as possible in the UAE, Arab world, Africa and Asia. The goal is to effectively contribute to re-shaping the future of education through creativity, while also contributing to sustainable human and social development in the region and worldwide.
To enable millions of clients and employees to use social learning services, Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University has maintained close partnerships with leading banks, mobile operators and other institutions in the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia, such as, Emirates NBD, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, ARAMEX and Zain Group.
On the sideline of the forum, Dr. Mansoor Al Awar held a meeting with Guy Yalif, Head of Global Product Marketing, Twitter, US, to discuss the cooperation between Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University and Twitter.
Cloud Campus initiative is the result of a strategic partnership with Global Learning S.A.R.L and offers best international curricula with over 1,200 interactive online lessons in the fields of mathematics, sciences and IT for elementary to secondary grades. It also includes business skill development for adults, providing 10 certified programs in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Communication, Talent Development, Operation Management, Marketing, HR Development, Islamic Banking and many more. There are also more than 600 online lessons in English language for all age groups, from 3 year-olds to adults, based on the Cambridge curricula and exams.
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Book is inspired by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for leadership, management, excellence and future challenges

HBMeU presents employees with copies of Sheikh Mohammed’s ‘Flashes of Inspiration’ at opening of e-book club
 [UAE, May 21, 2013] – Building on its position and efforts to set new standards for the provision of integrated and interactive learning platforms, Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU) celebrated the launch of its new e-book club in a special ceremony recently held at its campus and attended by the university’s department heads, faculty members and staff. To commemorate the launching of the new initiative, HBMeU presented attendees with copies of the Arabic version of ‘Flashes of Inspiration,’ a book written by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The token gesture reflects HBMeU’s eagerness to keep its academic and administrative staff informed and apprised of the vision and drive of the UAE’s leadership to forward academic excellence and improve the quality of education in the Arab world.

English speakers who were present during the launch were presented with copies of ‘My Vision,’ a book also written by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed that offers a detailed account of the vision that transformed Dubai and the UAE on the global economic map, based on knowledge economy and investment in human capital. According to HBMeU, the presentation of the books demonstrate the university’s continuing move to provide employees with comprehensive and integrated references that can be used to help drum up the march towards excellence and leadership—achieving new breakthroughs for learning and aid in the preparation of a generation of young people who are socially and academically qualified to lead the country to more growth and development.
Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, said, “HBMeU decided to celebrate the launch of ‘Flashes of Inspiration’ book by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as it represents an intellectual platform and is regarded as a comprehensive reference and a major source of inspiration for today’s youth to further advance the ambitious goals of our wise leadership, aimed at achieving comprehensive development based primarily on building the human power capable of challenging the impossible, as well as enhancing the status of the UAE as one of the leading developed countries globally on all cultural, architectural, scientific, economic and social development levels.”

Al Awar added that the token presentation of ‘Flashes of Inspiration’ and ‘My Vision’ is in line with the university’s commitment to adhere and remain inspired by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for leadership, management, excellence and future challenges. Al Awar also urged HBMeU’s academic and administrative staff to adopt an approach to excellence in terms of self and institutional development, which in turn, can help enhance the position of HBMeU as a leading University for e-learning in the Arab world and the first academic choice in the UAE and beyond.
“The e-book club initiative represents a massive addition that supports our constant endeavor to keep abreast of the latest developments in the world of modern technology and employ them optimally to transfer knowledge and establish a culture of excellence and quality management in the UAE and the rest of the Arab world,” said Al Awar.
The e-book club holds strategic importance as an exclusive initiative based on cutting-edge technologies and advanced interactive channels such as blogs, videos, and others. The club provides its Arabic and English-speaking members with the opportunity to review the latest scientific research, literary, monetary and educational releases, as well as exchange views and constructive ideas in an interactive environment that conforms to international best practices. Members must be active and participate effectively through comments, opinions or published materials. Membership to the e-book club will be cancelled automatically in the event of non-contribution for a period of three months.
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HBMeU’s experience comes under spotlight at Second International Conference on Arabic Language.

University presents paper on “Impact of e-Learning in the Spread of Knowledge”
May 15, 2013
As a leader in the field of e-Learning across the Arab world and a key contributor to sustainable social and human development in the region and around the world, Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU) recently participated in the Second International Conference on Arabic Language, one of the Arab region’s leading cultural and academic events which was held in Dubai under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under the theme “Arabic Language in Danger: All Are Partners in Protection”. The event featured a dedicated seminar on “Teaching the Arabic Language over Latest Needs”, during which Dr. Talal Mohammed Al Darwish, Head of HBMeU’s Centre for Arabization and Program Integrity (CAPI), presented a paper entitled “Impact of e-Learning in the Spread of Knowledge… HBMeU’s Experience”.

Al Darwish commenced discussions with a focus on “Our Children and Knowledge”, underlining the Arab region’s current cultural status where the young generation tends to use foreign languages at the expense of their native Arabic language, known to be the language of eloquent literature and articulate expressions. Al Darwish pointed out that factors such as poor quality of school and university learning; dissemination of modern technology; and a learning environment which fails to find a balance between educational needs and real world requirements, as the main reasons why young Arabs are reluctant to boost their knowledge and enhance their native language.
Al Darwish further touched upon HBMeU’s extensive experience in the launch of leading initiatives that address the fields of university learning and e-learning across the Arab world; one of which is Cloud Campus the Social Online Learning initiative which follows the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMeU, to strengthen the culture of e-learning and promote optimal adoption of advanced technologies and social networks to spread knowledge among the Emirati and Arab youth.
“Cloud Campus embodies the true vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve a real change in education, which is considered a key pillar of the UAE Vision 2021”, Al Darwish said. “This initiative is not limited to education alone, it is based on an integrated approach that reinforces social responsibility among young people through the direct and effective use of the internet.”
For his part, Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, HBMeU, said that the Cloud Campus initiative is instrumental in raising the bar of e-learning through social networks and is poised to make a positive change in the industry as it offers online content in Arabic language in order to reach a larger segment of learners in the Arab world.
He added: “The Second International Conference on Arabic Language is a key demonstration of the UAE’s approach to safeguard and protect the Arabic Language from the emerging challenges of cultural globalization. HBMeU is committed to strengthening the role of Arabic Language in scientific and knowledge-based events in the region and worldwide.”
The conference was organized by the International Council for Arabic Language in cooperation with UNESCO, the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and the Association of Arab Universities, and in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office. It attracted around 1,000 high-profile Emirati, Arab, Islamic and foreign personalities from 70 Arab and non-Arab countries to discuss nearly 370 research papers over 63 sessions that included private seminars and open panel discussions.
The Centre for Arabization and Program Integrity (CAPI) is one of the leading intellectual forums in the Arab world, where high-profile Arab practitioners and academics work together to enrich the Arabic Library with leading researches, studies and Arabized books. The mission of CAPI is to become a center of excellence in facilitating learning in Arabic while meeting latest needs. It offers Arabization, research, proofreading and editing services, based on the core values of authenticity, linguistic precision, subject area knowledge, methodology, consistency and standards to ensure best Arabic translations. 
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HBMeU’s Prof. Mohamed Zairi awarded by Australian Organization for Quality for Contributions in Global Quality

Dubai, UAE, May 5th, 2013 – Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU), has announced that Prof. Mohamed Zairi, Growth & Corporate Strategy, Assistant Chancellor at HBMeU, has been recently awarded the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Global Quality’ recognition medal by the Australian Organization for Quality (AOQ). The prestigious award was unanimously approved by National Chairman of the AOQ Acn. Shan Rupral JM and the entire Board of the AOQ NSW.
Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, said: “The award validates the enormous contributions of Prof. Mohamed Zairi towards promoting global quality. Moreover, this distinction also reflects HMBeU’s strong focus on quality and excellence as cornerstones of our mission to cultivate a culture of e-Learning and quality management in the Arab region. HBMeU will continue to focus on developing e-Learning programs that add value to the professional development of learners in the Arab world, while setting new quality benchmarks in the global academic community.”

HBMeU is the first e-learning institute in the Arab World that was established with the vision to develop a new learning process through the implementation of learning practices characterised by flexibility, quality and diversity to strengthen self-leadership among learners and prepare them socially and academically for a future career through integration in the job market. HBMeU’s philosophy is based on vital methods that have been developed through extensive research and development by specialists from all over the world. These methods include offering high quality programs, supporting the pursuit of lifelong learning, promoting the freedom of information, reinforcing the culture of excellence and innovation and providing education for everyone in line with the highest standards of comprehensiveness and credibility. The university, which is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, seeks to constantly identify knowledge needs, support research and development programs and create an outstanding environment for e-learning.
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Spring Edition of GETEX 2013 Receives Mass Appreciation from Education Stakeholders

Representatives of top regional and international universities highlight strategic importance of event in building strong relations with target audiences
April 29, 2013
GETEX Spring 2013 concluded an extensive showcase of over 2,500 academic, vocational and training programmes, gathering more than 400 leading academic institutions worldwide and inviting over 35,000 visitors at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 17 to 19. The silver jubilee edition of GETEX Spring, which was inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, was warmly received by government entities, corporate organizations, academic institutions, students and parents from the Middle East, underlining the increasing focus on education, training and professional development initiatives across the region.

GETEX Spring 2013, which is recognized as the leading education and training event in the Middle East and Asia, also generated an overwhelming response from top local, regional and international universities, academic institutions and training organizations, highlighting the strategic importance of GETEX as an ideal networking avenue and showcase for quality educational programs being offered worldwide.
Several universities and academic institutions that participated in GETEX Spring pointed out the impact of the event on their brand strategy and in establishing strong relations with target audiences, particularly parents and corporate organizations across the region. They also commended the way the show was organised by International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E).
Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director of TECOM Education Cluster – Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and Dubai Knowledge Village said, “GETEX provides DIAC with the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of students’ academic needs and strengths; and to showcase the unique programmes offered by our academic partners according to their distinct set of requirements.  We pride ourselves on the quality of education on offer at our world renowned universities and will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that the high quality of our programmes is maintained and that the types of courses on offer cater to the demands of the local industry.”
Raghad Dahham, Senior Officer, Student Recruitment and Admissions, Al Ghurair University, said, “This event is a great opportunity to meet students, other schools and other visitors. This year, we were consistently busy throughout the three days of the show. It provided great exposure to our university and a chance to introduce “Al Ghurair” to participating institutes from outside the UAE such as Thailand, UK, Germany and USA. We also noticed that the show was very well-organized with excellent services provided by the organisers.”

Daniel Adkins, Academic Director, Murdoch University, commented, “GETEX is our single biggest recruitment activity of the year and always produces major results for the university. We have been participating in this event for the last three years, and have always noted that it has been organised on the same level of efficiency and consistency throughout the years. We always look forward to taking part in this exhibition.”
Visitors to GETEX, which is supported by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, also pointed out how the exhibition provided them with a wide range of academic options they are in process of searching.
“I have found a lot of universities at GETEX which are offering courses in Interior Design which my daughter is considering specializing in,” said Abeer Tohami, a parent. “In fact, GETEX has also made us cognizant to some universities and majors which we were not considering prior to our visit.”
Geno James, a student who attended the event, echoed similar sentiments. “GETEX helps us in getting better education and finding the university of our choice. My selected major is Finance, so I attended the event to look for universities specializing in that field of study and I found many potential options during my visit,” said James.
The General Education segment of the event this year presented school-goers with a gateway of information intelligence on day-scholar, residential/boarding schools and summer camps. The Higher Education segment offered both undergraduate and post-graduate courses that highlighted the Middle Eastas one of the fastest growing student populations. The Vocational & Occupational Training segment aimed to bridge the divide between education and industry by encouraging learners to acquire skills in specific job profiles, empowering them to quickly enter the workforce and gain career independence. Targeting the largely untapped market for professional service providers, the Professional Development segment provided access to customised executive education for mid-to-senior management levels as well as junior levels.