Mansoor Al Awar: “We are moving forward in shaping the phase of high education and making a real difference in people`s lives”

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) has expressed the university’s long-standing commitment towards fully utilizing its resources and technological capabilities in facilitating its learners’ e-learning journey, ensuring they overcome any current and potential obstacles. In a special online meeting held with a number of the university’s learners, Dr. Al Awar revealed that the HBMSU is proceeding with steady confident steps in the move to instill a culture of smart, electronic education and distance learning to the world, based on HBMSU’s pioneering efforts and experience as the first core of smart education in the UAE and the Arab world. The online meeting, which was held in line with the precautionary and preventive measures implemented by the country to avoid the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), focused on tackling learners’ questions about their final exams and how they will be graded based on current circumstances. In response, the HBMSU chancellor explained the key steps that the university is doing to ensure that the coming final exams will be conducted according to an effective and developed system that adapts to the challenges made by COVID-19.

The online meeting also saw the launch of the ‘My Smart Hub’ platform across HBMSU’s Virtual Campus, which represents an advanced step towards the enrichment of society’s experience for learners, especially in the efforts to reach a new stage of virtual university activities across a more interactive digital world. The importance of the smart platform is that it is a direct portal to facilitate the learners’ access to an integrated portfolio of virtual activities, electronic competitions and interactive activities, as well as learning about new volunteer opportunities and enriching knowledge regarding health and lifestyle issues and topics.

Dr. Al Awar also presented the university’s latest achievements in e-learning. “We are honored to be the first to respond to the nation’s call to promote a culture of distance learning by launching specific electronic programs designed to enrich the knowledge and skills of teaching professionals in the world of distance learning, within the framework of our active partnership with the Ministry of Education. Our efforts have culminated with the forging of a strategic partnership agreement with the UNESCO Institute for Education Technologies to launch a course entitled, Be an online tutor in 24 hours’ across five international languages–Russian, French, Spanish, Arabic and English. These respective courses meet the urgent need to employ smart technology and ensure improved quality of education and ensure its continuity around the world during the current global crisis.”

Al-Awar added: “The university has undoubtedly succeeded in proving its uniqueness and forward-looking vision under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, President of the University, in leading and consolidating smart education that has proven to be a fundamental pillar that helped respond effectively to the global crises, especially now with the spread of COVID-19 that has overweighed the whole world. Undoubtedly, we will proceed with what we have started, guided by the insightfulness of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in anticipating the future to be pioneers in smart education and distance learning. We renew our commitment to translate the vision of HBMSU, which is widely known as a major player and a driving force to change the shape of high education, making a real difference in people`s lives.”

Al Awar concluded the meeting by reassuring the learners that the current situation will be overcome with God’s help, lauding the determined national efforts and the quick exceptional measures taken by the UAE and its wise leadership to face the danger of the virus outbreak, making our beloved country a role model among other countries in terms of rapid response and ability to overcome challenges. Al Awar urged the learners to be patient and hold on with faith and determination, while strictly adhering to the directives and instructions of the concerned authorities in the state to ensure their safety and their families’ safety alike. He called on them to go on with their endeavors to learn and to arm themselves with determination and leadership in order to be future leaders and decision makers.