“Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University” launches “Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014”

First forum of its kind to promote creativity and innovation in smart learning 

University supports transformation to “smart city” model

UAE, July 14, 2014 - “Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University” has announced the launch of its “Smart Learning Best Practice Forum” for the year 2014. The aim of the forum is to encourage the exchange of best practices in smart learning in educational, academic and training institutions across the world. Moreover, it will promote creativity and innovation in smart learning as an essential factor to ensure successful transformation to “smart city” model. The forum will be held on October 20, 2014 and will include seven trackes namely: “smart learning”, “learner centricity”, “excellence orientation”, “smart partnership”, “technology exploitation”, “resource utilization”, and “process innovation”.

“Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014” is the first forum of its kind that encourages the implementation of the best practices in smart learning in educational, academic, and training institutions. It supports the continual growth and development of smart learning including the ability to come up with innovative ideas, evaluate their compatibility with strategic thinking approaches and ensure their implementation rigorously to achieve tangible and intangible benefits. The event is supported by European Learning Industry Group (ELIG), the Swiss Center for Innovations in Learning (SCIL) of St. Gallen’s University, the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), and the Association of Arab Universities.

The agenda of the forum includes seminars, discussions and the “Smart Learning Best Practice Award” a first-of-its-kind awards that was launched to honor the best practices followed in the educational and training institutions across the world and to ensure the quality of smart learning as a prominent feature of the modern world based on technical innovations. The “Smart Learning Best Practice Award” has seven categories and will be awarded as per the evaluation of an International Jury comprising world-wide International experts and specialists in best practice thinking with smart learning aspects based on unified criteria of Novelty,  Innovativeness, Sustainability, Transferability, Maturity, Implementability and Compatibility.

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, said: “Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014” is launched to support Smart Learning Initiative introduced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It is a solid platform that will enhance the learning experience by adopting the highest standards of Smart Learning to boost education as an essential component of the UAE Vision 2021. Likewise, the Smart Learning Best Practice Award will add value to HBMSU’s efforts to encourage the culture of excellence, creativity and innovation in Smart Learning by honoring and promoting the best practices that keep pace with rapid changes in the digital world.” 

Participation in “Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014” and Smart Learning Best Practice Award is open to any individual or team involved in Smart Learning practices from any educational or training institutions around the world. Individuals or institutions willing to participate in the forum may register by completing the free application form available on the university’s website: www.hbmsu.ac.ae, and institutions that seeks to establish itself as a smart learning institution can apply for any of the awards’ categories by submitting the award application form to the e-TQM Institute before the 1st of September, 2014.