HBMSU Chancellor appointed governing board member of UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar becomes first Arab scholar  to join world’s elite educators for his role in promoting smart learning across Arab World

[UAE, September 27, 2014] – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), has announced the appointment of Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), as the newest member of the governing board of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. Dr. Mansoor will be responsible for directing the institute’s efforts and initiatives towards bridging the digital divide in education and the development of knowledge-based societies. He will also be involved in consolidating human resources in the region, particularly through the publication of ePrograms for continuous learning purposes.

Dr. Mansoor will be joining an elite group of the world’s most prominent educators, including 10 officials and dignitaries who have made major contributions in the promotion and dissemination of information and communication technologies (ICT) across the field of education. The HBMSU Chancellor’s appointment is attributed to the pivotal role he has played in the promotion of smart educational resources in the Arab World.

This is the first time that an Arab scholar has been nominated for membership to the governing board of UNESCO’s Institute for Information Technologies in Education. The nomination, according to UNESCO senior officials, is in recognition of Dr. Mansoor’s key efforts in spreading a culture of smart learning and disseminating contemporary knowledge to suit the needs of the Arab region.

H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Dubai General Security and Chairman of HBMSU Board of Governors, commented on the election of Dr. Al Awar for this eminent position, “This appointment is attributed to the patronage of our young state’s leaders, along with the efforts of loyal and creative youths in uplifting the UAE among other nations in the most prestigious international events.”

The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education was established as an integral part of UNESCO by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 29th session (November 1997). The institute contributes to the design and implementation of the programmes of the organization with regard to the application of ICT in education.