HBMSU launches first-of-its-kind ‘Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014’

Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program, Learning and Teaching Centre Macquarie University, eTechan International, Bahrain Institute of Public Administration, Dubai Airports, win accolades at ‘Smart Learning Best Practice Award’

[UAE, October 20, 2014] – Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) has kicked off ‘Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014,’ the first-of-its-kind event that encourages the exchange of best practices in smart learning in international educational, academic and training institutions to boost smart education. The event’s first edition attracted a wide global participation including delegations from the United States, Australia, Russia, Italy, Greece, Nigeria, Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and the UAE.

H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Dubai General Security and Chairman of HBMSU Board of Governors, led the opening of the HBMSU Smart Campus, one of the key pillars of promoting smart education through the use and integration of modern technology. The Smart Campus offers modern, high-tech services that meet the needs of learners and faculty and administrative staff, including submission of proposals and suggestions, exchange of information, access to courses, submission of assignments, registration in assessment exams, and access to grades and academic records through smart devices. The Smart Campus also provides a smart platform to promote effective communication between new and existing students and report technical malfunctions. It also allows users to conduct an online inquiry of e-wallet balance as well as an electronic follow up outstanding financial transactions and payments.

H.E. Dahi Khalfan Tamim was pleased with the launching of ‘Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014,’ which provides a strategic platform to discuss steps to advance the education system through the integration of the latest smart technologies. “Organizing this prestigious international event falls in line with the efforts of the Dubai Government to position the emirate as a premier destination for most prominent and largest global events. It is also aligned with the ‘Smart City’ initiative of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We are delighted to launch Smart Campus, which reflects HBMSU’s commitment to promote smart learning as a means to achieve sustainable development and as an essential element that will re-shape the future of education in the Arab World.”

The “Smart Learning Best Practice Award” was held on the sidelines of the ‘Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014.’ International jury composed of acadmic professionals and leading experts in developing and transferring best practices and smart learning systems in information technology and academic fields comprised the panel of judges. The winners were Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program which bagged an honor in the Smart Learning Technology Exploitation category; the Learning and Teaching Centre - Macquarie University and Bahrain Institute of Public Administration of Smart Partnerships category; eTechan International, Technology Exploitation category; and Dubai Airports got an appreciation award of Smart Learning category.

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, HBMSU, said: “We are privileged to honor these leading institutions that have demonstrated outstanding excellence in the application of international best practices that aim to boost smart education. The “Smart Learning Best Practice Award”  is the first initiative which centers on the efforts to integrate best practices into educational institutions’ procedures and processes in order to promote smart education and sustainability. The first day of the event witnessed a series of breakout sessions tackling seven key themes, namely ‘Smart Learning,’‘Learner Centricity,’ ‘Excellence Orientation,’ ‘Smart Partnership,’ ‘Technology Exploitation,’ ‘Resource Utilization,’ and ‘Process Innovation.’ A workshop session, titled ‘Middle East e-Learning Quality Framework ‘MelQ’: Standardizing quality in technology enhanced teaching and learning” was also held.

The ‘Smart Learning Best Practice Forum 2014’ provides an ideal platform to encourage the exchange and sharing of best practices in smart learning in educational institutions and corporations across the world. It strives to support continuous growth and development of smart learning. Smart learning includes the ability of learners to acquire innovative ideas, evaluate their relevance, subject their ideas to scrutiny to gauge their innovativeness, and guide them through a rigorous, systematic process of implementation to ensure tangible and intangible benefits.