Under the Patronage of Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the University

HBMSU launches Innovation Arabia 8 with participation of international experts

 

• Farouk El-Baz discusses ‘Essence of Management: How best leadership practices inspire organizational excellence’

 

• Conference to include high-level discussions to find creative and innovative solutions for Arab World’s sustainable development

  [UAE, February 16, 2015] – Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chairman of the University’s Board of Governers opened today (Monday, February 16, 2015), the 8^th edition of the Innovation Arabia 8 conference. The event features the high-level participation of the most prominent international experts, decision makers, and academics. Organized by HBMSU, the conference focuses on exploring the latest concepts and effective solutions that meet the needs of the Arab region’s overall development under four major tracks – Quality and Business Management, Health and Environment, e-Learning Excellence, and Islamic Banking and Finance. The Innovation Arabia 8 conference, which is being held under the theme ‘Innovate, Collaborate and Differentiate: Honoring the Past, Treasuring the Present, and Shaping the Future,’ commenced its first session with discussions by the Committee of Experts. It was an interactive platform to explore innovative ideas to support the efforts to establish a firm ground to boost creativity to adopt knowledge economies in the Arab World. The concurrent sessions discussed a series of vital topics, including ‘Quality and Business Management: Exploring Synergies Leading Towards Innovation,’ ‘Promoting Innovative Health and Environmental Interventions,’ ‘Instructional Design and Technologies Towards Smart Learning,’ and ‘Islamic Banking and Finance: Carving an Edge for Competitive Advantage.’ The agenda for the first day included a keynote address by Dr. Farouk El-Baz, Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University, USA, about the ‘Essence of Management: How best leadership practices inspire organizational excellence.’ It covered Dr. El Baz’s observations of the best management practices in varied international organizations, including NASA, the Smithsonian Institution, Itek Corporation, and Boston University.   Participants were also addressed by Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Founder and Chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization and Head of the International Advisory Board of the Conference and Professor Nabil Baydoun, Vise Chancellor for HBMSU’s Enterprise and University Advancement and President of the Innovation Arabia 8 conference. The agenda of the second and third days will include addresses by elite of international, regional and local speakers, including Rudolf Strohmeier, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation who will discuss ‘Drivers for Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems’ and Gregory Watson, Former President of the International Academy for Quality who will deliver an address on ‘Insight Into Quality Management: From Hindsight to Foresight.’ In addition, the conference will also feature a discussion by Eng. Sobhi Batterjee, Founder, President and CEO of Saudi German Hospitals Group about ‘Leveraging Information Technology in Healthcare Industry.’ The list of keynote speakers also includes H.E. Hussain Al Qemzi, Chief Executive of Noor Investment Group and Noor Bank, and Dr. Alan Bruce, CEO and Director of Universal Learning Systems and Vice President of European Distance and e-Learning Network. H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chairman of the University’s Board of Governers, said: “Innovation Arabia 8 is an ideal platform to enhance the international and regional cooperation in the field of innovation which is a mainstay towards a better tomorrow. The participation of the top-notch global academics, scholars and experts reflects the eminent reputation of the conference and strong confidence in HBMSU as a leading institution in promoting the quality of e-Learning and developing the culture of innovation and scientific research in the Arab World. We are confident that the high-level discussions will result in a group of innovative solutions for a sustainable development in the Arab world.” H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim concluded: “HBMSU is committed to provide the synergies in order to explore new horizons to drive the economic and social development in the region through innovative means to meet the future requirements. Our focus is in line with our efforts to effectively contribute to the success of ‘Dubai Innovation Partners’ initiative that was launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in order to improve the quality of life for the current and future generations.” The opening of Innovation Arabia 8 also includes the announcement of the winners for the ‘Feigenbaum Leadership Excellence Award.’ This year’s awardees include H.E. Dr. Mubarak Saad Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Department of the President’s Affairs UAE, under the category of 'Exceptionals;' Mohammed Humaid Al Marri, Assistant CEO for Finance and Support Services, Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, UAE, under the 'Accomplishers category and Dr. Reem Osman, Chief Executive Officor, Saudi German Hospital - Dubai for the 'Women Leaders' category. The winners of El-Baz Award for Excellence in Organizational Sustainability were honored in recognition of their success in their commitment towards social responsibility and development of organizational excellence. The list of winners includes the Dubai Municipality’s Drainage and Irrigation Network Department, and Emirates National Oil Company Ltd. (ENOC). As part of its efforts to encourage research, innovation and leadership in ‘Total Quality Management,’ HBMSU granted Dr. Noor Al Maaitah, Assistant Professor at the Mutah University with The Harrington Award for the ‘Best PhD Thesis in Total Quality Management.’ The reward has a high importance of being a specific initiative in recognition of the effective contributions to disseminating the total quality management concepts in all parts of the world and enhancing the related scientific research. The three-day conference of Innovation Arabia 8 will also discuss a series of policies and strategies present leading academic researches under its four major tracks. The agenda will also include holding interactive seminars, awards program, and meetings with prominent academics, decision makers, researchers, experts, representatives of international organizations, government agencies, and private sector organizations to discuss the latest emerging trends and major challenges in the current and coming days and develop appropriate solutions that meet the overall development needs in the Arab region.