Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), the university launched the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Social Smart Learning initiative (Cloud Campus) across 27 Starbucks stores in the UAE in support of the Year of Reading initiative. Under the directives of H.H. President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, the UAE has declared 2016 as the Year of Reading to foster a culture of learning and knowledge sharing in the country. H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and H.E. Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai and Chairman of the Universitys Board of Governors, led the numerous dignitaries who attended the main event at Starbucks-Jumeirah Drive-thru.

The joint effort between HBMSU and Starbucks intends to reach numerous countless learners a month. It complements the ongoing national efforts seeking to produce positive and accountable local leaders who are determined to develop a future in sync with the goals of UAE Vision 2021. Cloud Campus hopes to motivate youths to deepen their understanding and boost their abilities in accordance with the 21st century requirements. The effort available through the web perfectly integrates social networks channels such as YouTube and Facebook with other modern-day innovations that are popular amongst various social groups.

HBMSU and Starbucks teamed up for the pioneering effort as part of their particular Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs concentrating on transferring and enhancing knowledge in the UAE. Both parties intend to assist obstacle learning challenges, offer opportunities to help with easy access to information, and enhance the teaching and finding out procedures through the aid of the most recent technological tools. By using (Cloud Campus), Starbucks clients can have a complimentary and direct access to a virtual library for a large range of interactive resources, including more than 5,000 illustrated lectures in addition to references and academic courses in business, science, and creative and professional skills.

H.E. Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim stated: "The launch of HBMSU's effort throughout UAE Starbucks branches falls in line with the vision introduced by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a smart city. The tactical collaboration between Hamdan Bin Mohammed Social Smart Learning initiative (Cloud Campus) and a worldwide acknowledged brand name such as Starbucks, assists expand and further instill the idea of smart learning, particularly amongst today's youth, who frequently visit and spend long hours at Starbucks. This initiative will enable them making best of their leisure time-- reading and gaining knowledge, in a smooth and smarter way, without feeling bored.".

"Smart learning has become today's contemporary language and is extensively readily available to everyone. We are experiencing a radical change in the conventional ideas and learning systems in the UAE, where instructional attainment and having a degree is not expensive or complicated as it was 10 years ago when learning was primarily based upon paper work, classes and going to libraries. Today, smart learning allows everyone to seamlessly, easily and cost-efficiently dive into the sea of understanding anytime and anywhere. Communication between the student and professor is now ongoing or on a 24/7 bases, so it honors me to state that the UAE's smart leadership has no limitation for its ambitions to raise the bar on the country and position it amongst the most developed smart learning nations in the world," Khalfan included.

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, HBMSU, said:" The effort will be readily available across picked Starbucks stores in the UAE. In addition, he reaffirmed HBMSU's dedication to supply community with best instructional tools and resources to additional increase the citizens' employability in adherence to UAE Vision 2021's objective of developing a 'competitive economy led by knowledgeable and innovative UAE nationals.'.

Dr. Al Awar added: "The UAE has actually been concentrating on boosting knowledge and knowing in accordance with the instructions of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who. emphasized that building human capital is a national need. Today, the UAE is steadily progressing under the sensible leadership of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE among the most developed nations in the world. Under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMSU, we will constantly provide discovering opportunities for all and cultivate a culture of innovation and excellence through smart learning throughout the Arab region. We are positive that our strategic partnership with committed, accountable and influential entities such as Starbucks will result in concrete outcomes and substantial contributions to ensure community development and structure generations who will lead the nation towards progress.".

Talking about the partnership, Matthiew Holgate, President of Starbucks - MENA verified Starbucks' enthusiasm and commitment to the launch of (Cloud Campus) in partnership with HBMSU to support positive change in the communities, saying "Starbucks has always been part of the communities where its runs, and we constantly make every effort to create favorable change in people's lives by providing more than a cup of coffee. Through the collaboration with HBMSU, we are allowing youth across UAE to have wider and easier access to the best education in the imaginative and interesting Starbucks' environment. We aim to supply young Emiratis the opportunity to discover new and interesting things while enjoying their preferred coffee at Starbucks. This partnership will continue for 3 months giving more chances to our consumers across the UAE.".

HBMSU's Social Smart Learning initiative (Cloud Campus) is an interactive educational platform developed to distribute understanding using 60-90 minute videos and micro-learning method. The platform includes more than 5,000 courses and 170 discovering products covering numerous professions and subjects to improve digital skills. The courses are offered under the guidance of a team of professionals and academics who are dedicated to offer day-and-night support. The learners business abilities can be further enhanced through its 10 program offerings in leadership, entrepreneurship, communication, talent development, operation management, marketing, HR Development, and Islamic banking, among others. Upon completion of each program, a certificate from HBMSU will be issued to them.

Starbucks customers can directly access Cloud Campus and enjoy 10 hour free interactive lectures during their visit to participating stores. They can watch videos and access the content using their mobile devices, laptops, tablets, and smartphones running on Android, iOS, and Windows.