Highlighting its dedication to sharing its knowledge and experiences in smart learning once again, the Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) has hosted an online Arabic seminar in cooperation with, and under the patronage of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU). During the webinar, HBMSU reviewed its technological capabilities, cumulative experiences, and its academic philosophy based on technology, innovation, creativity and scientific research. This strategy of HBMSU drastically drives the development of the academic system in accordance with the necessities of the future, and in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the University.

The webinar served as a strategic platform for introducing staff members of Arab universities, which are additionally members of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU), to the salient aspects of the HBMSU's mission to set up a lifestyle of smart learning and distance learning as an effective device for investing in youth to raise them as future leaders.

The webinar, titled HBMSU's Smart Learning Applications, witnessed large participation with more than five hundred attendees from the academic community in the Arab region, led by Professor Dr. Amr Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU). The members hailed the pivotal function of HBMUS as the first hub and a pioneer in smart learning in the Arab region. Participants additionally praised the Universitys treasured initiatives to unite and direct efforts towards equipping universities with essential tools wanted to undertake the smart learning method and maintain pace with the rapid changes in the field of higher education, particularly in light of the present day challenges.

The webinars participants similarly affirmed their confidence in the Association of Arab Universities (AARU) that helps the adoption of innovative thoughts in the region, led by an formidable approach to provide the first-class services and promote excellent and efficiency of higher education. These efforts are additionally aimed at opening to new horizons for Arab researchers to turn out to be leading contributors to the international research movement.

In his welcoming speech, Dr. Amr Salama, Secretary-General of AARU, thanked HBMSU, appreciating its persisted success in developing a stimulating surroundings for increasing creativity and innovation skills, community participation, creating intellectual culture and strengthening effective communication between numerous stakeholders in the sector, along with teachers, management, parents and society.

Dr. Salama emphasized the significance of smart learning, which has turn out to be an indispensable pillar of education that will define future jobs and the necessities of the labor market. It is an essential factor of present day job roles that did not exist before, specifically thinking about predictions that cloud technologies will create 18 million jobs in future along with other Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

Dr. Amr added: Today, eyes are turning to communication and information technologies that offer a prosperous and appealing new learning experience, regardless of time and space, offering possible solutions to tackle the challenges posed by the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted all aspects of our lives, along with education. Although distance learning in the Arab world is still limited, we have witnessed a great improvement in present years with the establishment of institutions such as the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) in Dubai, the Syrian Virtual University (SVU), and the Virtual University of Tunis (UVT).

Prof. Amr concluded: We hail the essential role of the UAEs Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University in main a pioneering experience in the Arab world in placing particular high-level requirements for measuring and evaluating the consequence of distance learning programs and following up on the supervision and quality control of these packages to acquire educational accreditation. HBMSU has additionally been making valuable contributions to bettering the awareness of graduate levels for electronic universities. Furthermore, I am delighted to expose the modern replace regarding the Association of Arab Universities for E-Learning platform, which was hooked up in partnership with the British Academy for E-Learning, to serve the Arab educational community to face the repercussions of the international disaster ensuing from outbreak of COVID-19.

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of HBMSU, expressed the University's pride as a member of the Association of Arab Universities, commending on its fundamental position in strengthening coordination between the a variety of academic establishments under its umbrella, and aiding the efforts of higher education establishments to overcome the challenges faced by the Arab worlds education sector and to promote the quality of higher education.

We value the efforts of the Association of Arab Universities in strengthening joint Arab action and activating the frameworks of fruitful cooperation and strong partnership between the a number of educational institutions. These efforts are in line with HBMSUs core values. he said.

Since its inception based on the vision of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and the directives of H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMSU; our University has followed a special and distinctive path away from the traditional in higher education, and has taken on the duty of leading the excellence, quality and innovation in order to re-shape the future of higher education and education system in general. Therefore, we have been stimulated by the strategies and plans that led us to innovate smart education applications that resonate positively with Arab and global education societies," he added.

Al Awar noted: "The University has effectively turn out to be a pioneer in smart learning, which has emerged as one of the primary pillars of creating a superior, efficient and bendy academic system that can effectively respond to unprecedented challenges such as the present day COVID-19 crisis." He similarly added that the online seminar was held in partnership with the Arab academic community as part of HBMSU's dedication to enrich knowledge and force leadership and innovation in schooling and educational research domestically and globally, and in line with HBMSUs constant efforts to share its unique experience in reworking future universities into knowledge hubs capable of creating generations of knowledge, technology and science, and thereby creating a better tomorrow.

Dr. Al Awar concluded: We are going forward with the launch of particular initiatives that enable us to spread and share our excessive knowledge in the service of the path of creating teaching and learning in the Arab world based on the spirit of initiative, creativity and innovation, and provide lifelong learning opportunities for all, thereby enhancing the Arab regions role in the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 that think about quality and equitable education as the key foundation to make a wonderful and tangible difference in the lives of people. Undoubtedly, we will proceed our endeavors to improve our partnership with the Association of Arab Universities to drive the adoption of smart learning equipment in Arab universities, and maintain tempo with the speedy changes taking place in the academic sector at all levels.

The online seminar commenced with a welcome remark by Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of AARU, accompanied by panel discussions moderated by Dr. Moustafa Hassan, Vice Chancellor for International Cooperation at HBMSU. During the seminar, participants explored key elements behind the successful implementation of smart learning and how it can be utilized seamlessly in universities, citing HBMSU as a successful example.

Some of the key topics discussed include the establishment of a smart academic environment that encourages learners; re-designing the courses to suit e-learning; and ways to use the available online academic sources, as well as adopting evaluation and comments mechanisms in e-learning, amongst other relevant fields.