The UAE recognises the important potential of e-learning in developing the human resources of the country, said the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research yesterday.
In his opening remarks at the Second International Annual e-Merging e-Learning Conference at the Abu Dhabi Men's College, Sheikh Nahyan bin Muba-rak Al Nahyan, who is also Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, said: "All our institutions are taking important initiatives in the field of online learning. We do so as an expression of our strong commitment to be active participants in all useful developments in education.
"Online education opens possibilities for creativity and innovation that can help us understand how students learn. Hopefully we can apply this understanding to all types of educational delivery. Indeed, as we ask ourselves questions about how e-learning can best be designed and used, we open our minds to new questions and to new possibilities for all types of learning.
"E-learning must be designed to give students these skills and others that will be important to them in the workplace and in their lives.
"Good online education requires clear learning goals and objectives. These will drive the design, development, delivery and assessment of any effective e-learning programme. It must allow learners to interact with one another and with their instructors. It must establish learning communities among students and their faculty, even when they are separated by space and time."
He added: "Meanwhile, methods of assessment and measurement should provide information on students' progress and on how well they achieve the goals of learning. Sound organisational and administrative structures are essential for success.
"A good programme must also have integrity and high ethics. It should encourage the use of active learning techniques. It should communicate high expectations. Thus the skill and dedication of the teacher in on-line education is fundamental to its quality and to how well students learn."
The conference also hosted experts from around the world to discuss the latest technologies and pedagogy of e-learning.
Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, Federal Minister of Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, and a Unesco Science Laureate, said it is essential to make education the key driver for the development of this country.
He said: "We live in an age where knowledge is important and critical resources are more important than natural resources."
He observed that the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of all OIC member countries is less than half that of Germany and less than a quarter that of Japan.
"This is in spite of our having over 70 per cent of the world's energy resources and a quarter of the world's population. Japan has virtually no natural resources but over 1,000 universities, in contrast with only about 550 universities in the Islamic world."
He hoped the conference will lead on to a time-bound and action-bound plan.
On the sidelines of the conference, Sheikh Nahyan signed several strategic memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between the Higher Colleges of Technology/CERT and four major Global Institutions such as Hewlett-Packard Middle East, Equity's Inc, Centre of Electronics and Microtechnolgy and the International Project Management Association based in the UK.
Sheikh Nahyan said: "Such strategic initiatives between the HCT and CERT, and leading global leaders in industry are indicative of the strive for excellence being undertaken by HCT and CERT to help our students and the country."
Meanwhile, Hewlett Packard yesterday announced its Graduate Recruitment Scheme for UAE nationals during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
HPs new annual scheme is the first of its kind in the UAE and has been devised to encourage university students to join the private sector in the Middle East, and in particular to gain invaluable experience.
The Consortium of Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and the UAE University, will undertake the preliminary selection process and choose the initial candidates to go forward to the interview stage with HP Middle East.
Other universities and education institutes in the UAE will also nominate a number of students every year.
"HP and the education ministry have been working to perfect this internship. We feel that HP is providing a complete range of support services to these young professionals, including special workshops, seminars, as well as networking opportunities at local and international conferences," said Sheikh Nahyan.
Joseph Hanania, Regional General Manager of HP Middle East, said: "HP Middle East is a strong supporter of the government's emiratisation programme and realises the importance of providing support for those UAE nationals who wish to join the private workforce."
Dr Tayeb Kamali, Director of the Higher Colleges of Technology, said: "This programme will provide our graduates with real exposure to the working environment, giving many of them their first taste of responsibility and accountability for defined tasks. Being assigned to one of HP's business units will really provide our graduates with an opportunity to fully develop current skills and increase their working aptitude."
The scheme is based on an internship of 12 months, where interns will work across a broad spectrum of divisions within HP focusing on sales, technical consultancy and customer support.
At the end of the internship, HP will select the top performing nationals to join its operation in the UAE or any other country within International Sales Europe (ISE) as permanent members of staff working on an unlimited contract with HP.
The final selection will be based on a performance review consisting of written feedback on previously agreed objectives and through meetings with the interns' managers.
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