MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) supports the University of Bahrain in an e-Learning initiative to enhance teaching and learning

Manama, 2nd May, 2007: e-learning is set to change the face of higher education in the Kingdom as a result of the recent opening of the MTC-Vodafone e-Learning Centre. The centre, which is Bahrain's first higher education e-Learning facility, has enabled the University of Bahrain to become a vehicle for e-Teaching and e-Learning. Built with a donation of over BD 300,000 from MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain), the centre supports higher education teaching and learning programmes through the use of highly advanced technology in a drive to adopt and develop future learning concepts.

Opened in March 2007 under the patronage of the King's wife, Her Majesty Shaikha Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who is also the President of the Supreme Council for Women, the e-Learning Centre will play a significant role in Bahrain's development as a technologically skilled society and comes as the government of Bahrain takes a regional lead in the launch of a range of e-Government services. 

The centre focuses on promoting the adoption of wireless technology to support teaching and learning programmes across eight university departments. It can be accessed by 8000 students, and both staff and students are benefiting with 145 teaching modules already tailored for delivery on the university's e-Network.

MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) recently recognised 12 e-learning Centre  employees for their achievements in making the centre  a resounding success by offering each employee a latest model mobile handset. 

Dr. Ahmed Al Shatti, Chief Operating Officer of MTC Vodafone (Bahrain) said: "We are committed to the sustainable development of communication technology skills in the Bahrain labour market. MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) is extremely supportive of the role that e-Learning can play in preparing students to meet the demands of working in the multicultural environment of today's global market, and by helping them to find job placements."  

Dr. Khalid Buqahoos, Head of the e-Learning Centre at University of Bahrain, said:  "e-Learning is a new and powerful tool that is being used to support and enhance academic development in the world's best universities. We have already begun training academic professionals from a range of Bahrain colleges on using web-based communication technology to develop electronically-learnt modules."

Commenting on the significance of its partnership with MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain),  Dr. Mariam Bint Hassan Al Khalifa, former University of Bahrain President said:  'We appreciate the value that MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) is able to contribute as a core partner in introducing new, technology-driven forms of teaching, learning and working."

The centre's facilities include a range of e-Learning tools including email, and online university chat and discussion rooms, which enable 24-hour interactivity and access to information for academic staff and students. It ultimately aims to support all University of Bahrain students to become proficient in the use of modern technology in their learning and to develop valuable employment skills.

The centre has a broader remit to cascade and share the knowledge and expertise acquired through the e-Learning and e-Teaching with other academic institutes and professionals throughout Bahrain.

-Ends-

About MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain)
MTC-Vodafone comes as a result of a Network Partner Agreement between the Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), a GCC regional company born in Kuwait, and Vodafone, a global company based in the UK.  MTC-Vodafone, having been chosen by Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to develop the 2nd GSM service, launched its services on 28 December 2003.

Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) was founded in 1983 and is perhaps one of the oldest mobile service providers in the world.  MTC has a reputation for pioneering new services in the Middle East and constantly seeks to forge partnerships with key global companies to bring the best products and services to the region.   MTC is considered to be a very successful, customer focused and ambitious company and has aspirations that fit with the Vodafone strategy for global customer services.

About MTC Group
MTC is the pioneer of mobile telecommunications in the Middle East and is now a major player on the African continent. The company began life in 1983 in Kuwait as the region's first mobile operator, and since the initiation of its "3x3x3" expansion strategy in 2003, the company has expanded rapidly.

Today MTC is a leading mobile operator in six Middle-eastern and 14 sub-Saharan African countries with over 12,700 employees, providing a comprehensive range of mobile voice and data services to over 27 million active individual and business customers (as of 31December 2006).

The company operates in Kuwait and Bahrain as MTC-Vodafone, in Jordan as Fastlink, in Iraq as MTC Atheer, in Lebanon as MTC Touch, in Sudan as Mobitel and in 14 sub-Saharan African countries as Celtel: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Code: Tele), MTC's market capitalization exceeded US$21 billion as of 19 March 2007.

For more information please visit www.mtctelecom.com

Issued on behalf of MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) by Hill & Knowlton. For press information contact:
Neena Punnen
Hill and Knowlton
Tel: +973 17 533 532
Fax: +973 17 533 370
e-mail: neena.punnen@hillandknowlton.com
Hind Jameel Abdulsalam
MTC-Vodafone(Bahrain)
Tel: +973 3603 1074
Fax: +973 3603 1994
e-mail: marcom@mtc.com.bh

© Press Release 2007