Hamdan Bin Mohammed e University gathers international experts at Annual Congress 2012 Roundtable meetings to discuss issues on education, health, quality

In line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU) to support scientific research and the exchange of knowledge, the Roundtable meetings started today (January 30, 2012) on the sidelines of the Annual Congress 2012, the international platform that will host three conferences on e-Learning Excellence, Health & Environment, and Quality. Organized under the theme "Policies and Strategies", the Roundtable meetings have gathered intellectuals, researchers, experts and specialists from around the world to discuss key issues affecting the development and promotion of quality and the development of the education and health sectors. The Roundtable meetings are held in line with HBMeU’s commitment to enrich knowledge, promote scientific research, foster a culture of creativity and innovation and create an integrated knowledge environment in the Arab world. 

The three Roundtables shed light on the effective policies and strategies in the promotion of quality, education and health, under the themes “Quality – Policy and Strategy”, “e-Learning – Policy and Strategy" and “Health – Policy and Strategy”. The meetings provided an ideal platform for the exchange of research findings and scientific insights among experts and professionals in the fields of health, education and quality, in order to achieve the highest level of excellence by promoting a culture of innovation and creating a conducive environment for scientific research. In addition to the roundtable meetings, the Annual Congress 2012, which is being organized under the main theme “Innovation based Competitiveness”, also discussed 160 papers on quality management, and the state of education and healthcare at the regional and international level. 

The first roundtable meeting, which was held under the theme “Quality – Policy and Strategy”, addressed the concept of quality and its importance in creating and improving the competitiveness of different countries, especially Arab states, where quality has become a pressing concern and a key element in the strategies for improving national productivity and enabling economies to compete globally. Hence, the roundtable meeting discussed the role of Arab countries in developing effective strategies for quality, economic, social and educational policies that contribute in building a productive and competitive economy. 

The second roundtable meeting, which was held under the theme “e-Learning – Policy and Strategy”, touched on a wide range of issues related to e-learning and how to improve the quality of education and create intellectual leadership. The discussions also explored effective ways to obtain new knowledge and learn from experiences of other countries and regions, particularly in light of the emerging concept of distance learning that has been made ​​possible by the internet. The meeting also focused on the role of Arab countries in developing the concept of e-learning and reducing the rate of illiteracy in various communities, through the integration of technology in education and training. 

The third roundtable meeting, which was held under the theme “Health – Policy and Strategy”, discussed the critical issues facing the Arab world, including water and air pollution, environmental degradation, disposal of hazardous waste and the difficulty of creating new policies addressing these challenges with the limited information available on these issues. Participants also pointed out the need to accelerate the pace of research that focuses on health and environmental issues in the Arab world and cooperation with Arab and international organizations. 

“The Annual Congress 2012 demonstrated its vital role as a forum for the world's leading scholars, experts and regional and international thinkers in the field of e-education, health and quality, as well as providing a leading interactive platform to promote scientific communication and establishing a culture of knowledge and learning in the Middle East,” said Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of HBMeU. “In line with the theme of the Annual Congress, which is ‘Innovation based Competitiveness’, we were keen to invite a number of leading experts and researchers from around the region and the world to discuss 160 papers, including 22 from the UAE, that focus on quality, e-Learning and e-Health. This activity will have a positive impact in creating a competitive environment, improving the level of scientific research and improving the status of the UAE and the Arab world to reach the ranks of advanced countries in the scientific and academic domains.” 

“The Annual Congress 2012 agenda is marked by diversity and inclusiveness as it incorporates three roundtables, three simultaneous conferences and 11 workshops, which are attended by 10 spokespersons, including Rowan Gibson, who is widely recognized as one of the world's foremost thought leaders on enterprise innovation, to discuss the development of e-learning methodologies, spreading the culture of quality, preserving the environment and improving the health sector. This confirms the status of HBMeU as a leader in encouraging scientific research in the field of e-learning and quality management in the region, as well as advancing the social, economic and environmental development process to achieve an integrated society based on knowledge,” Dr. Al Awar added. 

The series of concurrent conferences being held under the umbrella of the Annual Congress 2012 include the 6th Quality Conference in the Middle East, the 5th Conference on eLearning Excellence in the Middle East, and the 4th e-Health and Environment Conference in Middle East. The event will also host the Virtual Executive Club's (VEC) annual event along with the VEC's 2012 Feigenbaum Leadership Excellence Award (FLEA) ceremony. 

HBMeU is the first e-learning institute in the Arab World that was established with the vision to develop a new learning process through the implementation of learning practices characterised by flexibility, quality and diversity to strengthen self-leadership among learners and prepare them socially and academically for a future career through integration in the job market. HBMeU’s philosophy is based on vital methods that have been developed through extensive research and development by specialists from all over the world. These methods include offering high quality programs, supporting the pursuit of lifelong learning, promoting the freedom of information, reinforcing the culture of excellence and innovation and providing education for everyone in line with the highest standards of comprehensiveness and credibility. The university seeks to constantly identify knowledge needs, support research and development programs and create an outstanding environment for e-learning.