HBMSU Chancellor Dr. Mansoor Al Awar releases new book titled ‘Quality and the Future of Higher Education'

UAE, June 17, 2015 – In line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to make higher education in Arab world globally competitive, Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) and Chairman of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) Governing Board, has released a new book titled ‘Quality and the Future of Higher Education.’ Receiving wide acclaim from the academic and cultural circles, the book was launched during a special signing ceremony held at the Kinokuniya Book Store at The Dubai Mall. A large number of decision-makers and groups of intellectuals, academics and dignitaries attended the high-profile ceremony.  

In his new book, Dr. Al Awar discusses in each chapter a new approach to achieve a radical change in the education sector. The approach is based on a new, efficient and flexible framework that enhances the role of the learners in the learning process, expands and diversifies knowledge resources, and makes optimal use of modern technologies and their role in transferring and enriching knowledge.

He pointed out that HBMSU’s establishment in 2002 embodied this new way of thinking and that the university was established in response to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directives. HBMSU is the first accredited university in the region to adopt smart learning. It has grown to become a beacon of academic excellence with the support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the University. Dr. Al Awar said this method has been successfully applied at HBMSU, which plays a leading role in the region in light of the continuous support of H.E. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai and ‎HBMSU Chairman of the Board of Governance.

In his book consisting of three chapters, the HBMSU Chancellor focuses on the importance of innovation in higher education and quality in smart learning in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum. The first chapter takes a closer look at the current condition of the Arab World’s higher education. It presents the 10 basic themes developed to ensure quality in higher education, while discussing the various roles of the students, teaching staff, academic programs, the school environment, the library, auxiliary facilities, student assessments, student services, student complaints, and strategic plans.

The second chapter highlights how smart learning is a fundamental pillar in making a great leap forward in higher education. It emphasizes the need to leverage modern technology in education to attain the country’s learning aspirations. Dr. Al Awar said: “Tomorrow’s goals can only be achieved by tomorrow’s means and tools.” In the third chapter, he reveals the ‘Al Awar Scale,’ an innovative tool for measuring quality in universities. The tool aims to help stakeholders in the academic and educational institutions to determine a university’s quality, efficiency and overall performance. Under the scale, a total of 125 questions have been selected based on the best methods of scientific research and highest standards of accuracy and reliability.

Dr. Al Awar said: “The publication of my new book, ‘Quality and the Future of Higher Education,’ is the result of my long-standing academic experience. It reflects an innovative approach formed through the course of HBMSU’s history and great achievements. I have the honor to release this new book, which will hopefully become an important reference for everyone who wants to be inspired by the new approach in higher education. This new framework aims to enhance quality in higher education to achieve the aspirations of our leaders and develop a modern education system based on creativity, innovation and quality. It will propel the UAE into the ranks of the most developed countries in the world.”