2014 HBMSU Congress kicks off with high-level regional and global participation

[UAE, March 3, 2014] – Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), the 2014 HBMSU Annual Congress commenced today (March 3, 2014) under the theme “Leading Transformation to Sustainable Excellence.” In his keynote speech titled “Bridging the Education Gap through Technology,” H.E. Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Chairman, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org), stressed the need to lay down a well-defined action plan to integrate state-of-the-art technologies and smart systems into educational methodologies. The successful integration will create a more effective and sustainable learning system that is able to cater to the changes in line with transformation into a smart and sustainable economy.

Running until March 5, 2014 at Atlantis The Palm, the 2014 HBMSU Congress kicked off with a workshop titled “Positive Thinking… Inspired by Leading thinking and approach of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.” The workshop was headed by Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, HBMSU Chancellor, who underlined the advocacy of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote positive energy in practical and institutional frameworks and optimally leverage this energy across all courses of life as one of the key fundamentals of excellence, innovation and success. The workshop was attended by executive officials, general managers, heads of departments, and leading figures from various industries. The congress also held a series of workshops on quality services, healthcare, and education.

The Virtual Executive Club (VEC) Awards also took place during the opening ceremony. During the awards, H.E. Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, and Mahmood Mohammed Amin Khoory, Chief Executive Officer, Ports, Customs and Free Zone Security and World Security won the Feigenbaum Leadership Excellence Award (FLEA), for their strong leadership in corporate management and introduction of quality of work that contributed to lead their organizations towards achieving its role in business and society. Dubai Customs, meanwhile, won the El-Baz Award for Excellence in Organizational Sustainability due to its vision and continuous work in various in social responsibility programs.

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, said: “The 2014 HBMSU Congress offers a vibrant platform for leading scientists, researchers, and academics in the areas of smart learning, healthcare, and quality. It attracts decision makers, high-level government officials, learning experts, business leaders and representatives from international organizations to share their visions, expertise, and ideas while showcasing innovative initiatives which cater to sustainable excellence. The congress serves as a key addition to the National Agenda aimed at adopting the concept of smart learning which is considered a key pillar of the UAE Vision 2021. The UAE Vision 2021 opens new prospects for students to leverage advanced technologies and keep abreast of the fast-emerging changes in a knowledge-based society to achieve comprehensive development in the UAE.”

“HBMSU is keen to offer necessary means to establish fundamentals of smart learning and create an educational environment that is able to cater to the fast-growing technological developments. This is in line with directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to build a qualified generation that is able to lead the development process and thereby position the UAE amongst the top countries of the world by 2021,” Al Awar added.

The three-day congress will also hold three scientific conferences, namely the 7th Quality Conference in the Middle East under the theme ‘Towards a Sustainable Excellence: Leading a Successful Transformation’; the 6th Conference on eLearning Excellence in the Middle East under the theme ‘Leadership, Design and Technology for 21st Century Learning’; and the 5th e-Health and Environment Conference in Middle East under the theme ‘Transformation for Better Healthcare and Environment.’ In addition, the event will also host a number of sessions and interactive workshops.  The ‘Best Paper’ and ‘Best Student Research’ awards will also be given during the conference. 

Some of the keynote speakers include H.E. Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, who will speak on ‘DEWA: Transformation into Sustainable Excellence’; H.E. Prof. Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz-Mosa, President of Saudi e-University, who will talk about the ‘Experience of Saudi Electronic University in Implementing Blended Learning in its Academic Programs’; and H.E. Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licenses, Ministry of Health, who will discuss ‘The UAE National Strategy for Improvement in Health Care Services.’