MOU facilitates enriched UOBD professional teaching diploma program in collaboration with highly experienced educators

Dubai, UAE, Sep 28th, 2019: University of Balamand Dubai (UOBD) and Academia Management Solutions International (AMSI), the governing body managing the Al Mawakeb Schools and ISAS (International School of Arts and Science) in Dubai, have announced the signing of a MoU. The MoU reiterates UOBD’s commitment to providing quality education.

The MOU, aiming to provide a framework of cooperation and facilitate collaboration between the two institutions in areas of mutual interest was signed on behalf of the respective institutions by, Dr Walid Moubayed, CEO and Vice-Chancellor of University of Balamand Dubai (UOBD) and AMSI group school principals - Mr. Mousa Chahbaz, Principal, Al Mawakeb Al Barsha, Mr. Omar Hatoum, Principal, Al Mawakeb Al Garhoud, Mr. Michael Popinchalk, Principal, Al Mawakeb Al Khawaneej and Mr. Muhieddine Soubra, Principal of ISAS.

Complementing UOBD’s rigorous curriculum of the Professional Teaching Diploma Program (TD), the collaboration empowers UOBD TD students with a platform to acquire hands-on field teaching experience from some of the highly experienced educators in the field, spread across the AMSI schools.

Empowering AMSI, the collaboration will provide AMSI schools with a pool of highly qualified prospective teacher candidates, familiar with AMSI mission, school and classroom culture, facilitating smoother and faster on-board sessions. The agreement between both the parties is valid for a period of three years, with review of the Teacher Training Program at yearly intervals.

Commenting on the partnership and collaboration, Dr Walid Moubayed, CEO and Vice-Chancellor of University of Balamand Dubai (UOBD), said, “UOBD’s Professional Teaching Diploma program is part of our strategic vision towards offering comprehensive modules aimed at holistic development and effective implementation. With the education sector, evolving at a rapid pace, new techniques and teaching strategies are being researched and implemented in the classroom, entailing a greater need for educational professionals to strengthen their portfolio and enhance skills by developing speciliased knowledge of the schooling system as one of the vital steps in the teaching career. The TD program is a pre-requisite for aspiring candidates to be a teacher anywhere in the region and UOBD is proud to bring its proven expertise from its Lebanon campus to the UAE.”

“Our schools strive to attract educators who are committed to creating and implementing innovative academic undertakings. Theoretical knowledge combined with applied training equips teachers to steer ahead and take on educational leadership responsibilities. As part of the MoU, we will be assigning and placing qualifying UOBD student teachers with teachers in our schools based on subject and grade level requested by the university, allowing student teachers to observe twenty hours and teach three to four hours per semester”, said Muhieddine Soubra, Principal of ISAS.

UOBD’s Professional Teaching Diploma program is accredited from the CAA (Commission for Academic Accreditation) and the KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority). With emphasis on curriculum development, instructional design, pedagogy, assessment, cognitive and affective development, and teacher leadership competencies, UOBD’s teaching program positions aspiring teachers at the forefront of innovation and best practice in the education sector.

UOBD’s Professional Teaching Diploma program, designed to be completed within a period of one year, blends practical experiences with theoretical studies, preparing aspiring teachers for a career in teaching with industry-best tools & strategies. The program has been conveniently scheduled in the evenings and over the weekend for working professionals.

Spread across approximately 8,000 square metres, the UOBD campus in Dubai Investments House in DIP is equipped with the most modern classrooms, laboratories and resource centres to enhance the learning process. UOBD DIP campus marks first for University of Balamand (UOB) outside Lebanon, where it operates five campuses. Details on the Professional Teaching Diploma and other programs can be obtained by sending an email to admissions@uobd.ac.ae or by calling +9714-8122500.