The University of Balamand Dubai (UOBD), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai Investments PJSC, the leading diversified investments company listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), announced on-time successful completion of the spring semester, end of April 2020, as a result of deploying effective and efficient distance learning resources, providing uncompromised access to quality programs and modules.
Following an unchanged spring 2020 course schedule, the timely completion of the semester has guaranteed steady progress for students on the pathway to completion of their degrees. For each course, students will complete assignments and research projects and return them electronically for grading by faculty, ensuring efficient and transparent assessment procedures. The university confirmed exclusion of assessment parameters requiring physical presence of the students.
“Taking the current global scenario in stride and with the support of infrastructure, knowledge, talent, technology, communication networks, and the necessary inventive drive to continue supporting students and faculty members with uncompromised knowledge, we moved swiftly to take on the challenges of online learning and embrace its potential to the fullest. At UOBD we believe that technological advances, economic changes and major disruptions such as the current pandemic, demand sophisticated and courageous ideas and we want to be at the forefront of providing top-quality education towards creating a knowledge-based economy. We are extremely happy that the students have completed the spring semester on time without any interruptions”, said Dr. Jihad S. Nader, Vice Chancellor and CEO of UOBD.
Supporting educators and students with seamless access to learning platforms, across all of UOBD’s courses, the initiatives implemented are in line with pursuing the UAE’s goal of creating a knowledge-based economy relying largely on an educated work force, capable of successfully keeping pace with developments and ready to face challenges.
With clearly devised strategies, adhering to the policies, framework and procedures governing the educational sector, and with the accreditations it has achieved, UOBD introduced training sessions for students and faculty members on campus to ensure familiarity and ease of operation with the use of the interactive virtual learning platforms. Minimal disparity in the usage of the platforms ensured seamless delivery of educational programs through the timely deployment of applications designed for specific courses.
Adoption of simulations, ensuring a step-by-step guide towards demonstrating experiments was another innovative approach to imparting the practical aspects of scientific disciplines. This method, used globally, ensures thorough understanding of the concepts and attainment of learning outcomes, proving to be an ideal substitute to physical labs.
Recognizing that student-faculty engagement is fundamental to a successful virtual learning experience, UOBD engages in regular online video sessions with the students, emulating a classroom environment and enabling students to stay abreast, reflect and exchange ideas.
Licensed by the UAE Ministry of Education, UOBD currently offers undergraduate Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and a post-graduate Professional Teaching Diploma. All programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), the institutional licensure and degree accreditation department of the UAE Ministry of Education (MOE). Several new programs that fulfill identified market needs are under review for accreditation by the CAA or are planned for development in the next two years.
UOBD aims to continue helping students to develop their skills and be recognized for their ability to think creatively and work collaboratively, successfully confronting upcoming challenges.