Review books and win prizes

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of HBMSU

In support of the Year of Reading initiative of the UAE, Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) Smart Book Club has launched a 'Reading Knights Competition'.
The competition, held under Smart Reading Club, aims to encourage the community to read and critically analyse literary works. First to be critiqued are two visionary books authored by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The 'Reading Knights Competition' has four main goals: increase awareness on the importance of reading, develop the habit of self-learning and continuous learning, enhance analytical and critical thinking, and encourage knowledge dissemination among readers from different cultural and cognitive levels. The books for review will be announced through the Smart Book Club portal which will also receive the entries. Summaries should not exceed 1,000 words and can be written in either Arabic or English. A panel of academics will judge the pieces. The best reviews will be awarded by the university. All the winners will also receive tablets and will be granted a complimentary one-year access to the HBMSU Library.
Dr Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of HBMSU, said: "The Smart Book Club's 'Reading Knights Competition' is a timely initiative that complements the declaration of 2016 as the 'Year of Reading' under the wise vision of our President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to make the UAE a beacon of science and knowledge for the world to follow.
"We are honoured to feature the literary works of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the competition's inaugural run. This will enable readers to draw inspiration from wise visions for continuing the march to excellence, leadership and innovation. What is perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the 'Reading Knights Competition' is that it is based on a methodology that concretizes the goals of the Smart Book Club which concentrates on broadening the knowledge and cultural perceptions of readers of different cultural, cognitive and intellectual levels. This initiative also supports the tireless efforts led by HBMSU under the guidance of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the university, to enrich knowledge and develop self-paced learning skills as well as promote the principle of lifelong learning. We want to prepare a new generation armed with science, knowledge and innovation who can pave the way for a brighter future," Dr Al Awar concluded.
There are currently nearly 238 registered participants of different cultural backgrounds aged 18 to 65. Interested participants can register at http://smartbookclub.hbmsu.ac.ae until August 31 to share their thoughts on the books by Shaikh Mohammed: 'My Vision' and 'Flashes of Thought.'
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai