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University of Sharjah: Re-designed for success

Excerpts from an interview with Prof. Esam Agamy, Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of Quality Assurance, Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Accreditation, and Dr Nadia Farhat Director, Marketing and Student Recruitment Department

How is your university contributing to the UAE's higher education in line with government's Vision 2021 to realise a 'First-rate Education System'?

Prof. Esam Agamy: The UAE government vision 2021 is to ensure a First-rate Education System, even while we are still facing the Covid-19 pandemic. The University of Sharjah is implementing the hybrid model in course delivery. To ensure education quality, student engagement and achieving learning outcomes, the University re-designed theoretical, practical and training courses and enriched the course content, delivery, and assessment with proper pedagogical and technological tools.

Clinical training will be done on-site with heavy enrichment with IT simulations and reporting tools. Practical and laboratory training includes in-person and virtual sessions. Both are enriched with advanced virtual tools to enhance student performance and experiences. Although theoretical courses are delivered online, faculty are using a variety of engagement methods and educational and IT tools to ensure up-to-date content and applications in the fields of study.

What challenges and opportunities did you witness moving from physical to online classes during the Covid-19 pandemic? How is technology and digitisation influencing higher education?

Dr Nadia Farhat: In recent months and in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, UOS has successfully transformed teaching and learning to Distance Learning offering all classes, including practical courses, online through advanced technological Learning Management System (LMS) tools. Teaching was carried out using advanced LMS tools and communication technologies and systems to ensure interactive instructional delivery that promotes student engagement. In addition, online assessment and feedback were provided regularly to students to ensure achievement of course and programme outcomes.  
Technology has the potential to revolutionise the traditional teaching and learning process. It can eliminate the barriers to education imposed by space and time and dramatically expand access to lifelong learning. Students no longer have to meet in the same place at the same time to learn together from an instructor.
Most notably, technology engages students in simulated experiences and encourages them to practice collaborative decision-making skills. Done right, this academic exposure to technology deepens understanding because learners internalise concepts while acquiring authentic skills:

.    Using technology in the classroom.
.    Improves engagement. When technology is integrated into lessons, students are expected to be more interested in the subjects they are studying.
.    Improves knowledge retention.
.    Encourages individual learning.
.    Encourages collaboration.
.    Students can learn useful life skills through technology.
.    Teachers are exposed to a wide variety of material and knowledge that goes beyond books and integrates with the vast amount of material that is available digitally. Thus, enriching the learning process and taking it to another level known as a learning experience.

Give us a brief of Specialised Higher Education Courses offered to students at University of Sharjah in the light of career advancement and employability

Dr Nadia Farhat: The University of Sharjah (UoS) offers a comprehensive set of fully accredited academic programmes (over 107 academic programmes) that cover arts and humanities, Shari'ah and law, basic sciences and engineering, medical and health sciences, computing and informatics, communications, business administration and fine arts. UoS also offers a wide range of MSc and PhD in over 50 programmes. In addition, UoS is home to four research and training institutes that supplements teaching and learning and ensure that students get hands on experience so that they are ready for employability.

UOS is a comprehensive university with an integrated health care cluster, comprehensive science, engineering and computing cluster, in addition to other areas such as humanities, Shari'ah, communication and business programmes. This integrated environment is supported by intensive research and innovation foster student experience and advanced soft skills and, consequently, student employability.

In addition to good academic qualification, UOS provides a wide variety of student career services, such as career fairs, counseling, workshops, inviting employers and figures to engage with students. Active industrial internship is another opportunity for student to advance their skills and find proper jobs.

As a comprehensive and research active university, UOS gives a wide range of interdisciplinary learning opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students practice innovative approaches, especially in their project work, internship and comprehensive courses. Extracurricular curricular activities engage students in teamwork, communication and leadership experiences. The university also keeps connections with alumni to engage them in more development activities and use their feedback in programme improvement.

How many student nationalities does University of Sharjah host and how does the university adapt to imparting education to students of diverse ethnicity?

Dr Nadia Farhat: The University of Sharjah is a comprehensive university offering the largest number of accredited academic programmes in the UAE at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. The UoS has more than 15,000 students, coming from 98 nationalities who enjoy extensive state-of-the-art physical and IT infrastructure that fully support online and in-person learning as well as extracurricular and sport activities. The University adopted and implements advanced IT tools to deliver course and programmes pursuing online and hybrid modes including virtual labs, simulations, e-portfolios among other tools. The University also implements variety of learning and teaching methodologies to motivate student self-learning and experience, such as problem-based learning, team-based learning, projects and others.

Outline student life on campus and accommodation facilities provided.

Prof. Esam Agamy: The University is implementing the highest possible health and safety precautions as determined by the health authorities. Personnel coming to campus, including students have to follow all these precautions, such as temperature checks, wearing masks, keeping distances, etc. The student dorms are accommodating students in single rooms and are implanting all required precautions.