The University of Sharjah discusses the foundations of education based on community participation
Sharjah, April 10, 2018 (WAM) – The Institute for Leadership in Higher Education at the University of Sharjah organized the sixth edition of the “Teaching and Learning Forum”, which this year focused on community-based teaching and learning, highlighting methods that link academic learning to real-life contexts, and providing a platform for faculty members to exchange experiences and explore innovative teaching practices.
His Excellency Dr. Essam El-Din Ajami, Director of the University of Sharjah, confirmed in his opening speech that the forum highlights a number of main themes, including partnerships with the industrial sector, service learning, research based on community participation, and curricula that enhance employability, pointing out that these themes represent strategic directions that contribute to preparing students for leadership and innovation and enhancing their societal role.
He added that the university seeks to build an integrated educational model based on experiential learning, scientific research with a tangible impact, and strengthening the university’s connection with its community.
For his part, Dr. Nawar Thabet, Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, stressed that education is not limited to acquiring knowledge, but rather includes using it to serve society, stressing the importance of the role of faculty members in strengthening ties between universities and communities and developing learning methods based on community participation.
Dr. Maria Soledad, Chair of the UNESCO Chair for Open Education in Latin America – Mexico, also discussed the most prominent future trends in the field of open education, and best evidence-based practices from academic networking communities to achieve effective impact, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation between universities and international organizations, especially UNESCO, to develop educational policies that support the quality of outcomes.
The forum included a number of dialogue sessions that dealt with community-related education, where applied models were reviewed, including interprofessional education initiatives on the medical campus, mechanisms for activating community partnerships in supporting applied learning, in addition to building partnerships to qualify the workforce in the health sector, and presenting learning methods based on community participation and service learning.
The forum concluded with a panel discussion to exchange ideas and best practices in the field of community-based education and learning.
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