UAE, December 30, 2014 – Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) and Chairman of the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), delivered a lecture titled ‘Quality and Future of Higher Education’ in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in his capacity as a visiting professor of the UNESCO Chair for Quality in Higher Education at Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. Dr. Al Awar’s discussions revolved around three main themes, namely ‘The Essence of Quality in Higher Education Institutions,’ ‘Quality of Smart Education,’ and ‘Quality Scale in Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University.’

Dr. Al awar delivered his lecture before an audience of 850 elite academicians including Dr. Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Al-Zakri, Professor of UNESCO Chair for Quality in Higher Education at Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University; deans and faculty members of Quality and Development Faculty, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and Faculty of Social Sciences; and postgraduates and professors of research chairs from the university.

Dr. Al Awar said quality has become strategically important as an integrated framework aimed at developing the higher education system in line with the Gulf region’s accelerated efforts to transform into a knowledge-based economy. He pointed out that higher educational institutions are in dire need of adopting a comprehensive quality management system to meet the students’ current and future aspirations.

In addition, he said smart education has become an essential pillar in ensuring a better future.  He noted that HBMSU, in particular, focuses on promoting the ‘Total Quality Management’ concept, enriching knowledge, and strengthening creativity, innovation and excellent culture and scientific research in the Arab World through smart learning. He added that the provision of an integrated learning environment, along with accredited academic programs of highest quality standards, will enable higher educational institutions to keep pace with rapid technological development and successive changes in today’s digital age. This leads to building qualified generations capable of leading growth and development processes.

Dr. Al Awar concluded: “It is an honor to be invited by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University and deliver a lecture as a visiting professor of the UNESCO Chair for Quality in Higher Education. It is my pleasure to meet the university’s elite group of professors, academic figures and graduate students, who are known for their contributions to scientific research and who are providers of best academic services and graduate studies in Saudi Arabia.”