Ajman varsities tackle coronavirus

 Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Two of the leading universities in Ajman – Gulf Medical University (GMU) and Ajman University (AU) – are using the COVID-19 precautionary period as an opportunity to evolve beyond standard learning practices, by implementing advanced e-learning capabilities. The universities are focusing on Blended learning – combining the best of traditional and e-learning methodologies, which paves the way for the future.

Speaking about the Gulf Medical University (GMU)’s preparations and preparedness for e-learning, GMU Chancellor Prof. Hossam Hamdy said, “For the successful implementation of e-learning, two important issues need to be addressed; an increased degree of engagement between the faculty and the learners, and the provision for giving continuous feedback to the learner and responding quickly to their queries.

“We are already in communications with the students of all colleges and programmes, explaining the new learning process. We have produced guides for students and teachers, to ensure seamless progression on this path, incorporating multiple layers of activities and feedback and good learning resources. Or students are provided with continuous support.”

The university conducted a workshop to train its faculty with the skills to use different types of e-learning technologies – synchronous (faculty and students connected to the teaching channel at the same time) and asynchronous (students learning independently from resources uploaded online) – to ensure seamless learning for students of the six colleges under GMU, pursuing 26 different programmes.  

GMU already has an electronic learning management system, through which the students access the content of each learning event, electronically. However, the addition of the new distance e-learning features significantly enhances the university’s electronic learning capabilities, taking it to a whole new level of technology-enabled learning.