Sustainable Development Goals News

 

ELC at UOB Introduces a Program to Support Employability Skills

"Foundation Programs" Conference Calls for the Inclusion of Career Paths in Academic Content

Based on the recommendations of the recently concluded Third International Conference on Foundation Programs, the English Language Center (ELC) at the University of Bahrain (UOB) announced that it is going to establish an integrated program in order to support job and life skills of its students.

Where around 1,200 participants from 50 countries around the world participated in this scientific event under the title "Extending Higher Education Learning beyond the Classroom: Integrating Life and Employability Skills".

The recommendations in the seminar held by the Conference on Tuesday (24 November 2020) were based on the scientific studies that were discussed during the Conference that was held on the Zoom platform.

The director of ELC at the University, Dr. Ghada Ahmed Jassim, explained that Employability Skills mean the ability to think critically, deal with crises, the ability to analyze, manage and develop oneself, and the ability to communicate and plan properly, as well as being flexible and active.

On its second day, the Conference hosted the keynote speaker, Director of Recruitment at Nottingham Trent University, Dr. Doug Cole, who presented a paper entitled " Developing a Future Facing Approach to Support Scalable Change in Higher Education Learning."

In his speech, Dr. Cole stressed the importance of taking research results into consideration and changing the view that is limited to skills and knowledge only in the field of employment, pointing to the need to diversify employment requirements to include all aspects of life such as personalized learning, interpersonal skills, flexibility and self-efficacy, mental health, and others. Also, Dr. Cole called on institutions to focus on the quality of the staff rather than the number in order to help the largest possible segment of graduates.

While faculty member of the College of Engineering at UOB, Dr. Bassam Abdulla Alhamad, presented a scientific paper entitled " Enhancing Employability through Student Empowerment in the Light of Economical Challenges and Pandemic of Covid-19."

Dr. Alhamad presented the efforts of UOB in integrating Employability Skills and increasing students' capabilities, an effort that is built on scientific foundations based on research, stressing the importance of identifying general and basic skills, and using them to develop curricula.

Moreover, Dr. Alhamad agreed with Dr. Cole on the importance of including such values ??in the recruitment processes, explaining that the skills of the twenty-first century lack the integration of these values ??within its provisions. As the former director of the Quality and Academic Accreditation Office at UOB called on the Higher Education Council to consider including students' capabilities within employment requirements, which include academic life, professional services, certificates, student activities, and others.

The Conference was held over three days and it brought together prominent speakers from different all over the world who enriched its sessions with insights and knowledge related to the essential aspects of employment. As the Conference addresses a wide range of issues, the most important of which are: cognitive qualifications, which have become the focus of higher education institutions. Also, the Conference stressed the importance of this approach, not only in the professional life of students, but teachers as well, indicating the need to add career path management and practical application in academic content, especially in light of the current economy that was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the Conference, the future of jobs and adapting educational curricula and teaching methods to suit the current situation were discussed in several presentations.

And at the end of the event, the results of the "Best Picture" competition were announced, which was held in cooperation between ELC and the National Geographic Educational Foundation.

 

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality education

8 Decent work and economic growth

17 Partnerships for the goals

Key Words

The English Language Center at the University of Bahrain, supporting career and life skills, Third International Conference on Foundation Programs Integrating Life and Employability Skills, Extending Higher Education Learning beyond the Classroom, the ability to think critically, and deal with crises, the ability to analyze, self-management and development, ability to communicate, proper planning, flexibility and effectiveness, cognitive qualifications

2025-04-24T18:57:09+03:00November 29, 2020|English Language Center, SDG 17, SDG 4|
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Alba and UOB Sign A Memorandum Of Understanding To Enhance Scientific And Research Cooperation

Alba and UOB Sign A Memorandum Of Understanding To Enhance Scientific And Research Cooperation

 

25 November 2020

 

The largest aluminum smelter in the world apart from China, Aluminum Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Bahrain (UOB) on Monday, 14the of September 2020 for the establishment of a cooperation program between the two parties in several research and academic programs, as the agreement was signed by the President of UOB, Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, and the CEO of Alba, Mr. Ali Albaqali, at the Company's headquarters.

During the memorandum signing ceremony, the two parties discussed the latest developments in the joint research project between Alba and UOB, which shall contribute to enhancing the Company's efforts to adopt renewable solar energy, thus ensuring a sustainable future for future generations. This initiative comes in line with the goals of the National Plan for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency as well as Alba's strategic direction to move towards green aluminum.

On this occasion, Prof. Riyad Hamzah said, “We are so happy to sign a memorandum of understanding with Alba, which is one of the largest industrial companies in the world in the field of aluminum smelting and production, and we would like to emphasize that this agreement shall pave the way for greater cooperation, especially in the fields of scientific research, training, and improvement of academic programs.".

Furthermore, the University President extended his thanks and gratitude to Alba for its continuous support to the University, its reception of students for practical training programs in various engineering and administrative disciplines, and the participation of its engineers in many joint committees for the industrial and engineering programs at the University.

For his part, Alba CEO, Mr. Ali Albaqali stated that “This memorandum of understanding comes as an extension of many joint cooperation initiatives between the Company and the University in various fields over the years. As this national partnership will enhance our joint efforts to invest in the human element through qualification And the development of national cadres, which will contribute to advancing the goals of the Kingdom of Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.”

It’s hoped that the memorandum will contribute to conducting various research projects, and to involve graduate students in conducting research and studies of interest to Alba, in addition to developing academic programs that support the industrial sector in Bahrain. Also, the memorandum provides for support for internships for both students and faculty members, in addition to the exchange of information and joint scientific and technical publications.

 

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality education

7 Affordable and clean energy

8 Decent work and economic growth

9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure

13 Climate Action

17 Partnerships for The Goals

 

Key Words

World's Largest Aluminum Smelter, Memorandum of Understanding, Solar Energy, National Renewable Energy Plan, Green Aluminum, Academic Programs Development, Internship Programs

2025-04-24T18:57:10+03:00November 25, 2020|SDG 17, SDG 4|
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The Exam Monitoring Program Saves Students’ Time and Effort

UOB: The Exam Monitoring Program Saves Students’ Time and Effort

 

25 November 2020

The University of Bahrain (UOB) confirmed that using the "LockDown" browser to monitor the exams is in the interest of students, as it saves students’ time and effort if any defect in the device or an interruption in the Internet service occurs, as the time is calculated after fixing the defect or reconnecting to the internet.

During a direct meeting with the students, the Director of the E-Learning Center at UOB, Dr. Fay Abdulla Al Khalifa, and a number of university officials reviewed the features of the browser, how to use it, terms of use, and she answered students' questions and inquiries through visual communication technology.

The meeting that was attended by more than three thousand students and a number of professors and officials at the University, during which the Director of the E-Learning Center explained that most of the problems that some students faced were because of their lack of knowledge of how the program works, and that can be easily fixed by looking at the instructions on the E-Learning Center page or through the instructions provided by the Respondus exams monitoring platform, which is the owner of the LockDown browser.

Also, Dr. Fay Al Khalifa indicated that many students did not face any problems in using the browser, calling on students who complained about obstacles to see the instruction manuals, and to contact the student service center at the University or to message the technical team of the company providing the system about their problem through live chat or by opening a technical support card.

Furthermore, she stated that the Respondus is one of the globally trusted and tested platforms, noting that the LockDown browser has been used for more than 120 million examinations annually by about 1500 institutions, a number that is increasing annually.

And she continued "Before using the Lockdown Browser to monitor the exams, we studied the available options, and found that LockDown enhances safety and reliability during exams," noting that "the Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries encouraged its use, and several universities in the region approved it, including King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and University of Kuwait, in addition to its adoption in all universities in the United Arab Emirates by a decision from the UAE Ministry of Education.

For her part, the Dean of Student Affairs at UOB, Dr. Fatima Moahmmed Al-Maliki, explained that the University administration is keen to create a reliable educational system, especially in light of the exceptional circumstances imposed by the Corona virus pandemic.

Also, Dr. Al-Maliki stated that the Deanship of Student Affairs seeks to help students who face difficulties, giving a number of examples in which, the Deanship was able to facilitate for students the obstacles they faced in all respects, and that the Deanship will continue to do so in its work so that the experience of studying at UOB is always smooth and exciting.

On her part, Director of the Quality Assurance and Academic Accreditation Center at the University, Dr. Luisla Paolo Federico, stressed the importance of relying on sound practices in conducting exams, through an internationally accredited monitoring program to achieve the reliability and quality sought by academic accreditation institutions in the world, noting that the browser increases the levels of safety and honesty in the electronic examination environment.

The meeting witnessed a positive interaction with more than 900 questions and remarks, in which the Director of the E-Learning Center denied that the program had a negative impact on the anti-viruses, and she denied what is said about the browser disconnecting the student of the pairing mode if they lower their heads when answering the questions, noting that the exams have different requirements, as some of which require writing mathematical equations, doing engineering drawings or others, and some are written, so the courses’ instructors decide on that.

Furthermore, Dr. Fay Al Khalifa said that the University allows downloading the browser for its students for free, and it encourages students to download their study materials via the cloud, to have enough space on the device generally and to work more efficiently.

While on the damage that got to some devices when downloading the program, she confirmed that some students were under the illusion that their devices had been damaged, but as soon as they followed the instructions they found that the solutions were very simple, indicating that if the devices were actually damaged, then it is necessary to contact the student service center to document these cases and take the necessary measures to compensate these students through the Deanship of Student Affairs.

 

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality education

17 Partnerships for the goals

 

Key Words

Respondus, LockDown, E-Learning Center at the University of Bahrain, Quality Assurance and Academic Accreditation Center,

2025-04-24T18:47:47+03:00November 25, 2020|e-learning center, SDG 17, SDG 4|
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With the Participation of Experts in Local and International Law and Justice

With the Participation of Experts in Local and International Law and Justice

UOB Studies the Impact of the Corona Pandemic on Judicial Procedures

 Through the virtual communication platform (Microsoft Teams), participants in the opening session of the International Forum “Legal, Objective and Procedural Dimensions of the Corona Pandemic (Covid-19)” stressed the importance of coming up with insights and procedural notions for the problems and challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic on the world, especially from the legal side, in view of this matter’s importance in all sectors. In the first day's sessions, the participants discussed the most important measures and problems created by the Corona pandemic, and the impact of the Corona pandemic on judicial procedures.

The President of the University of Bahrain (UOB), Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, opened the international forum with a speech in which he emphasized the importance of the results of the Forum in solving the problems produced by the global pandemic, and said: “We hope that the Forum will present real-time visions for confrontation, and others for precaution. As it wouldn’t be strange for everyone to wait for the insights emerging from this scientific forum with their modernity and depth of presentation that shall make us certain that its outputs will be a key to resolving the legal problems that this pandemic has created, as it was difficult to use traditional jurisprudence mechanisms to avoid them, highlighting the strangeness of the event with the modernity of opinion.”

On the first day of the Forum, UOB hosted the President of the Court of Cassation and Vice President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Counselor Abdullah bin Hassan Al-Buainain, who talked about the procedures and efforts made by the Kingdom of Bahrain to carry out the work of the courts and achieve prompt justice in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In this context, he stated that “The judicial sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain has not stopped or been disrupted in light of the implications of the Corona pandemic, stressing that the Supreme Judicial Council, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, developed a precautionary plan based on the balance between continuing the interests of litigants and preserving their rights in the courts without stopping prompt justice and achieving it on the one hand, and protecting the health and safety of judges, employees and clients of lawyers, auditors and others, and ensuring the prevention of infection on the other hand.

Stressing that " all courts issued more than 28 thousand judgments from February to July 2020."

Also, UOB hosted the consultant for infectious diseases at the Defence Force Hospital and member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Lt.Col. Manaf Al-Qahtani, who addressed the protection of the right to health.

As Dr. Al-Qahtani spoke from the operation room of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) at the Crown Prince Training and Medical Research Center at the Defence Force Hospital, stating that “Since the first days of the pandemic, His Majesty the King has issued directives to the Bahrain National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, to provide treatment and examinations for each human being on the land of the Kingdom of Bahrain for free."

Moreover, Manaf Al-Qahtani explained that the importance of such directives is in protecting human rights on the land of the Kingdom of Bahrain, regardless of races, religions, ethnicities, and affiliations, and stressed that from a medical point of view, this procedure is the most appropriate one to limit the spread of the epidemic, pointing out that some countries didn’t follow this standard, and the epidemic widely and quickly spread in them.

Furthermore, Al-Qahtani added that “Also, His Majesty's directives importance is in non-discrimination and having respect for human rights, recalling the Kingdom of Bahrain’s move to embrace foreign workers in light of the pandemic, which was widely welcomed and praised by the World Health Organization, human rights organizations and several countries, despite calls for their deportation from the country".

Also, Al-Qahtani indicated that the Kingdom of Bahrain team did not neglect the research aspect in light of the pandemic, "As we have published more than 23 medical papers and made sure to share the big data on the number of injured, deaths and tests with the world," adding that "We have conducted three clinical studies, including a clinical research on the effects and effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine on the people of Bahrain, which is a research that is being conducted for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”. And he explained that the aim of conducting such research is to know the effect of this vaccine on the citizens and residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain in order to have feedback about the usefulness of the vaccine, stating that "The research included the experiences of 7755 citizens and residents, who were followed up on a daily basis, and this experiment showed the importance of the vaccine and its benefit."

Also, Al-Qahtani confirmed that "The Kingdom of Bahrain fought for human rights through preserving freedom of movement and having safety, as the local community was calling for the implementation of curfew, and we were betting that it would not be a strategic solution, as such measure would have psychological and social consequences." And he continued saying "I have never given this information to the press and the media, given its sensitivity, and I deemed it necessary to disclose it in this international forum."

For his part, Acting Dean of the College of Law at UOB, Dr. Salah Mohammed Diab, said, in the context of his discussion of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, “The legal sector has been affected by the pandemic, and this was clearly shown by the system of rights and freedoms and the arrangement of priorities in it, and on long-stable legal concepts such as the concept of the pacta sunt servanda and the legal security it provided for its parties, and the implementation of their obligations in the face of the changes that occurred, but this concept in light of the Corona pandemic faced fierce winds and storms that shook its foundations.”

Furthermore, Dr. Diab stressed that "The idea of ??justice and the necessity of achieving economic balance has become more worthy of care and attention, as the terms urgent conditions and force majeure are frequently referred to in the legal horizons, both of which are based on the idea of ??justice and economic balance at the expense of contractual stability, and this had its legal effects on work contracts, sales, services, and others. "

In the first session, Professor of Public Law at the College of Law at UOB, Dr. Mohammed Abdul Naeem, spoke about " Legal Problems of Precautionary Administrative Measures Regarding the Corona Pandemic.". While both Dr. Ali Saud Al-Dhafiri and Dr. Saad Al-Anzi from Kuwait International Law School (KILAW) in the State of Kuwait discussed "Monitoring and Tracking Techniques Used in Fighting the Corona Virus and Their Impact on Human Rights."

Also, Assistant Professor of Public Finance at the Kingdom University, Dr. Nadia Ismail Al-Jabali, reviewed "The Implications of The Corona Pandemic on The General Budget of The Kingdom of Bahrain and Ways to Confront It.". While the Professor of Criminal Law at KILAW, Dr. Muath Suleiman Al-Mulla, and Assistant Professor of International Law, at Al-Ain University in the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Jamal Abdulqader Barafi, spoke on "Health Emergency Measures to Limit the Spread of The New Corona Epidemic on the Scale of Protection and Punishment: A Comparative Analytical Study in the French And Kuwaiti Legislation."

During the session, the President of the Superior Commercial Court in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. Riyadh Siyadi, spoke about: “Bahraini Judicial Applications on Trade Contracts in Light of the Corona Pandemic.”. Also, the Acting Head of the College and Head of the Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons Office in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Chief Prosecutor Dr. Ali Abbas Al-Shuwaikh, reviewed "Remote Interrogation of Defendants.", while Assistant Professor of Law at the College of Law at UOB Dr. Mohammed Waleed Al-Masri discussed "The Impact of The Corona Pandemic on the Digital Transformation of Sharia Courts."

Sustainable Development Goals:

3 Good health and Well-Being

4 Quality Education

8 Decent work and economic growth

16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

17 Partnerships for The Goals

Key Words:

The Implications of The Corona Pandemic on The General Budget of The Kingdom of Bahrain, the Impact of the Corona Pandemic on the Digital Transformation of Courts, the Impact of the Corona Pandemic on Civil and Commercial Litigation Procedures,

2025-04-24T18:52:35+03:00November 25, 2020|SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4, Uncategorized|
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In Cooperation with Local Partners and MIT University

In Cooperation with Local Partners and MIT University

UOB Prepares for a Global Research Project on Sustainable Building

 

22 November 2020

The President of the University of Bahrain (UOB), Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, confirmed that the University is looking forward to conducting joint scientific research and promoting research production, in order to reach applied scientific solutions to society challenges and problems.

In a speech during a seminar on research participation in smart urbanization projects on Wednesday (18 November 2020), Prof. Hamzah stated that the University focuses on the importance of partnering with prestigious scientific institutions to benefit from their expertise and emphasize research capacities of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The seminar discussed a set of projects proposed by the institutions participating in the event, in preparation for choosing one research topic to be submitted to the global support providers for the research in which UOB, the institutions that proposed the selected research project, and the American University of MIT are participating.

The authorities that participated in the seminar included the Supreme Council for the Environment, the Survey and Land Registration Authority, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), Bahrain Institute for Banking and Finance (BIBF), Urban Planning and Development Authority, and the Information and eGovernment Authority.

Moreover, the coordinator of the seminar and Director of the E-Learning Center at UOB, Dr. Fay Abdullah Al Khalifa, praised the ideas and proposals of the participating parties on sustainable urbanization and methods to reach the best smart solutions.

Also, she stated that "The participants provided an outstanding set of important ideas and urgent issues that contribute to raising the sustainability system in the built environment in three axes, which are: smart transportation systems, education, and smart and sustainable urbanization strategies."

Furthermore, Dr. Fay Al Khalifa stated that companies and government organizations submitted nine proposals, which were diverse in their presentation, starting from methods of using green roofs, air quality, smart and electrical transportation, to the importance of focusing on education and people, and that is to clarify and deepen the concept of urban sustainability in the different stages of education, and to include standards for practicing sustainable professions as one of the pillars of the success of Bahrain Vision 2030, indicating that the proposed ideas are not concerned with the next five years only, as they will contribute to changing Bahrain's future for decades to come.

For her part, member of the faculty at the College of Engineering at the University, Dr. Nihal Ali Al-Murbati, referred to the role that the Smart Sustainable Urbanization Research Lab at UOB is expected to play in supporting the foundations of scientific research and accelerating urban progress, pointing out that it can be used to support proposed strategies in the areas of smart and sustainable building.

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality education

8 Decent work and economic growth

9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

11 Sustainable cities and communities

13 Climate Action

17 Partnerships for the goals

Key Words

Promoting Research Production, MIT University, Smart Solutions, Green Roofs, Air Quality, Smart and Electrical Transportation, University of Bahrain Smart and Sustainable Urbanization Research Lab, Smart Transportation Systems

2025-04-24T18:47:50+03:00November 21, 2020|e-learning center, SDG 17, SDG 4|
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UOB Organizes the Second Edition of the Second International Conference on Resilience and Sustainability

UOB Organizes the Second Edition of the Second International Conference on Resilience and Sustainability

Prof. Hamza Calls for Promoting Innovative and Sustainable Solutions to Confront the Pandemic

 The President of the University of Bahrain (UOB), Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, called on universities, research centers and higher education institutions to contribute to limiting the damage of the Covid-19 pandemic by promoting innovative solutions and actively searching for possible creative solutions to comply with local and global visions of sustainability and resilience.

This came during the opening session of the Second International Conference on Resilience and Sustainability organized by UOB with the strategic support of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.

Prof. Hamzah stated that "Global visions are increasingly focusing on the challenge of the cities sustainability, and this is what the Forum is discussing, especially in light of the pandemic’s impacts on the economic, social and health dimensions."

Furthermore, he continued, "People around the world are concerned about their lifestyles and livelihoods in urban areas, where businesses are exposed to risks, therefore, governments are increasing their spending capacity and acting flexibly to accommodate sudden changes in their priorities."

Moreover, the President of UOB stressed the importance of dealing with sustainability issues in research projects, so that science and research are integrated with planning policies and design applications.

The Conference was held under the title "Technology Empowerment and Innovation in Structural Plans”, aiming to build resilience and collaboration across disciplines and advanced research to achieve biodiversity, urban environmental networks, and multifunctional connectivity.

For his part, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Dr. Mohammed Redha Qadir, stated in a speech during the opening session “We are pleased to meet today to discuss, cooperate, negotiate ideas and envision civil solutions and innovative conclusions that may constitute a positive change in our built environment and ensure its sustainability.”

Also, Dr. Qadir indicated that the Conference is the third in a series of international conferences run by the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at UOB during the year 2020, and that since its inception, the Deanship has developed a comprehensive strategy to enhance graduate studies programs and support scientific research to reflect UOB’s fundamental role as the national university in the Kingdom.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the Deanship strives to provide the best research opportunities for postgraduate students at the University, so that they can in their turn provide better services to society.

It’s worth mentioning that the Conference covered 77 papers discussing many aspects of sustainability in the built environment, highlighting various innovative solutions in building information, modeling, energy consumption, business systems, finance, management, engineering, building design, information technology, and solutions that can contribute to achieving economic growth and sustainable development goals.

Also, the Conference was held over 17 technical sessions covering a wide range of modern topics to develop recent initiatives to achieve Bahrain's 2030 vision and global sustainability goals.

 

Sustainable Development Goals

3 Good health and Well-Being

4 Quality Education

8 Decent work and economic growth

9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

13 Climate Action

17 Partnerships for the goals

 

Key Words

Reducing the damage of the Covid-19 pandemic, local and global visions of sustainability and resilience, the sustainability challenge for cities, living in urban areas, innovative solutions in building information, modeling, energy consumption, business systems, finance, management, engineering, building design, information technology, achieving economic growth goals, sustainable development

2025-04-24T18:47:52+03:00November 20, 2020|SDG 17, SDG 4|
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The Importance of Professional Certificates for University Students to Prepare them for the Labor Market

Consensus on the Importance of Employability Skills and including them in courses...

Prof. Hamzah:

The Importance of Professional Certificates for University Students to Prepare them for the Labor Market

Refining Students' Skills and Enabling them to Adapt to Independent Learning Methods

The President of the University of Bahrain (UOB), Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, stressed the importance of professional certificates offered by the University to students to prepare them for the labor market and increase their employment opportunities, referring to the programs that shall refine students' skills and encourage entrepreneurship, as it is one of the most important tributaries of business now and in the future.

This came during the opening session of the International Conference on Foundation Programs organized by the English Language Center at the UOB through visual communication technology on Tuesday (10 November 2020) and for a period of three days.  

The opening session was moderated by Mr. Cameron Mirza and was attended by the President of UOB, along with: Managing Director and CEO of Kuwait Finance House Abdul Hakeem Al-Khayyat, Director of Education and Training Development at the Economic Development Board Jeff Hancock, Director of Business Development and the Middle East Program for Educational Services Simon Peters, Director of Human Resources at Zain Bahrain Dana Bukhamas, and Head of Corporate Communications at National Bank of Bahrain Hisham Abu Alfateh.

The conference discussed 42 research papers and reviewed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the higher education and employment sector and the promotion of higher education goals within the 2030 Economic Vision.

The conference was held for the third time with the title of: “Expanding the Scope of Learning in Higher Education Outside Class: Integrating Life and Employability Skills” and was sponsored by the President of UOB, Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah.

Prof. Riyad Hamzah discussed the recent scientific and specialized trends, graduate and undergraduate programs related to artificial intelligence, big data, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, cloud computing, network security, and more. Also, he pointed out that UOB is in the final stage of moving its entire infrastructure and applications into Amazon’s cloud, which will help in accelerating the digital transformation process.

Furthermore, the President of the University praised the conference and its topics that support sustainable development goals of the United Nations Development Program in terms of quality of education, with a focus on providing technical and professional skills for employment and entrepreneurship, noting the importance of "working to refine students' skills and enabling them to adapt to independent learning methods to ensure their career success in the future. "

The International Conference on Foundation Programs is organized by the University's English Language Center and it examines the most vital issues affecting the future of higher education in the period from 10 to 12 of this November.

The conference was held for the third time with the title of: “Expanding the Scope of Learning in Higher Education Outside Class: Integrating Life and Employability Skills” (ILES) and was sponsored by the President of UOB, Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah.

The participants in the opening session unanimously agreed on the centrality of job skills and the need to include them in academic programs, noting, in this context, the need to strengthen teaching methods in crises in line with the sustainable development goals.

Also, they stressed the need to adapt legislation and review it to create inventive methods of higher education, and to launch initiatives to support university students, develop their skills, and teach them modern technology, which is now running many processes in various sectors.

Moreover, Dr. Ghada Ahmed Jassim, Director of the English Language Center at UOB stated: “Due to the distinguished response from participants in submitting research papers and presentations to this innovative electronic conference, it has been decided to extend the session from two days to three days, as one of the highlights of the conference will be its launch with four main speakers, in addition to the opening session accompanied by an interactive panel debate."

Also, she pointed out that "the electronic conference aims to review the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the higher education and employment sector, and to promote higher education goals within Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030," noting that the event "supports the sustainable development goals of the United Nations Development Program (Goal 4) on quality education, with a focus on providing technical and professional skills for employment and entrepreneurship, and contributing to refine students' skills and enabling them to adapt to independent learning methods to ensure their career success in the future, as the conference seeks to strengthen teaching methods in crises in line with the sustainable development goals.

Furthermore, the CEO Kuwait Finance House Abdul Hakeem Al-Khayyat recommended enhancing communication to bridge the gap between higher education and the labor market, noting the importance of developing a strategy to integrate organizational behavior and leadership skills in academic programs to enhance future job opportunities in line with Bahrain's 2030 Vision.

For her part, Dana Bukhamas emphasized the importance and necessity of investing in building the capabilities and energies of the youth, along with developing academic programs.

The Director of Language Research and Education at Cambridge University Press, Ben Knight, was the first speaker and he gave a presentation entitled “How can English language programs improve students’ employment skills?” followed by five scholarly papers on the originality of texts in the English learning classes and linking it to employability skills.

Also, Dr. Paul Robertson and Dr. Ramon Medriano gave a speech on behalf of the Asian EFL Journal Editorial, which will publish the research papers presented at the Conference. The conference concluded on its first day with a speech by Dr. Keith Fulse, who is an English Language Professor for non-English speakers at the University of Central Florida.

2025-04-24T18:47:58+03:00November 11, 2020|English Language Center, SDG 17, SDG 4|
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In Cooperation With UNDP

In Cooperation With UNDP

UOB Examines the Effects of the Pandemic on the Future of Education

 

02/11/2020

In cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the University of Bahrain (UOB) organized a symposium entitled "The Impact of Covid-19 on the Future of Education", as part of a development program provided by the United Nations to assist Arab countries in their efforts to enhance the prospects for inclusive growth, job opportunities and livelihoods at both national and local levels, by providing local and international information, studies and skills, building on them and making use of them to consolidate sustainable development values.

The Senior Education Adviser at the UNICEF Gulf Area Office Kimberly Parekh discussed the implications of the education process and its sustainability in light of the pandemic through virtual broadcast, and presented practical experiences in education during the pandemic, the most important educational tools, teacher training, and professional development for teachers around the world, focusing primarily on in-service teacher training, higher education operations, and technical assistance to organizations such as UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Global Partnership for Education.

On his part, the Education Program Specialist at the UNESCO Gulf and Yemen Office, Danilo Padilla, spoke about the experiences of other countries in the sustainability of education through communication platforms, and explained how students are evaluated at different universities during the pandemic, stating that "We aim to assist Arab countries in their efforts to enhance the prospects for inclusive growth, job opportunities and livelihoods at the national and local levels, through economic recovery and building resilience to crises during crisis and post-crisis, with a focus on empowering women and youth, who are the most vulnerable in the Arab region.”

It’s worth mentioning that UOB had signed a joint cooperation agreement with UNDP last year (2019), and the cooperation aims to achieve and promote sustainable development goals and include these goals in most scientific events such as conferences and seminars held by UOB, in addition to student projects and activities organized by the University, in line with government initiatives and directions.

 

Sustainable Development Goals:

4 Quality education.

17 Partnerships for the goals

 

Key Words:

The effects of the pandemic on the future of education, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the development of educational methods, University of Bahrain, virtual learning in Bahrain, the sustainability of education in light of the pandemic

2025-04-24T18:47:59+03:00November 2, 2020|SDG 17, SDG 4|
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Breast Cancer Awareness

UOB Joins the World in Raising Breast Cancer Awareness

through a Virtual Lecture

 

The University of Bahrain (UOB) participated in the campaign led by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of the dangers of breast cancer, in the month of (Pink October), and in this context, the Department of Media and University Relations organized a lecture entitled: “Breast tumors ... prevention ... and early detection” on Monday (12 October 2020) which aims to educate the affiliates of UOB about the causes and factors of breast cancer and methods of prevention, through a virtual communication platform.

Family medicine consultant at Al Salam Specialist Hospital, Dr. Ghufran Ahmed Jassim, spoke on the causes and factors of breast cancer. In this context, she said that "The most important factors are genetics, hormones, and weight."

Also, Dr. Jassim explained the main symptoms that require immediate examination to medically diagnose the disease, in addition to the monthly self-examination method, and the mechanism used in this examination, as well as the importance of conducting self-examination starting from the age of twenty and mammogram examinations for those in their forties, periodically every two years. Furthermore, Dr. Jassim explained breast cancer treatments depending on its size, stage, age of the patient, and her general health condition.  

Dr. Jassim urged viewers on the importance of learning positive lifestyles in order to combat and overcome the disease.

This lecture comes within the activities of the World Health Organization on the Breast Cancer Awareness Month corresponding to the first of October of every year worldwide, which is a month that helps in increasing interest in this disease and providing the necessary support to raise awareness of its seriousness and early detection and treatment, as well as providing patients with palliative care.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancers among women in the developed and developing countries alike, and rates of this type of cancer have been rising steadily in recent years, especially in low- and middle-income countries, due to the increase in life expectancy, higher urbanization and adoption of unhealthy lifestyles.

 

Sustainable Development Goals

3 Good health and well-being

4 Quality education

17 Partnerships for the goals

 

Key Words

Breast cancer, pink October, early detection, mammogram, Department of Media and University Relations, University of Bahrain

2025-04-24T18:48:01+03:00October 22, 2020|Media & University Relations, SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4|
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Coronavirus Under the Scope

Participants in the "Coronavirus Under the Scope" Symposium at UOB:

We are Still in Desperate Need for Continued Safety and Health Precautions

 

Participants in the " Coronavirus Under the Scope" symposium stressed the importance of preserving the safety and health of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain, praising the community's awareness and solidarity in adhering to the precautionary measures and the achievements and progress made in addressing the pandemic since last January 2020.

The symposium was organized by the Deanship of Student Affairs at the University of Bahrain (UOB) on a virtual communication platform on Thursday (16 October 2020) under the sponsorship of the University President Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah and in his presence, during which speakers called for the importance of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain to feel a sense of responsibility towards the efforts made by the National Taskforce, the medical staff and volunteers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the opening of the symposium, the President of the University praised the performance of the National Taskforce and health staff in confronting and combating the Corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic and expressed his pride in what the Kingdom of Bahrain has achieved in dealing with the pandemic, as well as the joint cooperation between all the people of the country. Also, he praised the efforts of front-line medical staff in combating this pandemic, expressing his gratitude and appreciation to the National Taskforce led by the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19), His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

As the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Maryam Ebrahim Al-Hajiri, first spoke about " Health Status and the Role of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus” and pointed to the amount of progress the national taskforce and medical teams have achieved since its formation. Moreover, Dr. Al-Hajiri explained that the National Taskforce started with 300 examinations per day, “then we reached ten thousand examinations per day,” confirming that the total number of examinations amounted to more than one and a half million examinations during the first half of October, and that the number of those infected is 76 thousand, while the number of people who recovered is 72 thousand.

Also, Dr. Al-Hajiri indicated that the number of people infected is declining, thanks to God and to the efforts of the National Taskforce and medical teams that are doing their best to address the Corona pandemic (Covid-19), in addition to the community’s cooperation and awareness.

Dr. Al-Hajiri reviewed the tasks accomplished by the National Taskforce, noting that since its formation in January of the current year 2020, the National Taskforce has worked to develop proactive plans, take precautionary measures that are in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and many preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus, and apply the most precise standards for tracking the impact of contacts through surveillance and investigation, increasing the capacity of hospitals, quarantine center, and treatment center, working to increase laboratory examinations, increasing intensive care equipment in all sites at the highest level, developing a complete plan to employ, qualify and train the necessary manpower, manage cases, and improve treatment capacity, which was reflected in the rate of recovery going up to 95% of the total infected.

Furthermore, Dr. Al-Hajiri stated that "The Kingdom of Bahrain is the first in the Arab world to carry out clinical vaccine trials, as the sincere efforts led by the Crown Prince His Highness the Prince led to preserving the safety and health of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the National Taskforce employed all human, material and health cadres and volunteers to work around the clock and on the front lines to confront the pandemic. "

Also, Dr. Al-Hajiri stated that "All the cadres working to confront the pandemic have proven their competence and ability in dealing with these conditions," calling on everyone to appreciate what is being provided by the leadership and government to maintain health security on this good land and continuing to say that " we need to continue with willpower, determination and responsibility to preserve the health and safety of our people."

Dr. Al-Salman: The world is facing a circumstance it has not witnessed in 100 years.

Consultant for infectious diseases and internal diseases at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, Jameela Salman, spoke about “The Current Situation of The Corona virus (Covid-19) Internationally,” and said in this context “The whole world is facing a pandemic that it has not witnessed in 100 years and at this level of the impact on health, society, economy and education levels," stressing that "the pandemic has highly impacted several fields. "

On the incubation period of the virus for the infected person, Dr. Al-Salman explained that "The incubation period for the emerging virus ranges from one to ten days, and during these ten days, symptoms may and may not appear on the infected person." Further explaining that "the transmission of infection has stronger symptoms on the infected than the transmitter of the infection who had no symptoms, and both of them can infect others during the period of infection. "

Furthermore, Dr. Salman listed human organs in that can be affected by the virus, explaining that the virus starts in the upper respiratory system, as severe pain spreads throughout the body, and symptoms appear on the digestive system, such as vomiting or diarrhea. Also, Dr. Salman said that "One of the distinguishing effects of this virus is a temporary loss of the sense of smell and taste." pointing out that there are other long-term symptoms and effects such as heart attacks, strokes, and forgetfulness, as she said that "This virus affects all parts of the body."

Also, she indicated that people with chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and immunodeficiency, and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups to infection with the Covid-19 virus.

Dr. Jawad: Bahrain is a pioneer in testing vaccines.

On her part, the Public Health Consultant and Head of the Immunization Group at the Public Health Department, Dr. Jaleela Al-Sayed Jawad, spoke about "The Experience of The Kingdom of Bahrain in Taking Covid-19 Vaccines." where Al-Sayed stated that “Bahrain has been a pioneer in testing vaccines in the past years.” explaining that the most important vaccine at the present time for Covid-19 is the application of precautions and preventive measures, until a vaccine that can completely eliminate this virus is produced.

On the experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain in taking the vaccine, Dr. Al-Sayed said that "The Kingdom of Bahrain participated in the third phase of vaccine trials, after the tested vaccine passed a number of trials in the first and second stages, and the tests confirmed the safety and health of those who were subjected to the experiments earlier."

Furthermore, she stated that "The vaccine used in clinical trials in Bahrain is a vaccine manufactured by China, and it is considered one of the disinfectant vaccines, and it has no ability to transmit the infection, and this vaccine is given in two doses. Adding that it has proven safe after trying the first dose, and no complications were seen in volunteers so far. "

Also, Dr. Al-Sayed confirmed that there are several countries working to produce a vaccine in order to eliminate this virus, and there is still no vaccine that has proven its ability to completely eliminate it.

For her part, the Dean of Student Affairs at UOB, Dr. Fatima Mohammed Al-Maliki, thanked the Ministry of Health for its continuous cooperation and efforts to raise community awareness, and that its keenness to participate in the symposium reflects the vision of workers in the health sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus and the medical team and all the front-line workers who make great sacrifices to protect our dear Kingdom from this pandemic.

Sustainable Development Goals:

3 Good health and well-being.

Key Words:

The National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Covid-19, University of Bahrain, Ministry of Health, corona symptoms, effects of the pandemic, corona symposium, Kingdom of Bahrain, Chinese vaccine, clinical trials.

2025-04-24T18:48:03+03:00October 16, 2020|Deanship of Students Affairs, SDG 17, SDG 4|
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Last updated on Apr, 24 2025

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