Sustainable Development Goals News
After its Application on its Students
After its Application on its Students
UOB Holds its Meetings Remotely
22 March 2020
The head of the Information Networks Division at the University of Bahrain (UOB), Suhaib Mohammed Al-Abdi, stated that “The University has recently adopted a mechanism for holding distance meetings and learning by using one of the Microsoft Office 365 applications, as one of the precautionary measures taken to prevent gatherings and mixing at the University to combat Corona virus (Covid-19).".
Al-Abdi explained that the applications used in learning or working remotely allow using the camera and microphone, as well as the exchange of live conversations, and sharing files and work in real time, not to mention the ability to teach on the electronic whiteboard. Indicating that training workshops will be held for the academic staff by a Microsoft representative on methods of using distance learning technology.
Moreover, he emphasized that this technology has several advantages, including that it has an open capacity, it is loaded on cloud computing, allows anyone to participate in it from any part of the world, and it always allows a real-time interaction.
On her part, Secretary of the Facilities Office at UOB, Zahra Issa Ali, confirmed the success, effectiveness and flexibility of the teleconferencing experience, stating that "We recently held a remote meeting for the Risk Management Committee, and the experience was successful by all standards, and we hope to continue this approach in the future because of its advantages."
She further added that "The remote meeting is more effective than face-to-face meetings, as it pushed those meeting to focus more, as there are no side discussions or interruptions. The microphone is opened to the speaker and closed for the rest of those meeting if someone speaks," noting that in line with directives to work remotely, holding remote meetings will increase in the next period, as only 50% of employees work on campus, while the rest are working from home.
Also, she indicated that holding meetings remotely contributed to easily setting the meeting date, especially since the people meeting are distributed in the campuses of the University in Sakhir and Isa Town, pointing out that the process of arranging the dates of the meetings often has conflicts, but with the remote meeting mechanism everyone can participate smoothly in the meeting, and it led to more interaction. Confirming the great benefit of the remote meeting mechanism, as meetings are recorded and documented in audio and video.
Sustainable Development Goals
4 Quality education
9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Key Words
Remote meetings, distance education, cloud computing, risk management committee, electronic whiteboard
