SDG 17

UOB Introduces Faculty Members to the Latest Question Formulation Techniques

5 February 2020

The Unit for Teaching Excellence and Leadership (UTEL) at the University of Bahrain (UOB) started a week of intensive workshops for faculty members at the E-Learning Center on the University's campus in Sakhir, where a number of academics from various colleges of the University participate in the Unit's workshops within the program of the Certificate of Academic Practice, which is under the umbrella of international partnership with the Academy of Higher Education in the United Kingdom, which are the Post Graduate Certificate for Academic Practice Program (PCAP), the Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD), the Flipped Learning program, and the Team Education Program, in addition to a workshop to learn about the latest developments in teaching in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr. Hayat Abdullah Yousif, stated that “Participants in PCAP will be able to design and select the best student activities that are most appropriate with the requirements of the curricula and their outputs, in addition to learning about students’ evaluation methods, exams planning methods, and questions formulation technique consistent with the level of students and the nature of the courses.”

Furthermore, she indicated that the annual intensive workshop provides faculty members with practical and applied examples of the basic principles that would lead to achieving the objectives of the workshop, and which ultimately aim to raise the quality of education in the University.

It is worth noting that PCAP, which is offered by UTEL at UOB, is part of the University’s initiatives for faculty development since 2006, as well as the implementation of the University’s strategic plan.

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality education

17 Partnerships to achieve the goals

Key words

University of Bahrain Unit for Teaching Excellence and Leadership, Certificate of Academic Practice, Higher Education Academy in the United Kingdom, Post Graduate Certificate for Academic Practice Program (PCAP), Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD), Flipped Learning Program, Team Education

In line with the initiatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain to support innovation as a source of sustainable development, the President of the University of Bahrain (UOB) Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah signed a joint cooperation program with Mr. Stefano Pettinato, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which will provide support for the sustainable development goals.

Under this joint cooperation, UNDP shall provide technical support to develop the University's capabilities, by providing local and international information, studies and skills, and trying to build upon them and benefit from them in establishing sustainable development values ??and achieving their goals.

On this occasion, Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah affirmed that the joint cooperation maintained by UOB with UNDP is one of the essential steps towards integrating sustainable development into university education, and he stated: “UOB attaches great importance to achieving and promoting the sustainable development goals, and the University shall continue to include these goals in most of its scientific activities such as the conferences and seminars it holds, in addition to the student projects and activities organized by the University, in conformity of the National University with government initiatives and directions.

For his part, Mr. Stefano Pettinato said: “UNDP is pleased to sign the project document for the sustainable development goals with our partner UOB and in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And through this cooperation, we hope to consolidate and strengthen the principles of sustainable development among university students, and to mainstream these principles among staff and faculty.”.

Pettinato further stated: "Through this cooperation, which will be based on the principles of innovation, knowledge sharing and capacity development, the vision set by the University leadership shall be further implemented, with the aim of achieving three general objectives: First, to mainstream the principles of sustainable development among students, faculty members and employees of UOB, secondly, establishing a unit dedicated to the sustainable development goals; and thirdly, encouraging the role of UOB as a stimulus for the advancement of sustainable development inside and outside of Bahrain.

“The World Human Development Report issued by UNDP for the year 2019, which was published recently, assumes that higher education institutions play a major role in achieving equality and overcoming differences, driven significantly by digital transformation and climate change, and providing opportunities for a better and more sustainable future for societies. In realizing how schools, universities and the education sector play a major role in contributing to the achievement of the sustainable development goals, we shall bring those principles to Bahrain and we trust that this project will help UOB cover this role while the student body, faculty and staff will learn, share ideas, and innovate in an inclusive environment".

Furthermore, Pettinato added: "I am confident that this cooperation between the UNDP and UOB, which relies on ongoing initiatives between our institutions, will ultimately support UOB as a supporter of sustainable development for everyone within the Kingdom of Bahrain".

The meeting was attended by the joint working team of UOB, UNDP, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UOB Participates in A GCC Accreditation Center Workshop for Laboratories International Standards

11 November 2019

The Renewable Energy Laboratory Technician at the University of Bahrain (UOB), Warda Eqab, participated in a workshop entitled: “International requirements for accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories, uncertainty calculations and internal audits according to the International Standard 17025:2017 ISO/IEC, organized by the GCC Accreditation Center.

According to Eqab, the aforementioned international standard specifications are the specifications used internationally by accreditation and conformity bodies in judging the performance of laboratories and measuring their efficiency in conducting all kinds of tests and calibrations.

The workshop lasted for three days and it aimed to introduce the participants to the competency requirements of testing and calibration laboratories according to this specified standard, or how to comply with such requirements, applying modern concepts in laboratory management, designing and implementing internal audits according to the standard, and reviewing the definitions and terms related to uncertainty and uncertainty requirements in international standards, in addition to identifying uncertainty errors, the different methods used in calculating uncertainty, and methods of using uncertainty in assesing results and product conformity.

The workshop was attended by laboratory quality directors, test personnel, technical laboratory directors, test administrators, newly appointed laboratories employees, and technical and administrative evaluators and auditors.

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality Education

9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

17 Partnerships for The Goals

Key Words

Uncertainty calculation, international requirements for accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories, GCC Accreditation Center, standard specifications,

Launch of the First Space Science Hackathon in Bahrain and GCC

In Emphasis of National Priorities in Scientific Research and In the Fulfillment of Several Goals

Work on the first hackathon in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) begun on Friday morning (18 October 2019) at the University of Bahrain (UOB), which is set up by the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) in cooperation with "Clever Play", which is licensed by the American space agency (NASA) in the field of space, and it shall be held over the 18^th and 19^th of October 2019.

On this occasion, the Minister of Transportation and Communications and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NSSA His Excellency Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed stated that “ This event comes within the Agency’s keenness to implement the directions of the wise leadership, recalling what was stated in the lofty speech of His Majesty the King during the opening of the second session of the National Council in its fifth version, and the directions of His Majesty to work on developing a national plan for the digital economy. Such events have a great impact on qualifying national competencies and providing them with skills and knowledge to keep pace with the rapid changes in the world of technology and the requirements of the labor market and preparing them for the future. in addition to the fact that the event focuses on advanced technologies, what distinguishes it is that it is world-class, with more than 235 parties from around the world participating in its implementation, and more than 18,000 participants.

For his part, the President of UOB Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah stated that the University prioritizes sustainable development goals of the Kingdom of Bahrain 2030 vision and is working with partners in various fields to achieve the highest levels of quality and efficiency in the field of educational curriculum development and scientific research.

Also, Prof. Hamzah praised the cooperation with NSSA, pointing out that the memorandum of understanding that was concluded earlier between NSSA and UOB included cooperation in supporting space science at the national level, as the cooperation contributed to achieving mutual benefit to meet national needs in support of the sustainable development goals.

On his part, the CEO of NSSA, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Asiri, said that the participation in this event came out of the Agency’s keenness to achieve its strategic objectives of spreading the technical culture of space science in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to support this sector at the national level through the development of research activities for students majoring in different sciences, in preparation for creating joint cooperation with academic institutions and higher education institutions to integrate space sciences into educational curricula and research projects, with the Agency’s keenness to follow up, evaluate and develop science to ensure the highest levels of quality and efficiency in line with its vision and mission to advance this sector in preparation for global competition .

The founding member of "Clever Play", Shaikha Latifa Al Khalifa, confirmed that this event comes within the program of the national initiative recently launched by the company under the title "STEM BAHRAIN", which aims to establish a multi-disciplinary educational system based on the best scientific and technological approaches that stimulate innovation.

Moreover, the representatives of NSSA and “Clever Play” thanked UOB, Batelco, and Bahrain National Gas Company (Banagas) in appreciation of their unlimited support for the space sector and their contribution to support this event.

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality Education

8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

17 Establishing partnerships to achieve the goals

Key Words

University of Bahrain, NASA, Clever Play, NSSA, Bahrain's first space science hackathon, sustainable development goals, national plan for digital economy