Qatar University (QU) announced yesterday in a press conference the launch of three massive open online courses (MOOCs) on the ‘edX’ worldwide e-learning platform, which includes: Arabic for Non-native Speakers course, the Human Being in Islam course and Qatar History and Heritage course.
In a statement, QU President Dr. Hassan Al-Derham said, “Qatar University is achieving qualitative progress and moving forward at a rapid pace towards strengthening its position in the digital space, particularly given the circumstances imposed by the pandemic. In this context, the University launched the Digital Learning and Online Education office (DLOE) and has developed a number of online and blended learning academic courses, in accordance with the highest international standards.”
Dr. Omar Al-Ansari, Vice President for Academic Affairs, praised the efforts made by faculty and staff of the DLOE in completing this project, as these courses were designed to extend bridges between Qatar and the world and introduce Qatari culture and identity to a wider audience.
Dean of the College of Business and Economics, Prof. Rana Sobh, who was responsible for overseeing the project said, “Launching these courses is based on the learning and teaching strategy in the University and QU’s transition towards digital learning. In addition, it is a way to positively enhance the image of Qatar, particularly as we are fast approaching the largest sporting event in the world, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Director of the Digital Learning and Online Education Office, Mohammad Alsmadi commented saying, “The agreement we have with edX contributes to fulfilling the mission of the University to advance education and knowledge on a global scale. The launch of these MOOCs will also increase the number of people seeking to learn from QU provided courses, which will positively affect QU global rankings. The agreement will also enrich Arabic educational content on the Internet.”
It is worth noting that QU signed the agreement with edX in June of this year, as it is one of the largest distance learning platforms in the world. edX was established in cooperation between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012. The number of enrollments currently stands at about 42 million learners from around the world. The platform launches its courses in cooperation with more than 160 universities and educational institutions. Those interested can register for the three courses offered by Qatar University on the edX platform by visiting here.
The DLOE in QU, which was established in September 2021, aims to deliver high quality digital education that is accessible for the benefit of everyone. The mission of the office is to enhance participation in online education, integrate digital learning into the QU education system and enhance the learning experience through research and innovation.