Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

In line with the UAE’s efforts to implement a ‘Distance Learning’ initiative, the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), has successfully trained more than 42,000 affiliates who recently underwent e-training in distance learning within the last 24 hours.

The participants completed the ‘Be an online tutor in 24 hours’ course that was launched online to provide necessary training to teaching and academic personnel of various levels about online education processes, including managing and operating online classrooms via the internet and helping acquire the necessary experiences related to how to use modern technology techniques to fully perform their roles.

More than 22,000 certificates have been issued, in an unprecedented achievement that serves the goals of the national agenda for UAE Vision 2021 in developing a high-level educational system that ensures the investment of human capital in innovation, leadership and knowledge in line with the requirements of the digital era.

Following the successful completion of the first course, the second session, titled ‘Design an Online Course in 24 Hours’ is set to begin this week. The free course in both Arabic and English has been designed to further improve academic professionals’ ability to provide quality distance education in accordance with international best practices.

Hussain Bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, stated that the Ministry remains keen to adopt best practices in education, noting that the specialised online training for teaching and administrative professionals, according to the best technological models that simulate leading global approaches to education, is of great significance.

He said, “We are more prepared today for the future with a comprehensive online learning and training environment, which reflects the UAE’s aspirations in the shift towards smart education and the use of technological resources and educational competencies in the service of the academic community.”

Al Hammadi continued, “The distance learning training programmes that were recently launched by the Ministry contribute to the establishment of a creative training environment consisting of virtual learning societies and based on the concept of interactive, virtual classes, in accordance with international best practices and targeting all academic levels. This newly developed approach aims to qualify teachers in innovative ways, keeping pace with advancements that enable them to assume a major and effective role in supporting the distance education initiative.”