The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized a webinar in collaboration with Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) on how HCT is transforming into a digital campus, held on 12 May 2020. Mr. Brij Bali, Vice Chairperson of CBC Abu Dhabi and moderator of the webinar has started the session by introducing the topic and the guest speaker, Dr. Alex Zahavich, Chief Academic Officer of HCT.

Dr. Zahavich started the presentation with background information about HCT saying that there are 16 campuses across the seven Emirates, more than 23,000 students, faculty from over 80 countries, and 30 start-up companies growing from capstone projects and applied research. The view of the college aims for graduates to get academic credentials with job offers. Dr. Zahavich mentioned a quote by Steve Podborski, a Canadian downhill ski racer, saying, “I have no time to think about the future when I have the present to contend with”. In his opinion, this is relevant to the current epidemic as everyone is busy trying to deal with the present hence there is barely time to think about the possible future. He emphasized on the fact that HCT was prepared for such a situation as online classes immediately occurred by March when things got more serious regarding the Coronavirus. After spring break, they started to sanitize the sixteen campuses and were completed in five days. Also, the management team started to work from their homes where they had to create a discipline system to ensure effective work completion.
 
By 22 March 2020, the second part of the spring term has continued with online classes until May 07 May 2020. The online delivery process helped to serve 23,000 students to stay on track and no credentials were compromised. In addition, over 75,000 classes were delivered which received more than 85% satisfaction from the students and the faculty. He mentioned how the online method helped shy students to participate more often. Also, all 70 programs and courses were updated with revised assessment strategies. More importantly, the Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) calculation was revised to incentivize course completion while aligning with Ministry of Education (MoE) guidance.

The guest speaker mentioned some alternative assessment strategies established for theory-based examinations, practical examinations, and projects. For instance, some theory-based exams were open-book but timed online, some practical exams where online open-book assessments and some projects were submitted digitally with a presentation. The summer term was expanded with more course options and provided opportunity for students to enroll in more diversified courses. The term online plan aimed to open up to two summer semesters for program completion, deliver all courses online, and additional courses with equivalency for work placement credit were included. Dr. Zahavich has mentioned some statistical facts about the online experience as 84 M minutes of teaching was delivered, 1,500,000 successful student logins and 100,000 successful faculty logins. The medium used for delivering the classes was left for the professors to decide what is best for students but most of them used Blackboard Learn. Dr. Zahavich also mentioned three types of industry-related work placement opportunities, which are: on-site work placement, off-site work placement, and alternative to work placement. The options were modified as there was still on-site work placement with some institutions such as ADNOC. In addition, there were 30 startup companies hiring students to grow their companies and some students were researching from home or freelancing.

Dr. Zahavich talks in regard to the student experience and says there is a 50 to 50 stance for online and in-person preference. That is because students still miss the social aspect of their learning experience. Hence, the HCT effort in recreating these social part was through e-sports and e-life skills programs. More importantly, to ensure that everyone stays on track financial aid was granted for students who lack internet access and laptops at their homes. 

Regarding the support services all operations were based on working from home, campuses were deeply cleaned, no delay in financial transactions, recruitments of staff continued as usual and invitation by RoSPA UK was granted to deliver best practice webinar. About the current health concerns, Dr. Zahavich discussed ventilator splitters designed by HCT using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to increase the efficiency of ventilators in the health care sector. Lastly, he talked about what the future holds and in his opinion the general value of getting a credential and a job would not change, however, the delivered content cannot be fully online as most students need an in-person application to become qualified, they need to address students psychological social needs, acknowledge how some faculty teach at inconvenient times because of time zone differences and review facilities as to match the possible futuristic trends such as job loss. Hence, HCT is central around the entrepreneurial and creative foundation to help the students prepare for futuristic possible changes.

The webinar was concluded with live Q&A from the participants.

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About the Canadian Business Council Abu Dhabi
The Canadian Business Council Abu Dhabi (CBC) promotes business relations, commerce and investment between Canada and the UAE with a particular focus on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We provide opportunities for Canadian business executives in the UAE to meet on a regular basis and to exchange information about business opportunities. As a link with organizations in Canada, CBC Abu Dhabi is dedicated to the development of trade and corporate investment between Canada and the UAE and assist Canadian companies and business people who are establishing or contemplating to establish a trading base in this country. www.cbcabudhabi.com

About Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT)
Founded in 1988, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) is the UAE’s largest applied higher educational institution, and the nation’s first approved university economic free zone, empowering it to graduate companies in alignment with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership.
Over 23,000 students attend 16 men’s and women’s campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafrah region, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Female students constitute 63% of the student body, which reflects the HCT’s key role in preparing Emirati females to contribute effectively to national development in the service of their country. Since 1991, the HCT has proudly awarded over 72,000 academic degrees to male and female graduates who have succeeded in applying the quality education gained during their study in HCT.

In 2019, the UAE’s 50-year leap came to fruition in the guise of a new direction for the Higher Colleges of Technology, with the launching of the HCT 4.0 – Employability & Beyond strategic plan, based on the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Learn more about HCT Strategy.

By: Maryam Almansoori, Intern, CBC Abu Dhabi