Tribune News NetworkDohaThe Community College of Qatar (CCQ) has launched a new vision in education under the slogan ‘Toward a Learning Ecosystem for Educational Excellence’, based on its belief in the importance of building and developing students’ social and intellectual skills practically, raising their level of academic achievement of and encouraging them to be creative and effective in the community. This came during an academic forum, which concluded its activities at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Saturday and included a workshop moderated by Dr Mahmoud AlMadhoun, head of Teaching & Learning Center and Assistant Professor at the Management Department at the CCQ, and Dr Brad Johnson, Academic Manager, Department of Applied and Experiential Learning at the University of Doha for Science and Technology, with a wide participation from both parties. On the occasion, Dr Mariam Al Hammadi, vice president for Academic and Student Affairs & Dean of Liberal Art Division, said in the opening speech: “The Learning Ecosystem for Educational Excellence is based on building a comprehensive relationship between the learner, curricula and the learning culture, faculty members and the community in an environment where digital technology plays an essential role. It seeks to achieve effective communication and integration between all parties in a more efficient and effective manner to empower learners and leads them to success, while establishing the concept of lifelong learning.”At the conclusion of her speech, the vice president announced that the CCQ will adopt two factors for excellence in education in the current academic year, namely: learner-centred education and technology-enhanced learning to achieve an added value for students, society and institutions in the Qatari labour market. The vice president also extended thanks to the administration of Doha University of Science and Technology for their cooperation and participation in the launch of this new vision.” The accompanying workshop witnessed a wide range of extensive discussions on the concept of learner-centered learning, learning strategies and pedagogies, and strategies for teaching and learning technologies. It also featured other topics, including planning for a roadmap to educational excellence and exploring ways to shift the focus of the teaching process from the teacher to the learner, whether by teaching skills and basics to learn a particular subject or a specific course, or by focusing on skills and practices that encourage a lifelong learning.
