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30 % annually growth in joining educational programs online since 2020
Experts: Bahrain’s recognition of testimonies is an honorable example of the adoption of global trends
Deta education is no longer just an alternative that can be used in time periods, as happened in the era of Corona’s pandemic, but it has become an urgent necessity that imposes itself and expands with the developments of the times, digital technology and artificial intelligence, and also with the trend to reduce the costs of study abroad.
Several countries in the Middle East have adopted approved electronic educational programs, which opened new horizons for students, especially graduate students.
Bahrain is one of the leading countries in adopting these modern educational models, with a clear focus on improving education outcomes, and reducing unemployment by qualifying cadres capable of competing in the labor market.
Experts stressed that the Kingdom’s decision to recognize these certificates is an honorable example of the adoption of global trends and their transformation into realistic policies that serve society and the national economy, pointing out that the rate of enrollment in educational programs via the Internet has recorded an annual growth by 30% since 2020, which is a clear indication of the radical transformation in learning patterns.
Remote education has the advantages and disadvantages discussed by educated experts in statements to “Al -Watan”, I showed that the benefits achieved are much greater than those defects that can be addressed and find solutions to them also using technology, and therefore the Kingdom of Bahrain was one of the countries that allowed students and university graduates higher studies for many disciplines through Gulf, Arab and foreign universities that provide master’s degrees and even a doctorate from a distance, and are distinguished It is recognized in the Kingdom.
Al -Dossary: Basic Education Tools need to be evolved
The educational expert, Abdul Basit Al -Dossary, stressed that distance education is one of the fruits of technological development and the entry of the era of artificial intelligence, which is now imposing itself on all, whether in education or government institutions and all types of companies, but he added: “Education and its tools still need to develop to keep pace with this great acceleration, and despite the good level that we have reached in Bahrain, we need more work.”
Al -Dossary pointed to some educational methods used today in schools and universities such as interactive boards of various kinds and the devices mobile for students, and the ability to download curricula on technical means that have become accessible to all of all, but education for students of primary levels cannot be without the role of the teacher, and cannot be covered by technical means, such as feelings and emotional communication between the teacher and the student, which are things that may not need students at the university or studies. Upper.
Opportunities and challenges … and future strategic orientation
In turn, the educational expert d. Ahmed Al -Ezz that postgraduate programs from a dimension have become an attractive educational model for students and professionals alike, in light of the rapid technological shift witnessed by the world, and the increasing requirements of the modern labor market, and he said: As an academic researcher and expert in the management of innovation and the resolution of engineering disputes, this analysis is a comprehensive review of the most important advantages and challenges of this educational pattern, with a focus on quality guarantee, and a review Future trends, as well as highlight the advanced steps taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain in this field.
Glory: Demolition of access to knowledge
On the advantages and challenges of postgraduate studies, d. Ezz that it represents a strategic option for many of those looking for higher education, because of its unprecedented time and spatial flexibility, allowing graduate students to combine their professional or personal obligations and academic education. These programs are also characterized by reducing operational costs such as travel and housing costs, which makes them more comprehensive and up to wider categories.
He also pointed out that it also enables students to join international universities without geographical restrictions, which contributes to the democratization of access to knowledge. With the development of digital educational platforms, the chances of providing interactive educational experiences increased, which enhances digital competencies that have become essential in the modern labor market.
However, Dr. Al -Ezz said: However, this experience is not without challenges. The weakness of the direct interaction between the student and the professor is one of the most prominent obstacles, which may affect the building of academic and professional relationships, as well as restricting the opportunities for deep discussions.
Also, the great dependence on technology requires a solid digital infrastructure, which may not be available in all regions. In addition, there are concerns about the quality of the uncomfortable programs, as well as some reservations by employers towards graduates of these programs. To ensure that postgraduate programs will be a distance to keep pace with the needs of the labor market, Dr. stressed. Ezz on the importance of relying on a set of strict academic standards:
First: The programs must be accredited by reliable international bodies such as AACSB (accreditation association for administrative colleges schools) or QAA (British Quality Assurance Authority), which is a basic step to enhance confidence in the certificates granted.
Second: The curricula should focus on the applied side, by integrating practical projects or virtual exercises in cooperation with leading institutions, which gives the student direct field experience.
Third: It is necessary to adopt strict evaluation systems such as online monitoring exams or writing intensive research theses, to ensure a high level of scientific efficiency.
Al-Ezz noted that the strategic partnerships between universities and the private sector play a pivotal role in designing study programs that are compatible with the actual market needs, creating direct job opportunities for graduates, and set an example, at the University of Illinois Urbana- Sherrambond, which provides a Master of Business Administration program from a distance that includes actual study cases in cooperation with international companies, which guarantees the student to acquire practical experience besides knowledge Theory. The educational expert emphasized that Bahrain is one of the first Arab countries to take pioneering steps in the field of recognition of the scientific certificates granted through study programs, indicating that this decision is a direct reflection of the Kingdom’s vision towards technology and digital transformation, and comes in line with the “Bahrain Digital Vision 2030”, which seeks to enhance the state’s position as a regional center for technological innovation, including in the education sector.
He said that, according to statistics, the rate of enrollment in educational programs online has recorded an annual growth by 30% since 2020, which is a clear indication of the fundamental shift in learning patterns. However, the continuity of the success of this trend requires the development of strict control mechanisms to adopt educational institutions, as well as raise awareness of employers about the value of these certificates and align them with the labor market.
He added: With this step, the Kingdom of Bahrain proves that it is not only adopting change, but also leads it, which puts it at the forefront of the leading countries in the region in the field of digital education.
Dr. Glory is that distance education is not just a transient direction, but rather a deep strategic shift that will witness a steady expansion in the coming years, thanks to the continuous technological developments, artificial intelligence is expected to become a pivotal component of allocating the learning experience according to the needs of each student, while virtual reality technologies (VR) will provide students with practical work environments and simulation, such as virtual laboratories, which reduces The gap between theory and application.
He pointed to the global recognition of these programs witnessing a noticeable increase, as prestigious universities such as Harvard University, Oxford and Cambridge began adopting hybrid models that combine urban and digital education.
However, ensuring the success of this transformation requires governments and educational institutions to develop accurate legislative frameworks to adopt programs, and to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors to ensure the alignment of education outcomes with market requirements.
He concluded that postgraduate studies are a real opportunity to expand higher education, and make it more comprehensive and easy to reach, provided that they are applied within strict quality standards, and to ensure a balance between academic flexibility and efficiency.
He said that the decision of the Kingdom of Bahrain to recognize these certificates is an honorable example of the adoption of global trends and their transformation into realistic policies that serve society and the national economy. At the same time, it represents a major challenge that requires the continuity of innovation, focus on quality, and promoting institutional cooperation, so that education is a model to follow in the Gulf region and the Arab world.
Artificial intelligence and its interference in research
A few days ago, Al -Watan published the Minister of Education’s response to the question of a member of the Shura Council, Dr. Anwar Al -Sada that she stressed the students to adhere to academic morals in the process of preparing research, pointing out that she makes sure that these research and projects are prepared by students through the use of the GPT Zero platform and the platform (Plagiarism Detector), so that it can verify that this research was not prepared directly by artificial intelligence, using students for the program Scientific thefts or plagiarism, which is known as (Plagiarism), in order to confront any misuse of these means in the process of preparing students for research and projects and devoting the culture of scientific honesty.
The Ministry of Education stated that it is training students on the concepts of academic secretariat, combating plagiarism, intellectual property, and providing them with instructions and principles on how to deal with sources and organize research in a correct scientific way, such as the intellectual property rights workshops (Creative Commonas) and cyber security workshops for all students and teachers.
Gulf countries experiences
In the Gulf states, we all allow graduate students to obtain international degrees through a remote learning. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there is a group of shared universities such as King Saud University that cooperate with international universities such as the University of London and Harvard University to provide master and doctorate programs in business and humanities, and the Saudi Electronic University that offers programs in partnership with the University of California and Stanford University in specializations such as cyber security and analysis Data.
In the United Arab Emirates, there is Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, which cooperates with Harvard University and MIT in Master’s programs in Public Administration and Technology, and the American University in Dubai, which offers master’s programs in partnership with Boston University in digital marketing and financing.
In Qatar, Qatar University is cooperating with the University of Cambridge in the Master of Education and Engineering programs, and the College of Islamic Studies offers programs in partnership with Oxford University in Islamic studies and law.
In Kuwait, the American University is cooperating with the University of Michigan in MBA programs, and the Gulf University of Science and Technology offers programs with the University of California Berkeley in Engineering and Computer Science.
In the Sultanate of Oman, the German University of Technology cooperates with the University of Berlin Technical in Master of Architecture, and Sultan Qaboos University offers programs with Melbourne University in Public Administration and Nursing.
