In line with the government’s instructions and procedures to limit the spread of the emerging Corona virus (Covid-19) and the university’s responsibility to protect students, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi announces its success in launching distance learning. Professor Silvia Serrano, Vice Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, highlighted the efforts and the readiness of the Digital Transformation & Innovation department and the teamwork spirit of staff and Faculty. “Our key priority is to maintain the continuity of the educational process and to ensure high quality of learning for our students during this critical time”, she said. The DTI department provided multiple training sessions, e-manuals and instructional videos to students and professors.
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s preparedness for distance learning is the result of a long-term strategy that was developed by the University. It aims to provide the needed digital support to all staff, faculty and students. Along with other proactive steps, it enabled the university to take effective actions during the emerging of Covid-19 and to quickly move to distance learning.
Hamdan Alkalbani, Head of the Digital Transformation & Innovation Department at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi added: “The proactive measures that we have being taken in the previous years helped in the distance learning implementation. Sorbonne Abu Dhabi is the first university in the UAE to transition its virtual learning environment to Blackboard Learn on a cloud. A virtual lab allows the students to access remotely to their labs, library is also accessible on the cloud. In addition, an E-Space was launched, which is a platform that facilitates the access of all Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi members to all services and applications needed from one page, at any time and at any place.” Also, there is a technical team to support staff, students and Faculty. All these steps allowed all students and professors to go through distance learning process smoothly.
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi also took a number of preventive infrastructure measures to prepare for any difficulties arising from the increased pressure and burden on the network as more and more students move to study remotely. In addition, professors were provided with all the tools that can help them manage their digital classrooms and meet their teaching objectives.
