An-Najah Launches a Two-Day Conference on Learning and Teaching in the Digital World

On Monday, May 09, 2022, the E-Learning Center at An-Najah National University held the Third International Conference on Learning and Teaching in the Digital World under the title "The Future of Education in the era of post COVID-19” at Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Theatre, the New Campus.

The conference aimed at presenting the latest studies, practices, and experiments in the field of employing technology in education and learning locally and globally, and rebuilding theoretical concepts in a practical scientific way by linking information and analysis through critical thinking and scientific research skills and through employing the latest electronic, communication, and technological systems. It also discussed the future of the world after the pandemic in the next normal.

The conference’s three main themes are experiences and practices in learning and teaching in light of the Corona pandemic, a future vision for e-learning in light of digital transformation, and e-learning under the sustainable development goals.

The opening session was moderated by Dr. Sam Fuqaha, Head of ‎Marketing Department at An-Najah University, who noted that the conference aims at analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on education.

In his speech, Prof. Rami Hamdallah, Vice Chairman of An-Najah University's Board of Trustees welcomed the attendees and expressed his happiness with ‎the strong local and international participation in the conference. He emphasized on the importance of the conference in discussing the post-pandemic future of teaching and learning. He also noted how An-Najah ‎stands at the forefront of global efforts to overcome negative impacts of COVID-19, and he talked about concrete actions and steps forward should be taken today to advance education and strengthen education as a common good for all.

Prof. Abdel Nasser Zeid, President of the University pointed out that An-Najah University seeks to shape and deploy virtual reality as a tool to enhance learning experiences of its students and staff. He also stated that the conference aspires to contribute to the advancement of education in Palestinian universities through discussing the latest studies in the field of employing technology in teaching and learning locally and globally.

Prof. Zeid announced during his speech that the University has been ranked 1st in Palestine, 7th ‎in the Arab World and among the best 200 Universities in the world in the 2022 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, which assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In her speech, Dr. Saida Affouneh, Conference Chairwoman and Assistant President for Digitalization and E-Learning at the University pointed out that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an unprecedented crisis in all life aspects including education. She also noted how An-Najah University is committed to ‎supporting its students, and ensuring that education and research can ‎continue on through this challenging time.

She added that the conference will include interactive virtual presentations about the field of employing technology in education locally and globally and it provides plenty of opportunities for attendees to interact with one another and collaborate on new ideas. She also stated that all accepted research papers will be published and indexed in the conference proceedings.

In his speech, Prof. Daniel Burgos, Vice-Rector for International Research at Universidad International de La Rioja (UNIR, Spain) talked the digital revolution of education and the Sustainable Development Goals.

A video about the history of e-learning was screened in the opening ceremony of the conference. It was produced by AD3 Studio.

The first day of the conference included discissions and presentations about several topics including inclusive collaborative online international pedagogies, online conversations on digital higher education, scenarios to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the influence of gamification-based learning.

The second day of the conference will include panels and discussions on digital transformation in academic program assessment in HEIs, Defining and evaluating the quality of teaching in Danish computer science departments’ large classes, and blended learning design.

It is worth mentioning that the conference also included an exhibition and three training workshops. The event is sponsored by PalTel Group Foundation, Arab Islamic Bank, and AD3 Studio.