Sharjah: The University of Sharjah (UoS), through the Institute of Leadership in Higher Education, organised the 6th Teaching and Learning Forum, focusing on community-engaged teaching and learning while highlighting approaches that connect academic learning with the real world. The forum provided a platform for faculty members to share their experiences and explore innovative teaching practices.
According to Emirates News Agency, in his opening remarks, Prof. Esameldin Agamy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, emphasized the forum's reflection of the university's commitment to excellence, innovation, and creating a positive impact in higher education. He affirmed the university's role extends beyond teaching and conducting research to actively contributing to shaping the future of society and enhancing its ability to address future challenges.
Prof. Agamy explained that this year's forum highlights several key themes, including industry-sector learning partnerships, service learning, community-based participatory research, and curriculum design for employability. These themes are strategic directions that will shape how students are prepared for leadership, innovation, and community engagement. The university aims to build an educational model based on authentic experiential learning, impactful research, and a university that is deeply rooted in community and actively engaged.
Prof. Nouar Tabet, Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UoS, pointed out that education extends to practical application in serving society. He emphasized the role of faculty members in building bridges between universities and communities and advancing learning through community engagement.
Dr. Maria Soledad, Chair of the UNESCO Open Educational Movement for Latin America and Visiting Researcher at the Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, UoS, addressed shared futures in open education and highlighted good practices from evidence-based academic networks. She stressed the importance of cooperation between universities and international organizations, particularly UNESCO, to develop unified educational policies supporting high-quality outcomes.
The forum featured sessions on community-engaged teaching and learning, exploring interprofessional education initiatives at the medical campus. Discussions included activating applied learning in community service, building workforce partnerships in health professions education, and community-based learning approaches for designing effective health communication campaigns. The forum concluded with a panel discussion sharing ideas and best practices in community-engaged teaching and learning.