December 15th, 2015: Canadian University Dubai (CUD) was one of five UAE universities selected by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to showcase its portfolio of innovative teaching methodologies during a recent visit from faculty based at Stanford University, USA.
The delegation from Stanford – one of the world’s leading universities – first witnessed CUD’s multi-disciplinary approach to education through a lecture that brought together professors from different academic fields.
Assistant Professor of Architecture, Dr. Maha Al-Bustani, explained, “This lesson brings in faculty from the fields of psychology, fine art and architecture to provide students with different perspectives on the use of space. We combine a variety of delivery methods to encourage a ‘learning by doing’ approach, allowing students to explore spaces on campus, look at them in a different way, and express their design ideas in the creative environment of the art studio.
“The teaching remains explicitly linked to the learning outcomes of the syllabus and develops students’ critical thinking and professional-related skills, while exposing them to innovative approaches to education that stimulate their imagination beyond traditional methods.”
Following the lecture, the delegation toured an exhibition of projects showcasing student talent from across the University’s undergraduate community. The exhibits featured both class-based and extracurricular projects that drew upon the students’ learning experience to address real-world challenges.
Students from the Schools of Environment & Health Sciences and Communication & Media Studies showcased their award-winning campaign to promote environmentally sustainable practices across the CUD campus, which won them the Best Conservation Team accolade at last year’s DEWA Conservation Awards.
The School of Architecture and Interior Design showcased the creations of students who took part in recent national design competitions, where they were tasked with developing innovative and inspiring concepts that would meet modern-day design challenges.
Meanwhile, students from the School of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology demonstrated some of their innovative mobile applications, including GraceWarn, a new technology that addresses the everyday problem of obstructive parking, and was recently commended by Sharjah Police.
Amro Mosaad, one of the students behind the application, said, “As engineering students at CUD we are constantly challenged to explore how our theoretical learning might impact on wider society and to go beyond the lab by applying our knowledge to develop technologies such as GraceWarn.”
The visit from Stanford University was organized in conjunction with celebrations taking place for UAE Innovation Week and laid the foundations for future collaboration between the US University and institutions in the UAE.
Dean of General Education, Dr. Mohammed Djeddi, extended his thanks to CUD faculty and students who brilliantly illustrated Canadian approaches in education during the official visit of experts concerned with innovation in higher education.
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