Registration & Breakfast

Registration & Breakfast

Welcome from Dr. Rachid Benlamri

Message from AEL Manager, Dr. Hiba Sabri

Panel Discussion: Micro-Credentialling in Higher Education: Implementation, Best Practices and Impact

Micro-credentials have emerged as a transformative force in higher education, offering a flexible and tailored approach to skill development, professional certification, and lifelong learning. This panel will bring together thought leaders from academia, industry, and policy to discuss the implementation, best practices, and impact of micro-credentials.

Topics will include ensuring credibility, transferability, and alignment with industry needs, comparing micro-credentials with traditional certifications like ABET and NEBOSH, and their role in the future of education.

Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy in Higher Education: Does One Size Fit All?

Since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, and the subsequent rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies, higher education institutions across the world have struggled to respond. This emerging technology brings with it remarkable promise in the field of education. However, with this promise, there is most certainly the potential for problems, with academic integrity representing one of the most salient concerns.

In this talk, Dr. Foxe will discuss the opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations associated with GenAI in higher education, while focusing on teaching and learning. He will present findings from a recent study at Concordia University that has investigated the effect of university faculty’s academic integrity perceptions on the technology acceptance of GenAI. Finally, Dr. Foxe will present policy implications and frameworks and will share best practice recommendations for faculty and students.

Coffee Break

Coffee Break

The ‘How To’ Design Interactive Learning Environments for Face-to-Face and Hybrid Learning

As part of its vision to being a centre for excellence in technical and vocational education in the State of Qatar, the University of Doha for Science & Technology (UDST) has established a strategy and roadmap on hybrid learning. The initiatives include drafting of a hybrid learning policy and guidelines, as well as piloting hybrid learning approach for UDST academic courses, combining the best of face-to-face and online learning. Such an undertaking for UDST faculty to create meaningful learning experiences in a hybrid learning approach is easier said than done. The task of converting traditional learning experiences to include online learning can be challenging, costly, and time consuming without the right team, resources, tools, and support.
The aim of this session is to guide UDST faculty with the support of the AEL department to overcome these challenges and design dynamic, interactive, and engaging learning environments for face-to-face and hybrid learning. This will include a showcase of micro-learning design principles, gamification mechanics and other applied and experiential learning best practices within the context of teaching and learning at UDST and other industry learning applications.

Advancing Student Success with Navigate360

This Professional Development Session is designed to empower our faculty with the tools and strategies necessary to support student success with precision and efficiency. A central focus of this session will be the Navigate360 Student Success Management tool—a comprehensive platform that enables us to streamline student support, monitor academic progress, and implement timely interventions.

Participants will gain practical experience with Navigate360, exploring its powerful features to track student engagement, support at-risk students, and coordinate student-centric efforts across departments at UDST. In addition to utilizing the platform’s reporting and communication functionalities, attendees will engage in discussions on best practices for advising, retention strategies, and early alert systems—all geared toward optimizing the impact of Navigate360 in our student success initiatives.

We invite you to join this valuable session to discover how Navigate360 can elevate our collective efforts to foster student success at UDST.

Lunch Break

Lunch Break

eLumen Curriculum Management: Streamlining Academic Planning and Assessment at UDST 

This session will provide an overview of the eLumen Curriculum Management System, which is being introduced at UDST to:

1. Maintain the academic integrity of the UDST curriculum through one source of truth,
2. Streamline the continuous improvement process (program development, program review, annual review, curricular change, and accreditation)
3. Improve the assessment of learning outcomes to enhance the user experience and facilitate reporting at the program, college, and university level and
4. Empower faculty to identify, measure, and assess learning outcomes simplistically and effectively.

This interactive session will explore key features and practical benefits of the system, while providing faculty with the essential knowledge needed to integrate eLumen into their curriculum.

About the Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) Directorate

The Continuing and Professional Education Directorate (CPE) at UDST provides accessible and affordable training and certifications, aspiring to be Qatar's leading center for professional education in alignment with the State of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. CPE also offers a range of consulting services tailored to businesses, industries, government, and non-profit organizations seeking independent expertise. Leveraging faculty’s expertise, CPE delivers academic insights to help organizations address challenges and enhance operational capacities. The presentation will highlight CPE’s programs and services and outline how faculty can join CPE’s network of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

Creating Educational Comics with Generative AI

In this workshop, you will learn how to create engaging educational comics using generative AI tools. Learn to transform a narrative into a visually compelling comic, designed to capture students’ attention and enhance their learning experience. You will be able to produce a shareable comic ready to inspire your students by the end of the session.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

1. Identify how generative AI tools can support storytelling in education by breaking down complex ideas into engaging visual narratives.
2. Use ChatGPT to generate captions, image descriptions, and storyboards to structure educational content.
3. Apply design and editing techniques in Dashtoon to create and refine a comic that visually aligns with the narrative and learning outcomes.
4. Publish and share a finalized comic on D2L to support active learning and engagement among students.

Please bring your own laptop, fully charged, and get ready with your Gmail account to login to AI tools

Crucial Steps and Secrets to Publication: Overcoming Rejections in Leading Academic Journals

In this session, Professor Marwa will share her editorial expertise to help researchers in social sciences and interdisciplinary fields navigate the publication process in top academic journals. The workshop will cover how to choose the right journal, effective submission strategies, and tips for revising manuscripts to increase acceptance chances. Participants will gain insights into common reasons for rejection, secrets to successful publications, and advice on managing references and maintaining high-quality standards throughout the revision process. This session aims to equip researchers with the knowledge and tools needed to confidently publish in leading journals.

Understanding Copyright to Advance your Teaching and Research

Join this interactive session to better understand how copyright impacts your teaching and research, as well as how to use this understanding to your advantage. Leave with practical tips and actionable knowledge to use in your daily research and teaching.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

1. Describe, at a basic level, international best practice and Qatar law pertaining to using copyrighted materials for education.
2. Identify instances of fair use of materials for teaching.
3. Analyze when sharing files (articles, chapters, etc.) is appropriate, and when it is preferrable to route students directly to electronic sources via stable links (DOIs).
4. Describe the benefits to authors of UDST’s Addendum to the Publication Agreement.
5. Identify when and how to share your author-accepted manuscripts (green open access via the institutional repository).

Innovative Teaching in STEM and TVET: Applied Learning Techniques for Today’s Classroom

This engaging one-hour workshop introduces faculty to the essential concepts and strategies in STEM and TVET fields. With a focus on developing technical skills for today’s high-demand, technology-driven careers, the session will provide insights into the latest trends, case studies, and best practices for integrating applied learning in the classroom. Participants will explore hands-on teaching methodologies like active learning and technology integration to enhance student engagement and deepen understanding. The session aims to empower faculty with the tools and resources needed to prepare students for industry challenges, reinforcing UDST’s mission of creating employable, skilled graduates.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the significance of STEM and TVET education in preparing students for modern careers.
2. Understand key trends and global initiatives in STEM and TVET, focusing on applied learning.
3. Identify active learning and technology integration strategies that enhance student engagement.
4. Learn about resources and best practices to improve teaching in STEM and TVET.

Research & Innovation Workshop: Ideas to Impact

This workshop serves as a collaborative platform where faculty brainstorm and develop creative solutions to specific challenges or opportunities. During the workshop, diverse experts—from different colleges—engage in facilitated discussions and activities designed to stimulate creative thinking. Participants explore emerging trends, share insights, and leverage interdisciplinary perspectives to generate innovative research ideas. The workshop will include hands-on activities such as brainstorming sessions, design thinking exercises, and group presentations, all aimed at fostering a dynamic environment for idea generation. By the end of the session, teams refine their concepts and outline actionable steps for further development, ultimately contributing to the advancement of research and innovation in their respective fields.

From Hesitation to Innovation: Practical Steps for Using GenAI in Teaching

This session is designed specifically for faculty members who are in the early stages of exploring Generative AI or have yet to incorporate it into their classroom practices. The workshop provides a supportive and foundational approach, making it an ideal starting point for educators seeking to understand and implement GenAI with ease.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

1. Learn the basics of GenAI and how it can enhance teaching and student engagement.
2. Discover user-friendly AI tools that can be integrated into your teaching without a steep learning curve.
3. Engage in interactive exercises designed to help you practice and gain confidence in using GenAI tools in your classroom.

This session will provide a safe, supportive space for educators to ask questions, experiment with AI, and leave with actionable strategies to start using GenAI in their courses.