Dubai: Parents can now say good bye to their expensive private tutor as a first of its kind social online-learning platform has been launched by Hamdan Bin Mohammad E-University to provide a cheaper and more flexible alternative.
Statistics found that an average middle class family in the UAE spends Dh5000 a month per child on private tuition, this is a practice that burdens families with its cost and students with its inflexibility.
The new initiative which is called Cloud campus will help solve this issue by providing over 1500 online course for students from grade one to 12, as well as university students and adults who are looking to enhance their skills. The courses are available on www.cloudcampus.ae and require a Dh10 monthly fee.
Cloud campus was launched under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
During a panel discussion that was held yesterday by the university which discussed social online learning, Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security and Chairman of the university’s Board of Governors in Dubai said: “In my opinion social online learning is a given development for any country that considers itself an e-government. With the launch of this project we hope that we would spare families the financial burden that parents face when teaching their children.”
According to Dr Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of the University, the first solution parents think of when their children face problems in school is to hire a private tutor which is costly and inflexible.
“The courses featured on Cloud Campus are based on 26 different international curriculums that cover the subjects: IT, science and math. They are mostly in English however we are currently working on translating some managerial courses. In the future we hope to carry Arabic curriculum courses.” Al Awar added that the university currently provides education to over three million students and with the launch of this project which integrates social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn more participation is expected.
Milad Al Sebaaly Managing director of Global Learning which partnered with the university to launch this project said that the yearly fee of the subscription to the Cloud Campus- which is Dh300- is equivalent to one course by a private tutor.
“Most of the courses are context-based and they are integrated with moving visuals, audio and text. This will provide support in addition to the traditional courses or classes that student take in the easiest and most flexible way possible.”
He also added that a call center will be available were students can ask questions via Cloud Campus or social media websites where professors who will be on duty will answer the questions.”
One of Hamdan e-university students, Sultan Mohammad Al Kaabi who is pursuing his education online commended this form of untraditional learning. “It is a flexible form of learning; I listen to most of my classes on my phone or computer while I am at the beach. If I compare my self to my other friends who study abroad I can say that one online course is equivalent to the material they take in three courses,” he added
For more information visit www.cloudcampus.ae
