Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), an institution that specialises in higher education, has become the first Middle East University to offer online courses of edX , the non-profit online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT. The Qatar Foundation-run University and edX have inked an agreement. As per the agreement, the university will provide interdisciplinary courses through the online platform. The courses will be accessible from all over the world.
Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, president of HBKU, and Dr. Anant Agarwal, founder and CEO of edX and MITprofessor, have made the announcement at an official signing ceremony in the city of Boston in the United States. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the edX Global Forum, held from November 15–16. edX’s partner network of senior leaders and digital learning innovators from the world’s leading universities and organisations will assemble for the annual event to share knowledge, exchange ideas and collectively design the future of education.
Dr. Hasnah said: “We invite students from across the globe to take advantage of innovative ways of accessing knowledge, both of which will provide an unprecedented opportunity for working professionals to advance their careers.”
“With innovation being a key objective of HBKU, we believe that this partnership with edX will enable us to bridge knowledge dissemination and allow the global community to benefit from unique offerings, which complement existing programmes on the edX learning platform and remain mindful of pressing global challenges. As an ever-evolving sector, education has in recent years taken on new forms that go beyond the limitations of the conventional classroom setting. Our edX offerings are a manifestation of the University’s lifelong commitment to innovative academic approaches that transcend geographical boundaries.”
Professor Anant Agarwal added: “We are honored to welcome Hamad Bin Khalifa University to the edX global partner community.” Both edX and HBKU share a mission to increase access to high-quality education for all learners, everywhere, in fields that tackle the challenges society faces at a global level. These include the need to identify new and innovative ways to provide sustainable energy, which is addressed in HBKU’s Professional Certificate programme. It was a delight to host Dr. Hasnah at our Global Forum this year and we look forward to furthering our partnership in the future.”
This is a win-win agreement for all the parties concerned: Hamad Bin Khalifa University, edX, and most importantly students all over the world.