A delegation from Shenandoah University concluded its visit to the Arab American University campuses in Jenin and Ramallah for four days. During this visit, workshops were held for members of the academic and administrative staff and students in nursing, allied medical sciences, engineering, information technology and some other majors.
This visit serves several purposes, most notably, strengthening the cooperative efforts of the two universities, strengthening the international partnership as well as resuming the agreements concluded between the two parties earlier when a delegation from the Arab American University visited Shenandoah University. This visit also aims to hold workshops aimed at developing university education and joint scientific research.
The tour of the guest delegation began at the University campus in Jenin and ended at the University campus in Ramallah. During this visit, workshops and meetings were held with the vice presidents, assistants and deans of the faculties. The delegation was received by the Vice President for Medical Faculties Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Asia, the Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Bara Asfour, the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Dr. Lobna Harazneh, the Dean of Admission and Registration, Dr. Rami Hodrob, and the Director of E-Learning, Dr. Ahmed Owais.
In several meetings held at AAUP campuses in Jenin and Ramallah, the two parties resumed what was agreed upon in the previous meetings held at Shenandoah University, where the two universities discussed the development of curricula, research and administrative activities, learning and training to develop multiple skills in nursing. Both parties confirmed opening new horizons of cooperation in establishing joint academic programs in the field of virtual reality sciences by the beginning of the new academic year.
This was followed by six workshops; four on the Jenin campus and two on the Ramallah campus targeting academics and students. The workshops covered a 360-degree video shooting workshop. This workshop included training on using a GO-PRO camera to shoot 360-degree videos in addition to making adjustments through several advanced programs. The workshop aimed to identify the way of using photography through virtual reality.
The workshops organized in Jenin and Ramallah campuses also explored ways of developing virtual reality software and technologies in the virtual reality laboratory, which contains advanced computers. These workshops aim to train participants to design applications related to virtual reality and the use of special glasses.
A workshop on interactive online education "COIL PROG" was also held, in which members of the academic staff from Shenandoah University and AAUP discussed their experiences in the program. This discussion aimed at exchanging educational experiences between the two parties. A workshop was also held on the skills of using of virtual reality. The two universities conducted these workshops as a preparation for introducing this system in the academic curricula next year, and emphasizing the importance of using it in light of the scientific development in order to raise the efficiency of education and increasing safety in nursing and technological practices.
For his part, the Vice President of the Arab American University for Medical Faculties Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Asia, indicated that the aim of Shenandoah University delegation visit is to seek internationalization and partnerships in multiple disciplines for several programs and activities in both universities. He explained that the joint project between the two universities started over Fall semester 2021 Led by the Director of the Virtual Reality Design Program Assistant Professor Mohammad Obaid from Shenandoah University. The project included a virtual reality platform to help students learn the basic skills taught through the laboratories of the faculties of Nursing, Engineering and Information Technology as well as other faculties.
Prof. Dr. Asia added that the project aims to develop joint university education and scientific research, in addition to discussing partnerships and cooperation projects on joint education via the Internet run by two universities in Virginia, USA, through holding a series of workshops, conferences and mutual visits.
