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Al-Quds Open University
Information and Communication Technology Center (ICTC)
Information and Communications Technology Day 2005
Al-Quds Open University's Information and Communications Technology Center (ICTC) conducted its second annual ICT Day on Saturday, November 12, 2005. The main ambition of the event was to introduce the audience to QOU's ICTC and the Media Productions Center, MPC; where three major information and communication technology programs where inaugurated.
The halls of the Best Eastern Hotel in Ramallah were filled with participants; where over 250 attendants from Palestinian governmental ministries, universities' technological and computer Centers, QOU's faculty and staff as well as superlative students in the Technology and Applied Science Program.
The event began with a recitation from the Holy Qur'an and a moment of silence in remembrance of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the rest of Palestinian martyrs; this moment was followed by the Palestinian National anthem.
The official opening of the day was conducted by Dr. Younis Amro, QOU's president, where he welcomed the guests, especially Dr. Sabri Saidam, Minster of Telecommunications and Technology; Dr. Badi' Sartawi, Director of the Palestine Educational Initiative (PEI), President of the development of the second generation of the internet PADI2, representing the minister of education and higher education, Dr. Na'im Abul-Hummus; Mrs. Kounstanza Farina, UNESCO representative in Palestine; and the University's Consultation Council. He appraised the ICTC army headed by Engineer Imad Houdali, the President's assistant to technology and productions affairs – ICTC Director, thanking them for the tremendous efforts and remarkable achievements.
The following speaker was Dr. Sabri Saidam, Minster of Telecommunications and Technology. He appraised Palestinian achievements in IT and Telecommunications, especially those of QOU, where he stressed the importance of those programs inaugurated in the past and will be inaugurated on behalf of the university.
As for Dr. Sartawi, PEI director, he focused on the need to merge Palestinian efforts to reach a unified, comprehensive and strategic national plan for electronic education in Palestine. His speech was followed by that of Mr. Ammar Aker, General Director of JAWWAL, who focused on the company's support of Palestinian Universities and the public sector.
Engineer Imad Houdali, ICTC Director, then thanked the office of the President - headed by Dr. Younis Amro - for his continuous support for the ICTC, where he invited the guests to "cut" the electronic ribbon to the three programs (The first time that such an event is inaugurated via an electronic method), and those programs are:
- First Push of electronic courses for the Avicenna Virtual Campus.
- Academic portal for Al-Quds Open University; its services for Academics and learners.
- Connecting Palestine with the EuroMed Network-authenticate the university as a central point to the EuroMed services for Palestinian Academic and Research Institutions.
The day centered on four technological sessions, the first on Avicenna Virtual Campus was headed by Dr. Sufian Kamal, vice-president for Academic Affairs, which included four presentations:
- The Information and Communications Technology Center
Eng. Imad Houdali
ICTC Director
- The Media Productions Center
Mr. Amjad Kanaan Jadallah
MPC Graphics Designer
- Avicenna Virtual Campus & Preparation of Electronic Courses
Professor Muhammad Hamarshe
AVC Technical expert
- Presentation of an Electronic Course for AVC
Professor Majid Hammayel
Academic Advisor for the Al-Bireh & Ramallah Educational area
The second session (The University's Academic Portal) was headed by Dr. Sameer Al-Najdi, Vice president of Managerial issues, which included three presentations.
- The University's Academic Portal
Professor Bassam Al-Turk
Director of the Programming Unit
- Mubasher Services
Mr. Mustafa Hasan
JAWWAL
- Service-Driven Programming
Mr. Mustafa Tameem
Director of the Academic Portal Program
The third session (Electronic Education) was headed by Dr. Majid Subaih, Director of the University's Planning Department, which also included three presentations:
- Information and Technological Specialty
Professor Sami Zawahreh
Director of Science and Applied Technology Program
- Electronic Teaching: Status Quo and Expectations
Professor Zakaria Al-Kayyali
ICTC representative in the Gaza Strip
- A Module for Electronic Learning that's centered around the learner
Ms. Sabba Jarar
Programmer and System Analyzer in the Programs Engineering Unit
The fourth - and final - session (The Internet and the University's Computerized Multimedia Courses) was headed by Dr. Awatef Siam, Academic Advisor for the Al-Bireh and Ramallah Educational Area, which included two presentations:
- Internet at Al-Quds Open University
Engineeer Sa'ada Al-Shalabi
Director of Networks and Technical Support Unit
- Computerized Multimedia Courses in Electronic Education
Mr. Anas Al-Idrisi
Multimedia Unit
During his farewell remarks, Professor/Dr. Adnan Qassem, Vice President for Gaza Affairs stressed the importance of this technological day, and appraised the organizers for this successful event. The event was concluded by Professor/Dr. Younis Amro - President of the University - and the vice presidents in the West Bank by distributing certificates of recognition to ICTC/MPC employees and the different committees that made this event a success.
The event was organized by Engineer Yousif Sabbah, Master of Ceremonies and Head of Training Unit, in cooperation with the organizing committee that was formed for this event.
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