WHITE PAPER - THE HIGHER COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UAE'S Academic Year 2020 -2021 Fall Semester
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THE HIGHER COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY’S
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UAE’S
Academic Year 2020 –2021
Fall Semester
WHITE PAPER
CONTENTS Executive Summary 3 HCT OMAC Initiative 4-5 HCT Student Engagement in OMAC 6 HCT OMAC Student Feedback 7 Impact of Motivation Toward OMAC Certification 7 HCT OMAC Results (Semester 1, 2020-2021) 8-10 HCT OMAC Summary and Recommendations 11 Appendix 1 12 Appendix 2 13
The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The “One Million Arab Coders” (OMAC) initiative was launched
in 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler
of Dubai, as an educational platform for young people to
develop their digital skills.
A version of this initiative - OMAC at HCT - was formally launched in January
2020 at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) after Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi,
HCT President & CEO, approved the initiative to be available to all HCT students.
Subsequently, the HCT Faculty of Computer Information Science was tasked with
managing and overseeing the HCT edition of the initiative.
The OMAC at HCT proved to be great success with a total of 1990 certificates
being issued during the program’s operation. As a result of its success, HCT
launched a new set of coding and programming training courses, which aim
to diversify and enhance the knowledge and skills of the students, as well as
providing them with new employment opportunities for jobs of the future.
3
HCT OMAC INITIATIVE
In 2017, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, launched
the “One Million Arab Coders” initiative; an educational platform
that offers free exceptional programs for individuals interested to
develop their digital skills. Being the largest of its kind in the Arab
world, the initiative aims to empower one million young Arabs with
the essential future skills required for the labor market by learning
the language of the future; coding.
OMAC sought to train young Arab students in offer an opportunity for students and tutors
coding to enable them to keep pace with the to be involved in one of four different
rapid development in Information Technology developer tracks that are in high demand:
and increase their competitiveness in the job Front End Web Development, Full Stack Web
market. Development, Data Analysis, and Android
Development. The platform chosen for HCT
The OMAC initiative does not require prior
OMAC in 2019-2020 was UDACITY, due to this
experience in programming. The goal of “One
track’s user-friendly interface and its ability
Million Arab Coders” is to teach 1 million of
to map to CIS courses. However, Microsoft
Arabic speakers the language of the future, in
can be introduced in future deployment as
addition to consolidating the idea of giving
well.
knowledge and preparing thousands to the
labor market by providing them with jobs and In every UDACITY track below, OMAC
providing specialized scientific training to offers a Certificate of Participation (CoP)
help them. through Milestone 1 (M1) and a Certificate
of Completion (CoC) through Milestone 2
HCT President & CEO, Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi
(M2). Milestone 1 was completed in four
approved the initiative to be operated for
weeks, and Milestone 2 was completed in 12
HCT students. The initiative was initially
weeks. Milestone certificates were signed by
launched formally in January 2020 and
the UAE’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence.
continued until the end of June 2020, and a
second edition of it was applied in semester HCT-OMAC was a huge success, as evidenced
1 of AY 2020-2021. by the total number of 1990 Milestone 1 and
Milestone 2 awarded certificates to students,
It was noted that a large increase in
and during semester II and summer semester
student participation in HCT’s AY 2020-
of AY 2019-2020, and 2604 awarded
2021 first semester was seen, based on
certificates in AY 2020-2021 Semester 1. As
the successful implementation of this
a result of its success.
initiative in the AY 2019-2020
Academic Year. The goal of the HCT initiative
was to graduate a generation of digital
experts, equipping them with all the tools
required to understand and lead the future
through digital transformation.
UDACITY and Microsoft are the 2 platforms of
the One Million Arabic Coders initiative. The
programs contained in the UDACITY platform
The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative
4
The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative
The course summaries for the HCT-OMAC were as follows:
Full-Stack Web Front-End
Development Track Development Track
This track will help familiarize the students Students following this track will learn the
with some of the most essential skills that basics of programming through HTML, CSS
full-stack developers use on a regular basis. and HTML. Once they are familiarized with
Students will have a chance to explore HTML, students are going to add style to
fundamental programming concepts HTML code with CSS (Cascading Style
in Python like logic checks, data Sheets)
ENDENT
structures, and functions through M
EL T
DEV ON
interactive quizzes. OP
FR
AND
DEV ROID
EL
O
BA ENT
PM
SICS
W EB
F U DE
LL V
ST
E L A CK
OPM
LY SI S
ENT
Data Analysis Track Android
NA
A
TA
DA
In this track, students will learn
how to turn data into decisions. Basics Development Track
This will require a proficiency in This track teaches the students how to code
many productivity tools to master the using the XML markup language, and use
skills necessary to inform decision makers Views and View Groups to display images
and make an impact using data. Students and text. Student also learn how to show
will also learn the most powerful tools multiple screens, and add audio and images
available to data analysts, Structured Query to an app.
Language (SQL), and they will leverage
SQL to extract and analyze data stored in
databases.
5
HCT STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
IN OMAC
The OMAC initiative was open to all HCT students, not just those enrolled
in Computer Information Sciences (CIS) programs. Artwork in the form of
an e-invitation was created by the Central Communication Department,
and the relevant information and the invitation to participate in the
HCT OMAC were distributed to the Executive Directors of the HCT’s
16 campuses, for sharing with their respective student bodies (See
Appendix 1). This was created and shared with all students in February
and March 2020, via email.
As a result, there was a potential reach of close Practical Assessment. The CIS Faculty and HCT’s
to 23,000 HCT students. As can be seen from the Information & Communications Technology
data (HCT OMAC Results), the student up-take department mapped the program students, who
on the invitation and subsequent registration in were encouraged to apply for the final
the challenge was very encouraging, reflecting assessment so that faculty could identify HCT’s
students’ growing interests in the field of coding, top performers from OMAC. The top performers
as well as HCT’s dedication and focus on would be selected to receive a scholarship for
industry-relevant programs in fields which have a a UDACITY Nanodegree (AI, Data Science, Cloud
future high-demand for highly skilled operatives. Computing, & Programing)
A positive by-product of engagement in OMAC
was that the CIS students, and those students
The study tracks were as follows:
studying the ICT 2013 (General Studies) course,
were given a huge incentive and impetus to 1. Track 1: Data Analyst
continue further studies in the relevant field, as foundational track mapped to
they learnt on the UDACITY track contents CIB 3013 - Data analytics
through their related courses.
2. Track 2: Front End Development
HCT OMAC students registered for the two track mapped to CIS 1203 -
millstones (Participation and Completion), in Web Technologies
addition to doing the Lab Assessment in the
chosen track. In addition, the HCT’s CIS Faculty
3. Track 3: Full Stack track mapped
members also created a list of faculty mentors to ICT 2013 – Computational
from the CIS Faculty to assist the students Thinking and Coding -
during their studies. Furthermore, the CIS Faculty Python Language
mapped every UDACITY track to a course as per (General Studies)
the course learning outcomes. This gave the
participating students some reassurance that 4. Track 4: Android track mapped
they could seek guidance and assistance during to CIA 3003 Introduction to
the whole initiative. Mobile Applications
HCT participating students’ attainment of M1
and M2 scores should be considered as an
assessment instrument of the mapped course
for 5% -Quiz Assessment, and 5% on the
The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative
6The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative
HCT OMAC Student Feedback
The students who took OMAC certification during the Academic
Year 2019-2020 gave positive feedback about their overall
experience in completing the certification tracks.
Specifically, they liked how the learning at the same time earning a certification.
resources were designed and displayed Some students who took the Full-stack
on the screen. Aside from allowing them track mentioned that this learning
to do the activities at their own pace, the experience gave them a sense of fulfilment
students find the course interfaces to be whenever they completed a practical and
intuitive and easy to follow. They were real-life activity. In general, students were
able to listen, watch, and do the activities pleased and proud, especially when they
anywhere at any point of time received their certificate after completing
a milestone. Most of them were motivated
The students who are studying while
to advance to the next level.
working commented that this is a suitable
method of learning in-demand skills and
Impact of Motivation Toward OMAC
Certification
Educators know that the motivated students are more excited
to learn and participate in various activities involved in the
learning process and succeed.
Teaching a class full of motivated involved awarding bonus points to the
students is enjoyable for teacher and students as and when they complete their
student alike. Making self-motivated to milestones and certificates. This strategy
undergo tasks such as getting certificates was agreed upon by the teaching team
is more than enjoyable and easy. In reality, and they informed the students about the
not all students are self-motivated with same. Students, when they heard about
a natural love of learning. When the getting extra points for doing the course,
students do not have this natural drive, a they were motivated. The act of awarding
great teacher can make learning fun and bonus points worked extremely well and in
inspire them to reach their full potential. a class of 22 students, more than 80% of
them went through the certificate.
Although OMAC certificate courses are
self-paced and all the lessons for various This indicates that external motivating
courses listed are embedded in the factors by the school will have a positive
course, most of our students needed to be impact on the students. This one of the
motivated. Here in HCT-CIS, the Associate good practices that everyone can follow to
Dean who is heading the project initiated motivate the students to achieve well in
and allowed the teachers to award bonus education.
points to the students. The strategy
7
7HCT OMAC RESULTS (202010)
Total number of awarded certificates (M1 and M2) singed
by H.E. the Minster of AI in the UAE in 2020-2021 Fall
Semester (202010) is 2604 certificates. These certificates are
grouped by Divisions and Colleges as follows:
OMAC Results 202010 Grouped by HCT Divisions
OMAC OMAC
Milestone 1 No Milestone 2 No Total No of
of Awarded Awardedof Awarded
Divisions Certificates Certificates certificates
Health Sciences 40 39 79
Engineering Tech
HCT DIVISIONS
& Science 241 223 464
Education 27 24 51
Computer Info
Science 892 789 1681
Business 148 126 274
Applied Media 29 26 55
Total No of
2604 OMAC
awarded OMAC
Certificates
certiricates
8 The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders InitiativeOMAC 202010 Resuts by Divisions
1681
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600 464
500
400 274
300
200 79 51 55
100
0
HS ENG EDU CIS BUS AM
OMAC Milestone 1 OMAC Milestone 2 Awarded certificates
OMAC Results 202010 Grouped by HCT Colleges
Ml
Ml
99OMAC OMAC Awarded
Milestone 1 Milestone 1 Certificates
MZW and RUW 38 36 74
AAM and AAW 158 148 306
ADM and ADW 300 281 581
HCT Colleges
DBM and DBW 137 118 255
SJM and SJW 337 294 631
RKM and RKW 232 187 419
FJM and FJW 175 163 338
Total No of awarded 2604 OMAC
OMAC certiricates Certificates
HCT OMAC Results 202010 by Colleges
700 631
581
600
500 419
400 338
306
300 255
200
74
100
0
MZW and AAM and ADM and DBM and SJM and RKM and FJM and
RUW AAW ADW DBW SJW RKW FJW
OMAC Milestone 1 OMAC Milestone 1 Awarded Certificates
The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative
10The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative
HCT OMAC SUMMARY AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
The HCT OMAC 2020-2021 First semester program was a great
success, with many students, from the CIS and other faculties,
keen to join the program.
This was evidenced by the total number HCT’s CIS courses. However, Microsoft
of Milestone 1 and Milestone 2 awarded can be introduced in future deployment
certificates, being 2604 certificates during as well. MICROSOIFT tracks includes
semester I of AY 2020-2021, an increase “Introduction to AI” which focuses on
of 600 certificates over the last AY. development of artificial intelligence
technology. Additionally, Microsoft has
This reflected students’ growing courses using the programming language
interests in the field of coding; seen as a “Java”, and “Getting started with Azure
cutting-edge program and career path app services”. Other Microsoft course
for these digital natives and tech-savvy introduces the concept of “Design
youth to be involved in. It also Thinking”, a set of strategic and practical
highlights HCT’s dedication and focus processes used to study challenges and
on industry-relevant programs in fields offer appropriate design and planning
which have a future high-demand for solutions. In order to allow more HCT
highly skilled operatives, which is students to participate in OMAC; UDACITY
strongly alignment to the UAE’s National and MICROSFT can be introduced.
Innovation Strategy, as well as the
general focus on a technology-driven
world.
The platform chosen for HCT OMAC V.2
in 202010 was UDACITY due to its tracks’
simplicity and its ability to map them to
11
9APPENDIX 1
12
The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Implementation of The UAE’s - 1 Million Arab Coders Initiative15
APPENDIX 2
References
One Million Arab Coders Initiative:
www.arabcoders.ae
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