May 9, 2019 – Under the patronage of the Director General of the Ministry of Higher Education (MEHE), Fadi Yarak, the International Educational Association (IEA), in collaboration with the Mouna Bustros Foundation, and the Faculty of Engineering (FE) at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) held an EdTech Forum on robotics in learning. The forum, which ran under the heading “Integrating of Innovation and Robotics in Learning,” took place at NDU’s friends hall featured prominent figures from across the robotics and educational spectrum, and consisted of two panels.
The first panel tackled the enablers and constraints to innovation and robotics in learning. It was chaired by Dr. Najib Metni, Chairperson at the Department of Mechanical Engineering – FE, and consisted of MP Nicolas Sehnaoui; Hilda Khoury, Head of Counseling and Guidance Department at the MEHE, representing Fadi Yarak; Dr. Hicham El Khoury, ICT consultant at the Center for Educational Research and Development representing Dr. Nada Oueijan; Mouhamad Rabah, CEO of the Beirut Digital District; and Dr. Michel Hayek, Dean of the FE at NDU.
The second panel covered what is possible to implement in an educational environment. It was chaired by Stephane Bazan, Digital Economy Specialist at the IEA, and featured Hilda Khoury; Dr. Bjoern Hassler, Faculty of Education Cambridge University; Dr. Aziz Barbar, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Science and Technology (AUST); Dr. Pierre El Khoury, Professor at Sagesse University, Intellectual Property Specialist, and Attorney at Law; and Eliane Metni, Director of the IEA.
The two panels discussed various methods of integrating robotics into the learning process by:
1. Integrating a framework to enhance communication between the various stakeholders (MEHE< Private Schools, Universities, and NGOs), which promotes innovation and learning.
2. Setting up a committee comprised of representatives from the MEHE, CERD, NGOs, universities, and school teachers to discuss and created curricula needed to prepare new teachers and subjects.