Abu Dhabi’s Zayed University signs MoU with Injazat for student-led edtech projects

Zayed University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Injazat, the Abu Dhabi-based technology company that specialises in digital transformation, cloud and cybersecurity, to mentor its students on edtech projects.

The partnership will see Zayed University match students from its College of Interdisciplinary Studies, with the mentors and practitioners at Injazat to coach and sandbox ideas that solve real world industry issues and challenges.

Under Injazat’s mentorship, students will research and evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence in diagnosing learning difficulties, analyse non-traditional schools from around the world to localise and brainstorm adaptation models, conduct behavioural change studies in parents to boost acceptance towards online learning and explore the use and benefits of augmented reality and virtual reality technology in building interpersonal skills, confidence and public speaking readiness in students.

The programme will benefit from InGenius, Injazat’s innovation lab that employs the methodology of using agile practices, lean processes, and design thinking to bring ideas to life and Zayed University’s interdisciplinary approach, which is based on radically flipped classrooms, where students engage in deep processing through extensive use of polls, debates, and collaborative work.

Coined as ‘Business Challenges’, this collaboration is a key component of the students’ coursework, through life-experiences with real businesses.

Highlighting the significance of these student-led projects, Jumana Salem, vice president of EdTech at Injazat and chief programme lead said: “The first phase of the collaboration saw students working with Injazat experts to identify the need for building platforms that redefine traditional schooling, evaluating the potential and limitations of technology in assisting students with learning difficulties, and also helping address and overcome some of the challenges that persist in online learning. The newly signed MoU will allow us to build on that further and is a perfect example of embedding the end user in the innovation process, co-building learning and development solutions that will ultimately serve them.”

Both organisations are considering developing knowledge-exchange partnerships in other fields such as healthcare and energy sectors.

Last year in November, Zayed University also signed an MoU with Israel’s University of Haifa. Under the agreement, both universities sought to exchange knowledge and academic best practices.

Read: UAE’s Zayed University signs academic partnership MoU with Israel’s University of Haifa

They also agreed to have joint-research projects, as well as organise mutually beneficial events, colloquia, seminars, and conferences.