Hamdan-ALECSO Award For Distinguished Educational Research Winners Announced For 2023

The Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO), has revealed the winners of this year's Hamdan-ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research. This award recognises outstanding research contributions from across the Arab world.

This year, the award attracted 154 research submissions from 11 countries. Saudi Arabia led with 103 entries, followed by Egypt with 17 and the United Arab Emirates with 16. Jordan and Oman each submitted five entries, while Morocco and Qatar had two each. Palestine, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Syria each contributed one submission.

Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, expressed pride in announcing the winners. He stated that this achievement underscores ALECSO's strengthened partnership with the Hamdan Foundation. "This award serves to inspire researchers and institutions to direct their energies toward scientific research and innovation," he said.

Dr. Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Hamdan Foundation, highlighted the award's significance in Arab educational research. He noted that it has become a vital platform supporting scientific research in education. The increase in submissions reflects ALECSO and Hamdan Foundation's success in fostering educational research growth.

The winning projects covered diverse fields. Dr. Zeinab Hassan Hamed Ali Al-Salami from Ain Shams University in Egypt was recognised for her study on using generative AI in teacher preparation programmes to enhance creativity and passion. Dr. Rahma bint Suleiman bin Hadi Thakir and Hassan bin Dhafer bin Hassan Al-Zahrani from Saudi Arabia were awarded for their work on AI-enhanced knowledge journeys improving academic achievement.

Professor Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Faleh bin Ibrahim Al-Asail from King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia won for his research on a metaverse-based educational program enhancing digital skills among university students. Another team from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia received recognition for studying graduate students' use of AI applications in scientific research.

Ceremony Details

The winners will be honoured at an official ceremony during the 19th Conference of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This event will be attended by senior officials, ministers of higher education, and directors of major organisations. The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, 28th November.

This year's awards highlight innovative solutions to contemporary educational challenges across the region. They demonstrate a commitment to advancing educational quality through practical research initiatives that address pressing issues faced by educators today.

With inputs from WAM