KU Affairs

First-Ever Annual Ankabut Users’ ‘Virtual’ Meeting at Khalifa University to Focus on Role of Cloud-Based Technologies in Education

May 17, 2020

 16th Annual Online Event to Include International ‘Special Internet Group Meeting’; Around 500 Delegates from Higher Education Community and Over 50 Post-Secondary Institutions Expected to Attend
Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced that Ankabut – the Emirates Advanced National Research and Education Network – will organize the first-ever virtual meeting of users’ to emphasize the expanding role of cloud-based services in educational technology. 
The one-day annual ‘Ankabut Users’ Virtual Meeting 2020 – Transform with Ankabut Cloud’ will be streamed live on 18 May. The conference will virtually gather around 500 delegates, primarily from the UAE higher education community and over 100 organizations, including over 50 different post-secondary institutions. This year’s conference will include an international ‘Special Internet Group Meeting’. Moreover, recorded sessions of the entire proceedings will be available to access for a month on the event web page. Click www.ankabut.ae/users to virtually attend the live stream.
The event introduces many specialized sessions aiming at showcasing Ankabut’s various services and its partnerships with several vendors along with Ankabut’s role using the Cloud-based technologies to support online and digital learning in both schools and higher education institutions.
Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, will welcome the gathering, while the keynote, titled ‘Unlock the Full Potential of Digital Learning’, will be delivered by Berj Akian, CEO, ClassLink. Top officials from Huawei, Ankabut’s strategic partner, HPE, the platinum sponsor, and Microsoft are also expected to address the virtual gathering.
Tony Austwick, Director, Software2, Ankabut’s Virtual Users Meeting’s supporter sponsor, will speak on ‘Academic Software Virtualization and Khalifa University Use – Case Study’, while Asif Rashid, Azure Specialist (Education Industry), Microsoft UAE, will highlight ‘Remote Learning during COVID-19’.
Moreover, Huawei will be participating in the event with two sessions. Ashraf Esmat Mahmoud Khalil, Senior Solution Architect, Technical Manager, Huawei, will speak about ‘Cloud and Big Data in Education’, and a session titled ‘ Discovering Wi-Fi 6 powered by Huawei Technologies’ will be delivered by Mohamed Mamdouh Elsabagh, IP Solution Manager for Education Sector, Huawei. 
Fahem Al-Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer, Ankabut, said: “The Annual Ankabut Users’ Virtual Meeting 2020 will highlight innovation in educational technology based on experience, to reflect on and share lessons from stakeholders. We will be streaming this annual event online in order to showcase the integral role of cloud technology in education. We are also gathering the most knowledgeable researchers from all over the world, as well as leaders in innovative educational technologies to explore the challenges and future opportunities. I firmly hope the technical sessions will offer everyone adequate opportunity to virtually network with our partners.”
In addition to government entities and senior officials as well as corporations who are involved in higher education, the meeting will additionally be a gathering of multiple groups, who share a common interest in educational technology. 
Stakeholders from higher education are also expected to participate in the technical sessions on cutting edge issues related to the industry. 
Other notable speakers who will interact with Ankabut users include Ezzeldin Hussein, Team Lead, System Engineer, North Africa, Levant and Egypt (NALE) Region, VMware, who will speak about ‘Higher Education IT Solutions to Accelerate Your Digital Transformation’, and Morad Hussam, Chief Technology Officer, HPE, who will cover ‘Digital transformation in the education sector’. Schneider Electric is a gold sponsor for the event which is also supported by Software2.
Clarence Michael
News Writer
17 May 2020


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