Lughati and the University of Sharjah Sign MoU to Measure Impact on Children

Lughati, the Sharjah-based initiative dedicated to supporting Arabic learning the smart way, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Sharjah, aimed at  conducting a research study to measure Lughati’s impact on children and students who have been involved with the initiative throughout its first and second phases.

The MoU signing ceremony took place at the University of Sharjah, with the signatories being Badria Al Ali, Manager of the Lughati initiative and Prof. Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Sharjah. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of representatives from both organisations.

Under the terms of the MoU, the Research and Graduate Studies Department at the University of Sharjah will conduct a study on the impact of Lughati initiative on the learning process of Sharjah’s kindergarten and primary school students who were given smart tablet devices by the initiative. Lughati will provide the University of Sharjah’s research team with data and samples taken from 100 teachers and 50 students. The study will aim to evaluate the initiative and measure its level of success in achieving its objectives and goals that seek to support the national Arabic curriculum and encourage students to use Arabic using modern scientific methods.

“As part of a strategic partnership with the University of Sharjah, we signed this agreement seeking to benefit from the University’s rich experience in the research field. The study on the first and second phases of Lughati initiative will measure the level of benefit that children received from the smart tablets and educational applications distributed to them for free, as well as evaluate the role that these smart devices played in improving their educational results. It will also measure the level of teachers’ benefit from the workshops organised as part of the initiative,” said Badria Al Ali, Manager of Lughati initiative.

For his part, Prof. Maamar Bettayeb, said; “Our partnership with Lughati aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which is aimed at creating patriotic generations who are proud of their identity, their language and their rich cultural heritage. We will conduct this research study through an experienced advisory team, which is able to implement the task with the highest level of competency. In doing so, we will follow a research methodology that aligns with the objectives and goals of the study.”

The campaign to support Arabic language education in Sharjah’s schools using new technology was launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in 2013. It was one of a number of initiatives aimed at developing the emirate’s educational sector and endearing the Arabic language to students by incorporating modern methods into the learning process. The campaign was subsequently rebranded as ‘Lughati initiative,’ which was approved by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in January 2016.

Lughati is designed to build a knowledge-based society and advance education in the Emirate of Sharjah by encouraging students to apply Arabic in the attainment of cultural, social and economic knowledge. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to create success in preserving the Arabic language as a modern tool for learning in future generations.