DAMASCUS – Damascus University has hosted HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global) as main speaker in a panel on ‘Digital Transformation in Education’, to discuss its importance and the necessity of shifting
from education to learning in universities, as well as controlling the use of the Internet through laws regulating its utilization.

The seminar, at the University, was held in the presence of the Republic Presidency special advisor , HE Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Minister of Information of Syria, HE Mr. Boutros Al-Hallaq, and University President, Prof. Mohamad Osama Al-Jabban, in addition
to a host of ambassadors, diplomats, deans of faculties, university professors and students.

During the seminar, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his gratitude for being in Damascus; the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, and its prestigious University. He optimistically announced that “there are always opportunities, even in  the
most difficult circumstances, however, we need to search for and explore  such opportunities, to prevail over all the challenges”.  

Furthermore, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh affirmed  that digital transformation in education is an urgent necessity, not a luxury, especially in our present time, where the world is shifting from teaching to learning which necessitates moving away from indoctrination
in education and constantly developing programs. At the same time, he noted that today information is available to everyone through the Internet.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh added that quality of education standard is strictly connected with innovation due to the fact that it is the best solution to face problems and find solutions. He, therefore, called on all students to learn for the purpose of innovation
and invention, not just to feel satisfied with what they learn at their universities.

He blamed the Arab people for not taking the lead in knowledge, as they have been doing for centuries. He stated that Arabs have been the source for scientific and literary inventions, including the ‘Zero’, which was the concept that facilitated computations
in our present time.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh also called on educational institutions to encourage students to innovate and develop in order to graduate a young generation which is capable of creating job opportunities.

On the global front, he said that the world is currently paying for the the lack of a Global Order that governs and regulates key issues, including the Internet which became a global tool and a space with no borders, no controls or courts to resolve emerging
disputes.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, additionally, tackled the challenges and risks the world is experiencing due to climate change, saying, “Although 27 international summits had been held to discuss climate change issues, there has been no change in the perspectives of
countries due to the lack of international will to resolve it.” He further accentuated the power of youth in the major industrialized countries to force their countries to change their attitude towards the climate change and the global warming.

It is worth mentioning that during the panel different video clippings and reports on the life journey of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh were displayed, prepared by students of the Faculty of Media at the University.

At the end of the event, Dr. Shaaban and Dr. Al-Jabban presented an honorary shield from the Damascus University to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh.