Within the efforts towards the final preparations being made by the University of Sharjah to hold the final exams for the current Spring Semester, which are scheduled to start on Saturday May 2nd, the University discussed all the various equipment and procedures that have been put in place to facilitate its students to perform their final exams, which are scheduled to take place using the latest remote communication technologies. This came during the meeting chaired by Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, in the presence of the Vice Chancellors of the University, College Deans, and Academic Departments' Heads, as well as Department Directors using remote communication technologies.

The meeting started with a welcoming speech by His Excellency the Chancellor of the University, during which he extended greetings to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan. The Chancellor also offered congratulations on the blessed month of Ramadan to the family of the University of Sharjah. He expressed his gratitude to the members of the academic, technical and administrative staff of the University for what they have provided during the last period since the University of Sharjah has fully implemented its distance learning platforms in response to the instructions issued by the relevant authorities in the UAE. Thanks to the efforts of the faculty members and with the continuous support of the various administrative and technical work teams, he added, the University was able to work continuously and simultaneously for all academic lectures without interruptions until the end of the semester fully and for all academic and scientific disciplines at the University.

His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy indicated that at the end of this semester, the University will conduct a comprehensive evaluation process for all elements of the educational process and its stages, beginning with the student, faculty member, information technology infrastructure and software used in that process. That evaluation and review will assist the University in taking many measures that will contribute to enhancing the positive aspects and avoiding some of the shortcomings in the distance learning system, especially considering the continuous and fast technological developments related to this field. He stressed the importance of all faculty members being keen to develop their skills and adapt to using all relevant technologies considering current and future special circumstances.

Also during the meeting, the various rules that were laid down by the University's administration regarding the mechanisms for conducting remote exams were discussed, which were taken after many discussions and listening to all opinions starting from the students to the faculty members. In anticipation of possible problems that students can face during the actual exam, the University will conduct a large number of experimental tests (mock exams) throughout the current week for students in all colleges and all programs with the aim of training on how to deal with electronic tests and identifying problems that students may face to work to avoid them during the actual remote examination. This is considering all the circumstances for students and their whereabouts, and the different time zones, as well as providing all the facilities related to students with disabilities, each according to his condition. A group of training workshops were also organized in the past period for faculty members in various colleges at the University to give them more skills to prepare and evaluate tests remotely, and a large number of faculty members participated during the meeting by presenting their experiences and observations for conducting remote exams to benefit from them during the actual implementation of exams starting next week.