Latest News
Announcement of Official Appointment – Dr. Ramzi Khader Youssef Al-GhoulCongratulations to Researcher Mohammed Abdullah Ali Al-AbbasCongratulations to Dr. Rima Ziad Abdallah on Earning Her DoctorateAppointment of Dr. Amira Al Sharif Abdulrahman as Dean of Student AffairsFlorida Global University Congratulates Dr. Majed Mohammed Othman Yahya on His DoctorateFlorida Global University Congratulates Dr. Muna Al-Qunnih on Her DoctorateOfficial Appointment Decision – Dean of College of Engineering and Artificial IntelligenceOfficial Appointment: Dr. Mohamed Salim Sulaiman as Vice Dean of the College of EducationPhD Dissertation Proposal Defense – Abkar Ahmed AdamUniversity Decree: Official Appointment of President of Florida Global UniversityOfficial Resolution: Appointment of Dean – College of ArtsOfficial Resolution: Appointment of Vice President for Administrative AffairsAppointment of Dean of the College of EducationAppointment of Dean of Scientific ResearchAppointment of Dean of Graduate StudiesAppointment of Vice President for Academic AffairsDr. Khaled Ahmed Mohamed Khatib Appointed Dean of College of Islamic StudiesOfficial Announcement: Dr. Lana Ahmed Abdel Halim Al Nsoor Appointed Dean of College of EntrepreneurshipAnnual Science & Innovation Fair Set for March 15Florida Global University Welcomes New Academic YearFGU Partners with Global Tech Companies for Internship ProgramFGU Research Team Makes Breakthrough in Renewable EnergyFGU Launches New Master's Program in Data ScienceFGU Students Win National Business CompetitionAnnouncement of Official Appointment – Dr. Ramzi Khader Youssef Al-GhoulCongratulations to Researcher Mohammed Abdullah Ali Al-AbbasCongratulations to Dr. Rima Ziad Abdallah on Earning Her DoctorateAppointment of Dr. Amira Al Sharif Abdulrahman as Dean of Student AffairsFlorida Global University Congratulates Dr. Majed Mohammed Othman Yahya on His DoctorateFlorida Global University Congratulates Dr. Muna Al-Qunnih on Her DoctorateOfficial Appointment Decision – Dean of College of Engineering and Artificial IntelligenceOfficial Appointment: Dr. Mohamed Salim Sulaiman as Vice Dean of the College of EducationPhD Dissertation Proposal Defense – Abkar Ahmed AdamUniversity Decree: Official Appointment of President of Florida Global UniversityOfficial Resolution: Appointment of Dean – College of ArtsOfficial Resolution: Appointment of Vice President for Administrative AffairsAppointment of Dean of the College of EducationAppointment of Dean of Scientific ResearchAppointment of Dean of Graduate StudiesAppointment of Vice President for Academic AffairsDr. Khaled Ahmed Mohamed Khatib Appointed Dean of College of Islamic StudiesOfficial Announcement: Dr. Lana Ahmed Abdel Halim Al Nsoor Appointed Dean of College of EntrepreneurshipAnnual Science & Innovation Fair Set for March 15Florida Global University Welcomes New Academic YearFGU Partners with Global Tech Companies for Internship ProgramFGU Research Team Makes Breakthrough in Renewable EnergyFGU Launches New Master's Program in Data ScienceFGU Students Win National Business Competition
Prof. Dr. Samer Mohammad Okour Writes: The Inevitability of University E-Learning and the Role of the Commercial and Industrial Sector in Supporting It
Academic

Prof. Dr. Samer Mohammad Okour Writes: The Inevitability of University E-Learning and the Role of the Commercial and Industrial Sector in Supporting It

P

Prof. Dr. Samer Mohammad Hussein Okour

Professor of Business Administration and E-Learning

The world today is witnessing rapid digital transformations that have changed the shape of human life in various fields. The education sector has been among the most affected by these transformations.

The world today is witnessing rapid digital transformations that have changed the shape of human life in various fields. The education sector has been among the most affected by these transformations. With the great development in communication technologies, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms, university e-learning is no longer merely an additional option or a temporary solution — it has become a global trend imposing itself as an essential part of the future of education. Modern international experiences confirm that universities and educational institutions that adopt e-learning have become more capable of reaching larger numbers of students and more flexible in meeting the demands of the modern labor market.

The inevitability of university e-learning stems from its ability to transcend geographical and temporal constraints, where students can access knowledge from anywhere at any time, without the need to commit to traditional attendance on campus. This mode of learning also provides educational opportunities for wide segments of society that previously struggled to access traditional education due to economic, social, or geographical circumstances. Furthermore, e-learning contributes to reducing operational costs for both universities and students, and grants individuals greater flexibility in balancing study, work, and personal life.

Global experiences have proven, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, that e-learning is not merely an emergency alternative, but an educational system capable of continuity and achieving effective results. Many prestigious global universities have begun expanding their digital programs, and electronic degrees are gaining increasing recognition in international markets, reflecting a gradual shift in the traditional view of this type of education.

The importance of university e-learning becomes even greater in light of the wars, political conflicts, and humanitarian crises the world is witnessing, which have disrupted the educational process in many countries and regions. Millions of students have been deprived of completing their university education due to the destruction of universities, difficulty of movement, lack of security, or economic circumstances resulting from conflicts. In such cases, e-learning becomes a genuine lifeline that ensures the continuity of education and preserves individuals' right to learn and build their academic and professional futures. E-learning also provides students in conflict zones with the opportunity to access global universities without the need to travel or migrate, which alleviates the effects of crises and gives young people hope to continue their academic lives despite difficult circumstances.

The importance of university e-learning becomes even more prominent when discussing commercial and industrial organizations, as these institutions face accelerating challenges related to global competition, digital transformation, and continuous development in technology, management, and production. Modern companies and factories no longer rely solely on capital or equipment — they have come to rely fundamentally on advanced knowledge and human skills. Hence, e-learning has become a strategic tool for developing human competencies within institutions.

The commercial sector today needs employees with skills in digital marketing, data analysis, management of electronic platforms, artificial intelligence, and customer service through digital means. Industrial institutions have also come to rely on automation, industrial robots, smart management, and modern quality systems, requiring continuous training for workers, engineers, and technicians. Here the role of e-learning stands out in providing flexible educational and training programs that help employees develop their skills without disrupting their work or bearing high costs.

Among the most important issues related to the future of e-learning is the necessity for commercial and industrial organizations to reconsider traditional employment policies, particularly regarding the recognition and accreditation of electronic university degrees on an equal basis with traditional university degrees. Some institutions still link academic competence to in-person attendance at university, despite the fact that the quality of education depends on academic content, accreditation standards, and acquired skills more than it depends on the form or location of study.

The continued undervaluation of electronic degrees by some institutions contributes to entrenching educational inequality, especially in countries where educational opportunities are not equal among individuals. There are millions of young people who cannot enroll in traditional universities due to high costs, the distance of universities, work conditions, or limited study seats. Therefore, e-learning represents a genuine opportunity to achieve educational justice and grant individuals the chance to build their professional and academic futures.

Hence, the social responsibility of the commercial and industrial sector requires adopting employment criteria based on competence, skills, and the ability to achieve, rather than focusing solely on the form of education. The e-learning graduate often possesses skills in self-learning, time management, and the use of modern technology — skills that have become highly sought after in the digital labor market.

To convince companies and commercial and industrial organizations to recognize and employ e-learning graduates, a set of practical mechanisms must be followed to address concerns about the quality of this type of education. Among the most important of these mechanisms is the establishment of rigorous academic accreditation systems that guarantee the quality of electronic programs, the competence of faculty members, and assessment mechanisms. The higher the reliability of academic accreditation, the greater the trust institutions place in e-learning graduates.

E-learning universities can also enhance the trust of the commercial and industrial sector by focusing on practical and applied training within academic programs, through building partnerships with companies and factories to provide field training opportunities and applied projects linked to the labor market. When institutions see that the e-learning graduate possesses real practical skills, the negative view associated with this mode of education will diminish.

Among the important means as well is presenting studies and statistics that illustrate the performance of e-learning graduates in the work environment and comparing their productivity levels with those of traditional education graduates. Companies should also be encouraged to adopt professional competency tests and practical interviews rather than relying entirely on the type of degree or mode of study. True competence appears through the ability to achieve, innovate, and adapt to modern work requirements.

In addition, joint conferences and forums can be organized bringing together e-learning universities with representatives of the commercial and industrial sectors with the aim of building trust and introducing modern developments in digital education, and presenting success stories of graduates who have been able to prove their competence in the labor market. The establishment of business incubators and joint projects between universities and companies will also help institutions directly assess the capabilities of students.

In the near future, university e-learning is expected to become an essential part of the economic and social development system, especially with the development of artificial intelligence technologies, virtual reality, and interactive learning. We may witness the emergence of global digital universities attracting millions of students from various countries around the world without the need for a traditional campus.

In conclusion, university e-learning is no longer a secondary option — it has become a necessity imposed by the nature of the digital age and the requirements of modern development, in addition to being an important humanitarian and educational solution in the face of crises, wars, and conflicts that impede traditional education. The success of this transformation requires genuine cooperation between governments, universities, and the commercial and industrial sector in order to build a new culture based on the recognition of competence, skill, and knowledge, regardless of the form or location of education. The future will not belong only to those who hold a traditional degree, but to those who can continuously learn and adapt to the rapid transformations in the world of knowledge and the digital economy.