Dr. Narimane has assumed until September, 2012 the role of the Assistant Chancellor for Learning and Academic Development (Provost) at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU), in Dubai, UAE where she has established and led the academic and e-learning vision of the first online University to be recognized and accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE.
Dr. Hadj Hamou holds a Bachelor and Master in Computer Science and a PhD in Software Engineering from the USA.She is Founder and was the first elected President of the Middle East e-Learning Association (MEeA), the first Arab regional association addressing e-Learning in the North African and Middle Eastern area. An association launched in 2010 with the support of international well renowned organizations such as UNESCO, the International Council for Distance Education (ICDE), the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), among many others.
Dr. Hadj-Hamou has been the driving force in the promotion of online education and blended learning in the Region by leading many pioneering projects and initiatives including creating awareness and education on e-learning, encouraging and engaging in regional and international research community in the field, developing strategies and frameworks for implementing online education and establishing associations and networking organisations that are dedicated to the promotion of open, innovative and flexible education and promote the principles of partnerships, knowledge transfer and sharing best practice thinking.
During the last ten years, Dr. Narimane has hold different high level administrative positions including acting as a Dean for Learning and Technologies, Acting Dean of Learners Affairs, an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and finally serving as an Assistant Chancellor for Learning and Academic Development at the HBMeU from 2009 to 2012. Through the various positions she has hold, Dr. Narimane has gained expertise in a number of areas including planning and performance, academic governance, setting up new schools, Quality Assurance and accreditation, curriculum design, initiating and managing international links and developing research related strategies and research venues including chairing and organizing international referee conferences and congresses. During her work at the HBMeU, she has led the accreditation efforts for 17 Programs at the diploma, bachelor and master level in addition to the recent PhD program which has been approved by the Commission of Academic Accreditation.
She has over the years delivered several keynote addresses, seminars and invited speeches and conducted numerous training sessions, workshops, focus groups and roundtables in many countries including the UAE, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, and Switzerland among many others. She has also published several case studies, book chapters and papers in the area of online education.
Today, Dr. Narimane is pursuing her vision of advocating the integration of modern and innovative learning and encouraging the achievement of excellence in higher education for the MENA region by setting up the Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge Solutions (CLICKS) as a partner for learning institutions that support the development of academic excellence, innovative thinking, capacity building and knowledge solutions transfer for the 21st century.
Dr. Narimane is perceived as one of the region\’s specialists in online education; she has special research interest focuses around strategies development and deployment for introducing innovative teaching and learning, quality assurance and accreditation for online learning and online student support.
Dr. Hadj-Hamou also has several years of experience in teaching computer science related courses in higher education at a number of prestigious universities in the UAE; these include computer programming, system analysis and design, IT Applications in Business, Management Information System, graduation projects supervisions, etc.
