Vodafone has joined the jury panel of Qatar University (QU) and the College of Business and Economics’ (CBE) System Analysis and Design Course Group Project Assignment to evaluate work presented by students who have been working over the past six weeks to plan, analyse and design a digital system to enhance knowledge-sharing across the college based on the concept of an academic social media
platform.
The system will assist students to get answers and information not only from their tutors or lecturers but also from other students and faculty members. It would, therefore, enhance students’ learning experience in the college and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of pedagogical interaction between all lecturers and students.
The jury board comprised Dr Karim al-Yafi, assistant professor of management information systems at CBE, and Simone Eliantonio, head of strategic projects and innovation at
Vodafone Qatar.
The judges evaluated the students’ learning outcomes in addition to giving feedback about each project presented. In addition to the depth of the analysis and the innovation behind the concept, the most important key performance indicator for the success of the winning team was the feasibility and viability of the concept, its convenience to users and its adaptability in the future to other organisations who might deem it relevant to boost their internal communications
processes.
Dr al-Yafi said, “The students demonstrated their learning outcomes on a real project with high potential to be implemented and delivered works that were up to professional standards. I had the chance to be with excellent students, motivated and always curious to learn how to push things further.”  
Eliantonio added, “I’m honoured to be part of the jury because I strongly believe this is the kind of assignments that help students get closer to what the industry actually needs.”
The three groups of students were No 1 (E-Solutions), comprising Maryam Abdulla, Dina Bani Odeh, Fatin Shurair, Ghadeer al-Hebabi and Sara Alqahtani; No 2 (Ejabat), featuring Roudha al-Noaimi, Sara al-Kuwari, Hanan AlBoinin, Hamda AlShraim and Amera Heidous; and No 3 (myQU Help Forum), comprising Heba Ahmad, Maryam al-Abdulla, Tooba Ali Akbar and Shorouq Muharram.
“All the teams did a great job both in the preparation and presentation, but at the end of a very interesting discussion, Dr al-Yafi and I agreed it was very difficult to pick one best work as all three teams showed different strengths that in reality would complement each other. Thanks to all the teams for their efforts and congratulations to all,” said Eliantonio.