Qatar University (QU) recently held a Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited workshop aimed at enhancing clinical education through digital tools. Organized by QU’s Clinical Affairs Office in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) and the Continuing Professional Development for Healthcare Professionals Office (CPD-HP), the online training focused on the use of Blackboard Ultra. The workshop targeted clinical preceptors and field training coordinators from the university’s health sector colleges.
The initiative aligns with Qatar University’s broader digital transformation strategy designed to improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of clinical training. The session was led by Jumana Samara, a senior educational technology specialist at CETL, who guided participants through interactive presentations and hands-on activities on Blackboard Ultra’s features.
Dr. Halema AlFarsi, director of QU’s Clinical Affairs Office, highlighted the critical role of clinical preceptors as links between academic instruction and practical healthcare experience. She underscored the importance of equipping these professionals with digital tools to foster a more integrated learning environment and enhance supervision and evaluation of students in clinical settings.
Similarly, Dr. Nura Mohamed, a clinical education specialist at the same office, praised the strong engagement from healthcare providers across Qatar. She stressed the value of standardizing digital communication and assessment practices to improve the overall quality of health education and better prepare healthcare professionals to meet sector demands.
Teaching assistant Taghreed Abunada from the Department of Biomedical Sciences added that digital learning platforms contribute significantly to documenting and monitoring clinical training. She noted that standardized workflows among clinical educators facilitate accurate tracking of student progress, achievement documentation, and competency assessment, thereby bolstering collaboration between Qatar University and affiliated healthcare institutions.
The workshop reflects ongoing efforts by Qatar University to incorporate technological advancements into healthcare education, ultimately aiming to strengthen the competence and readiness of future healthcare practitioners.