The Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the College of Management and Economics at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) honored distinguished faculty members for their outstanding implementation of creative, active, and project-based learning practices within their courses. This recognition comes in appreciation of their dedicated efforts in developing a student-centered educational experience and bridging academic knowledge with practical application to meet the evolving needs of the tourism and hospitality sector.
The honored members included: Prof. Yusra Nabil Al-Sayed, Dr. Abdullah Khalid Abu Numi, Dr. Majid Jazi Al-Harbi, Dr. Mohammed Abdulrahman Basandwah, Dr. Bayan Hassan Munshi, and Mr. Abdullah Mahdi Al-Zahrani.
These pedagogical practices have contributed to generating and developing numerous student ideas and projects through classroom discussions, assignments, and practical activities. Several of these projects transitioned from classroom concepts to participation in prominent competitive and professional platforms, most notably the Tourism Innovation Hackathon, the Umm Al-Qura University Career and Innovation Forum Exhibitions 2026, and the Hajjathon 4.
Furthermore, exemplary models of integration between education and industry emerged, as an idea originating from a first-year student's coursework successfully evolved into a collaborative project with industry representatives. This reflects the department's strategic direction toward applied learning integrated with professional practice.
These practices support the development of key targeted learning outcomes, including critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and the application of specialized knowledge in real-world scenarios.
This recognition is part of the department's ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, foster continuous improvement, and encourage faculty members to adopt innovative pedagogical practices that boost student engagement, enhance career readiness, and align academic programs with industry needs.