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9.5.4.1 L<strong>in</strong>kage with O<strong>the</strong>r University<br />

The first VDS was meant <strong>for</strong> multidiscipl<strong>in</strong>ary as well as multi-university<br />

purposes. The aims were difficult to achieve due to <strong>the</strong> work culture<br />

practised <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE and <strong>the</strong> way universities compete with each o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

While work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> groups was resisted at first, it <strong>the</strong>n was realised by <strong>the</strong><br />

students how beneficial it was <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>m to work with people from<br />

different backgrounds and genders. The multi-universities approach will<br />

benefit <strong>the</strong> universities as well as <strong>the</strong> students <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE to work with<br />

people from different universities us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>virtual</strong> tools.<br />

9.5.4.2 Mobile Learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

The wide availability <strong>of</strong> mobile phones and especially Blackberries<br />

among UAE students encouraged <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>troduction <strong>of</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g mobile<br />

phones <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> VDS environment. The use <strong>of</strong> mobile phones was limited<br />

to exchang<strong>in</strong>g text messages and voice calls while it could be expanded<br />

to <strong>in</strong>clude assessments and digital storytell<strong>in</strong>g <strong>for</strong> assignments and<br />

discussions; it also facilitated discussions and chatt<strong>in</strong>g while on <strong>the</strong> go.<br />

9.5.5 Recommendation 5: Enhancement <strong>for</strong> VCCS<br />

Yamashita 332 <strong>in</strong> his book titled “Unstuck” identifies ways <strong>of</strong> gett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

unstuck as a leader. Yamashita identifies dimensions <strong>for</strong> consideration<br />

to gett<strong>in</strong>g unstuck. These dimensions are represented below.<br />

Figure 9.5: Gett<strong>in</strong>g Unstuck accord<strong>in</strong>g to Yamashita<br />

197

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