Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Dar Al-Hekma University is embarking on a groundbreaking challenge to create a new Guinness World Record in collaboration with “The Gifted Academy” UK and the “Guinness Book of Records Organization”.



The challenge is to train 1,200 students and academics in mind mapping, the Buzan technique, in two hours on Monday, in Dar Al-Hekma University.



Dar Al-Hekma University will be the first institution in the Arab world to venture into “Global Mental Literacy” world record.



The training will be delivered by the renowned international lecturer Dr. Manahel Thabet, the vice chancellor, vice chairman of the board of The Gifted Academy, and one of the thirtieth smartest people in the world. With the extensive knowledge Dr. Thabet possesses she will attempt to train 1,200 students and faculty members of Dar Al-Hekma University on how to create their own mind maps in two hours.



During the training, the attendees will draw their mind maps, then the drawings will be collected and instantly checked by Dr. Thabet to ensure that the 1,200 attendees actually learned how to mind map during the allotted time. The real challenge will be in the fast learning capacity of the trainees and in the review process of every mind map by Dr. Thabet, who will have only 5 seconds for reviewing, correcting and approving each of the 1,200 mind maps.



The participants will receive certificates for creating the international record in a celebratory event that is led by the university management and students.



Dr. Suhair Hassan Al-Qurashi, president of Dar Al-Hekma University, commented that the goal of this important and unique two-hour training was to introduce the faculty and students of the university on how to use mind maps.



“This challenge is part of Dar Al-Hekma University’s Creativity Project that was launched in the beginning of the academic year 2015-2016 and supports this year’s theme of Fostering Creativity,” added Dr. Al-Qurashi.



Dr. Al-Qurashi emphasized that the goal of this project "is to change how we teach, not what we teach and to graduate more creative and critical-thinkers."



“Creativity and innovation are some of the most valued skills a university student could have; out in the real world success goes hand-in-hand with thinking outside the box,” added Al-Qurashi.



“A new Guinness Book record is being achieved not only in the Arab world, but in the whole world. I am sure it will enforce awareness of creative thinking methods developed by global thinking leaders,” said Thabet.



“It gives me honor to be the one leading this initiative which presents a great challenge for me, since I have only one hour to train and the second hour to review and evaluate 1,200 mind maps,” she added enthusiastically.