The University of Sharjah Launches its Online Scientific Research and Studies Forum

Under the patronage of His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University held its Online Scientific Research and Studies Forum. Several faculty members and graduate studies students from the various College programs participated in four simultaneous sessions using video conference tools.

This Forum – during which faculty members and graduate studies students in the Masters and PhD programs of the College presented 33 scientific research papers – aims at enhancing the academic and research environment in the College by providing a scientific platform for faculty and graduate students to present their research output this year, as well as advancing the quality of research performance of graduate students by facilitating an interactive dialogue about their research and refining their skill in presenting and justifying their work.

In his opening speech, His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy welcomed the participants and attendees via video conference platforms and stated his pleasure in launching this Forum as a way of reinforcing the scientific excellence pillars set by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University. Those pillars, he added, focusing on building the community and global development within the civilizational standards that emit the richness of the Arab and Islamic civilization.

The Chancellor then directed his speech to the graduate students, saying that the results they will harvest from this Forum will undoubtedly constitute a great scientific gain not only for the University or the College that paved the way for their work, but it is also a gain for each of them as researchers as they will be encouraged to gain more knowledge and conduct more scientific and technological research. He then encouraged the students to work to achieve the goals presented in this Forum such as presenting commentary of their instructors on their work to help develop them. This in addition to improving the climate of scientific research to achieve higher performance of student research, which would in turn enhance the value and importance of the research environment not only to the College but to the University as a whole.

For his part, Prof. Hussain Mohammad Al Othman, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, thanked His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, and His Excellency the Chancellor of the University, for the support provided to the University in general and the College, specifically.

He added that the efforts dedicated to making this Forum happen virtually in the current Coronavirus pandemic circumstances will distinguish the University through transforming this crisis into opportunities to continue the education process seamlessly.

Prof. Showqi Bahumaid, Assistant Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences for Graduate Studies, thanked the University Chancellor for his patronage of the Forum as well as the participants and attendees. He stressed that the Online Scientific Research and Studies Forum is of special significance because it is held in exceptional circumstances, and shows the University of Sharjah is always the first to turn challenges into opportunities and prove its ability to ride the difficulties and overcome them towards reaching achievement.

He added that the College devoted this Forum to scientific research, which is one of the important pillars of the University’s strategy, and it provides a scientific platform for fellow faculty members and graduate students in the College to highlight their dedicated efforts in this vital field, and show examples of what they have accomplished in this academic year. It also works at developing the skills of graduate students in presenting their research and conducting extensive scientific discussions. He added that the demand for participation in the Forum exceeded expectations, despite the exceptional circumstances, as the submitted papers reached (33) – (12) papers from faculty members and (21) papers by graduate students.

At the end of the opening session, certificates of appreciation were presented to the research participants in the Forum, and the names of distinguished research papers presented by graduate students were announced.