Students Being Guided by Sharjah Public Library
to Match the Right University Specialisation with Their Interests

At three-day Academic Discipline Exhibition running until Thursday, March 28

Sharjah, March 26, 2019

The second edition of the three-day Academic Discipline Exhibition, organised by Sharjah Public Library (SPL), in collaboration with Al Dhaid Library begun on Tuesday (March 26) at the SPL building.

It is a great opportunity for high-school students and graduates to learn about academic majors that best match their interest, potential and career ambitions. The event is offering students the latest on job market trends and projections, as well as scientific and market research data to help them make informed decisions.

The exhibition offers an integrated access point for these students, who can learn about the various majors offered by universities across the UAE. There are representatives at the event who are taking up student queries about the nature and scope of these courses and furnishing them with essential information about the same.

The exhibition’s activities aim to raise students’ awareness about opportunities after graduation, which respond to the current job market demands, and also offer specialised assistance to plan the beginnings of their careers in a way that achieves a balance between their personal and professional capabilities and the demands of the profession they want to choose.

The exhibition offers valuable access to knowledge and information also to vocational and academic guidance experts from UAE universities, parents and students, and is a great opportunity to learn about the services that SPL can provide to each one during their teaching and learning journeys.

Eman Bushlaibi, Director of SPL, said: “The event aims to raise community awareness, be it fresh school graduates, their parents or even academics about the current expectations of the job market. We are offering them an insight into latest trends and projections to help them make informed decisions about choosing their field of study after graduating from school.”

“In doing so, we are trying to paint a practical picture for our future workforce, so they can avoid falling prey to some of the job market problems we face today. More importantly, we want them to really know about new opportunities, outside the conventional ambit of job roles, which are on the rise as these have introduced plenty new avenues for students to explore their talent and pursue them professionally,” she added.

Ali Al Naqbi, Public Relations Officer at Al Qasimia University, said: “Al Qasimia University’s participation in the Academic Discipline Exhibition is aimed at educating the students on all of its academic programmes and helping them to select the right one. The students will have a better and clearer perception of their academic and professional future through briefs delivered by experts. Those exhibitions help the students to choose their fields of study, as well as elevate their creativity and academic education in the future.”

“His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, envisioned the university as a Sharjah-pan renowned institution of higher education and research. It comprises five different colleges that meet the market’s needs; the College of Arts & Humanities, College of Communication, College of Economics & Management, College of Holy Quran, and College of Sharia & Islamic Studies. It has 1500 students from 70 countries ill all colleges, promoting diversity, cross-cultural communication and civilized dialogue among all students,” he added.

For his part, Dr. Mounir Elkhatib, Associate Professor Program Chair at School of Business & Quality Management - Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, said: “Those exhibitions play an instrumental role in helping the student choose the ideal field of study and select a university that aligns with ambitions and aspiration. The event brings together students and academic experts from all local universities.”

“The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University comprises many colleges that meet the market’s needs. Bachelor Degree’s third and fourth year students can study and work at the same time, and the Master programmes are available online, offering student full flexibility as they can study and attend lectures anywhere and anytime, and at the same time they can work because they are not tied down to a fixed schedule. This helps them elevate the quality of their dissertations and theses,” he added.

The exhibition’s programme features many side-events, such as the ‘Human Library’ – an experimentative round table featuring people who faced difficulties in choosing their academic paths and careers, who will share real-life experiences and challenges with young participants preparing to take these steps in future. 

Other side-events include a session titled ‘Reading: Doorway to Professional Excellence’, which offers high school students a training lecture on achieving professional excellence through ‘Time Management’. Another session themed ‘How to Determine your Major’ is an academic guidance lecture, in addition to the ‘Time Management’ and ‘The Library Role’ lectures that are educating students on the importance of time management and role of libraries in achieving their academic objectives.

The event is expected to attract more than 750 visitors, up from 680 during the previous edition. In this year’s event, the University of Sharjah will participate alongside Ajman University, Ministry of Education – Scholarships, Higher Colleges of Technology, Skyline University College, Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies, University College for Mother and Family Science, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, AlFalah University, College of Islamic & Arabic studies, and Al Qasimia University.