Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council and Chair of the College of Communication Advisory Board at the University of Sharjah, stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the media and academic sectors to find solutions that serve the students' learning process and prepare the future media leaders.

This came during his presiding over the 2nd Advisory Board meeting of the College of Communication at the University of Sharjah in the presence of HE Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University and members of the Board.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi pointed out the importance of the academic programs keeping up with training courses in a way that supports students' abilities and prepares them for the labour market, calling for strengthening partnerships between the various stakeholders to achieve the desired goals.

The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council stressed the importance of finding solutions to attract students to the media and communications programs and offering incentives in partnership with the private sector, noting that journalism is the basis for communication, public relations and all activities related to media and communication. He noted the need to pay attention to the teaching courses in order to gather all the requirements of the media work and develop the courses according to the requirements of the labour market and the necessities of the future.

The Chairman reaffirmed his support and commitment in studying and implementing all the proposals of the Board, vowing to support all proposals that support the development process of the College of Communication and contribute to honing students' skills.

Prof. Hamid Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, expressed his happiness that these distinguished national personalities represent the Advisory Board of the University's College of Communication, which has now become thanks to the continuous support and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and the President of the University, among the major universities in the United Arab Emirates in terms of the number of colleges, academic programs, scientific centres and institutes, and its branches that cover all the cities of the Emirate of Sharjah. All this has put the University in a distinguished position at the regional and global levels. This is according to the latest assessments issued by international organisations, as it is the first at the UAE level in the field of sustainability, as well as the first in the field of applied physics and astronomy, and the second in engineering and technology at the universities level.

The Chancellor praised the College of Communication, and the academic programs it offers in various disciplines of media at the Bachelor's and Master's levels, as well as the PhD program, which will commence the new academic year. He stressed that the College will take advantage of all the recommendations and proposals that will result from this meeting in a way that contributes to the improvement of its programs and the level of graduates.

Then the discussion session began with suggestions and visions supporting the development of the College of Communication, which was attended by members of the Advisory Board, consisting of HE Dr. Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City (SHAMS); HE Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of Sharjah Government Media Bureau; HE Hassan Yaqoub Al-Mansouri, Secretary General of Sharjah Media Council; Mona Abu Samra, Editor-in-Chief of Al Bayan Newspaper; Dr Hessa Luwana; HE Mohammed Alhammadi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ru'ya Newspaper; Saad al-Rubaian, Secretary-General of the Kuwaiti Business Council; and a number of Department Heads and Faculty of the College of Communication.

Dr. Salah Taher, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, added that the University of Sharjah is one of the best in serving society at the level of UAE universities and in its effective role in many activities, events and conferences, including advisory boards, in addition to the University's keenness to provide consultations, programs and training courses as well as the development of projects, the most important of which is the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, which His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah recently founded.

Prof. Essam Nasr Selim, Acting Dean of the College of Communication, presented a report clarifying the College's vision, goals, and strategic plan in developing programs and course content, and intensifying practical training for students, in addition to offering professional diplomas in cooperation with the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development. He confirmed that the College obtained academic accreditation for all the offered courses and added new fields to the College. He pointed to the College's keenness on international cooperation to exchange students, professors and programs. This in addition to enhancing teaching and learning methods among students and faculty members through training and practical programs to improve teaching methods and academic performance of students.

The Board decided to study all the proposals and put them in a time plan and provide the necessary support by members of the Board through practical steps that support the visions of developing the educational system. The Board also made a number of recommendations, including increasing the number of practical training hours for the College students in cooperation with the media agencies in the country, as well as setting mechanisms for developing a journalism program in the College and motivating students to join.