Presiding over the Alumni Gala 2014, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, said that the University of Sharjah has obtained a position of high status among universities of the world over a very short period of time in the areas of academics and research. He emphasized the University’s record progress has been accomplished through the partnership agreements and joint programs it has initiated with reputable international universities out of determination and efforts to ensure the progress of the University.
Stating this in his address at the Alumni Association Gala 2014, he added that the University not only offers comprehensive programs and courses but also a rich academic community in all aspects in order to form the personality of its students and develop their skills as well as their mental capacities. He said that while students at the University may possess many talents, their years of study at the University help to refine their personalities and broaden their awareness so that they may discuss issues, share their opinions and discuss the opinions of others.
His Highness urged the alumni to take an interest in education and to seize the opportunities available to them at the University as well as to equip themselves with knowledge and culture and refrain from the various temptations of life’s trivialities and blindly imitating others.
Stating this, His Highness announced 50% discounts to members of the Alumni Association who wish to continue their graduate studies and obtain a master or PhD degree in one of the various specializations offered by the University. His Highness also launched the new face of the Alumni Association website at the University, which includes a number of departments and services so that alumni may stay connected with the University.
The Alumni Gala began with the reciting of verses from the Holy Quran following which Professor Hamid M.K. Al-Naimiy, Acting Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, delivered his address saying: “On behalf of myself, the University community and alumni, I am honored to extend sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, for ensuring the success of all aspects of the University, including this annual gala, as a result of his patronage, presence and academic, and fatherly interest. All of this has allowed the University of Sharjah to achieve sound and continuing progress as well as its position at the forefront among other universities at the national, regional and international levels.
Professor Al-Naimiy continued saying: “The University of Sharjah celebrates with its alumni every year, which confirms without a doubt its deep connection with each graduate. This is because each and every one of you forms an extension of the University not only as its ambassadors in various fields of work and the fabric of society, but also in your places of work where you reflect the academic, practical and human values that you gained at the University of Sharjah. The University has established specialized administrative and technical departments to foster and support the objectives and activities of the Alumni Association and provide work opportunities for graduates through establishing contacts and building relations with hundreds of ministries, departments, and governmental authorities as well as with private companies and institutions in order to realize this aim.”
Stating this, the Acting Chancellor reiterated that the University has worked and continues to work on monitoring the specializations most in demand for alumni in the job market. He said that the University also made arrangements for the alumni to benefit from the University’s facilities such as the Sports Centers, libraries and other facilities on campus, either free of charge or for a nominal fee, which has made it possible for them to participate in a number of conferences, sessions, and workshops offered or hosted by the University, in addition to qualifying courses offered by the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development at the University. He said services are also provided to alumni for treatment in the University Dental Hospital (UDHS) clinics and that a number of events and activities were organized in cooperation with the Alumni Association Executive Committee, including but not limited to the continuous development of the Alumni Association website, updating the Association’s databases, organizing the recent Executive Committee elections, and helping to launch the Alumni Association branch in the Eastern Region.
Professor Al-Naimiy continued by saying to the alumni: “The University of Sharjah is your educational, cultural and social home, which you may return to whenever you need to, whenever you are faced with difficulties or challenges in your specializations, or whenever you wish to meet with your professors, friends, or fellow students with whom you participated in classes, laboratories, and in the Sports Centers as well as socially and culturally. Your home is here to receive you and to unite you to solve your issues and realize your goals and precious national objectives for comprehensive development, especially in accordance with high standards and your responsibility towards this nation.”
He called upon the alumni to actively participate in various events and activities as well as in the celebrations sponsored by the Emirate of Sharjah to celebrate its selection as the Islamic Cultural Capital 2014, especially the events organized by the University of Sharjah within this framework. Such events include the conference entitled, “Latest Developments on Foods and Medicines from an Islamic Jurisprudence Perspective,” organized by the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, in cooperation with the College of Health Sciences, in mid April as well as the Sharjah International Conference on the “Language of the Holy Quran, Latest Developments and Humankind” to be convened by the University at the end of April, in cooperation with the Gulf Educational Center for the Arabic Language, the “14th International Conference on Virtual Technology Applications in Facilities and Modern Islamic Architecture,” to be held in November 2014, the “2nd Sharjah International Conference on the History of the Sciences among Muslims and Arabs,” to be held in December 2014, and the 11th Conference of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), to be held also in December 2014, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah.
Activities at the Gala also included the presentation of a documentary film about UOS special needs alumni, who have overcome the difficulties they faced and realized their dreams of attaining university degrees. In the film, they expressed their pride for being students of the University of Sharjah and praised the University for all that it had offered them.
Mansour Mohammed bin Nasser, President of the UOS Alumni Association, delivered his speech saying, “We celebrate our university tonight and the belief in our importance as alumni as well as our desire to always gather together at the University, which has opened its doors to us and invited us to stay in contact and benefit from its facilities and services.”
Mr. bin Nasser also extended gratitude and appreciation to His Highness, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University, for his generous initiative that offers discounts to UOS alumni wishing to complete their studies and thanked all who contributed in this initiative.
He also talked about the activities and events organized by the Alumni Association Executive Committee saying, “The Alumni Association Executive Committee at the University of Sharjah has endeavored since its election and formation to do whatever possible to promote the responsibilities of the Alumni Association. Our priority was to start with developing our internal affairs before turning to external activities. With the support of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs and the Acting Chancellor, a new and permanent headquarters has been allocated for the Association, which is equipped with all of the Association’s needs. Additionally, a new website was established, which His Highness honored us by launching tonight. Finally, Mr. bin Nasser called upon all alumni to participate actively and stay connected through the activities organized by the Alumni Association.
Also in attendance at the Alumni Association Gala were: Mr. Tarek Sultan Bin Khadim, Head of Human Resources Department, Mr. Ali Salem Abdulrahman al Madfaa, Director General of Sharjah International Airport, Dr. Amr Abdel-Hamid. Special Advisor to His Highness for Higher Education, Dr. Salah Taher Al Haj, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, Mr. Majid Al Jarwan, Vice Chancellor for Public Relations, College Deans, faculty, administrative staff and students from the University.
