The Department of Sociology at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah successfully concluded its First Field Training Closing Forum, held under the title “Experiences from the Field: Review and Evaluation.” The forum aimed to review and assess the field training experience, strengthen communication among the department, students, supervisors, and partner community institutions, and contribute to enhancing training quality by bridging academic knowledge with professional practice.

The forum was attended by Professor Saleh Muhammad Zeki Mahmood, vice dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, along with representatives of partner community institutions and field training supervisors.

The organization of the forum served as a culmination of a summer semester rich with field experience. According to course statistics, 117 male and female students participated in the Field Training course across 36 diverse community institutions, under the supervision and follow-up of 64 field supervisors. This reflects the scale of community partnerships that the department is committed to strengthening, as well as the significance of field training in preparing and qualifying students for their professional careers.

Remarks from University Leadership

Professor Saleh Muhammad Zeki Mahmood, vice dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, praised the importance of the initiative and its role in reinforcing the integration between academic and applied dimensions. He commended the efforts of the Department of Sociology in building effective partnerships with community institutions and in supporting students throughout the various stages of their field training.

Professor Mohammad Al-Hawrani, head of the Department of Sociology, affirmed the importance of field training as one of the fundamental components of preparing sociology students. He commended the collective efforts of students, supervisors, and community institutions in making the experience a success and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to continuously developing the course in line with the evolving needs of society and the labor market.

Forum Outcomes and Recommendations

Dr. Noura Nasser Al-Karbi, field training course coordinator, confirmed that the forum represents a qualitative step toward establishing a sustainable academic practice aimed at reviewing and evaluating field experiences and utilizing constructive feedback for the continuous development of the course. She noted that the inaugural forum was organized in recognition of the importance of creating a dedicated platform that brings together all parties involved in field training, with the goal of enhancing the quality of educational outcomes.

Dr. Al-Karbi further noted that among the most prominent recommendations to emerge from the forum was the importance of continuing to organize the closing forum at the end of each academic semester so that it functions as a consistent mechanism for feedback, review, and ongoing evaluation. The forum also recommended the preparation of a formal document or pledge for students prior to the commencement of field training, covering their commitment to a formal dress code, professional appearance, work ethic, and the specific regulations and instructions of training institutions. Such a document would enhance student readiness and reflect a distinguished professional image of the department’s students before community institutions.

Closing Remarks

At the close of the forum, all participants reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation between the department and its partner community institutions. This ongoing collaboration is essential to ensuring the sustained development of the field training experience and to reinforcing the University’s role in preparing qualified graduates equipped with the knowledge and professional skills necessary to serve the community.