Sharjah Government Communication Award Hosts Workshop for University Students to Help Develop their Research Capabilities

The Sharjah Government Communication Award (GCA) hosted a workshop for students of the College of Mass Communication at the University of Sharjah to familiarise them with the Award and its goals, and encourage their participation in the category of ‘Best Graduation Project or Scientific Research in Government Communication’.

The workshop additionally aimed to enhance the skills and capabilities of undergraduate and postgraduate students keen to build a career in the field of government communication.

Featuring a presentation on the importance of awards in supporting and motivating creativity, the workshop underlined GCA’s role in advancing government communication through inspiring innovative ideas to help increase its impact and influence. The participants attending the workshop were also led through the technical terms and criteria of participation in the category specially designated for them. 

Commenting on the initiative, Asma Al Juwaied, Manager of Sharjah Government Communication Award, said: “The Government Communication Award has dedicated a category exclusively for university students in the UAE - specifically students in the journalism and mass communication disciplines. By instituting this category, we aim to tap into their research talent and critical abilities in shaping government communication. We are keen to activate and enhance the role of government communication enabling it to create positive and effective conversations with targeted community groups.”

She added: “Our latest initiative in hosting the workshop has been highly successful. The ideas and suggestions shared by the students significantly enriched the quality of the discussions. The participants’ enthusiasm and desire to develop their individual communication capacities, even while contributing to the Sharjah Government Communication Award with their submissions, were equally impressive. Encouraged by their response and the objectives achieved by this workshop, we are planning to conduct several such initiatives in other universities. We have already lined up a similar programme for the students of the UAE University in Al Ain.”

Al Juwaied pointed out that the category for university students is designed to encourage young talents to compete among themselves and motivate them to pursue government communication as a major in their academic life and future careers. 

She added: “This Award aims to shape the creative and critical thinking skills of students as well as to conceptualise mechanisms related to the development and modernisation of government communication. As part of their entries to the Award, students are required to highlight a prominent initiative in government communication and outline their experience of implementing it through a case study.”

The winner of the ‘Best Graduation Project or Scientific Research in Government Communication’ will receive a cash prize of AED15,000. Further details and information about participation on the category and GCA 2015 are available on the GCA website www.sgci.ae. 

The Sharjah Government Communication Award was launched by Sharjah Media Centre in September 2012 in line with the directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The GCA aims to consolidate the best professional practices in the government communication sector in the UAE and the wider GCC region. It also seeks to highlight the achievements of individuals and institutions in this highly important sector.

The Award, the first-of-its-kind in the world, aims to highlight and recognise the efforts of local and regional organisations, groups and individuals working in government communication and support their achievements and innovations that contribute to strengthening prospects for communication with the public. It also seeks to foster a genuine partnership between government bodies and decision-makers on the one hand, and diverse audiences on the other in their quest to achieve sustainable development.