SMD and university will cooperate to provide workshops, educational resources to support students
SHARJAH, March 10th, 2015:Students are set to benefit from a new partnership between the Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) and the University of Sharjah (UOS).
Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed yesterday (March 9th), the SMD will support the delivery of courses such as Art History and Museum Studies, providing educational resources, practical training, workshops and tours.
The MoU was signed by H.E. Manal Ataya, Director General of the SMD, and Dr Esam Nasr, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design, University of Sharjah.
“We are very pleased to be sharing in this collaboration with the University of Sharjah, and look forward to a fruitful partnership,” said Ms Ataya. “By sharing our expertise, we believe the students will benefit enormously through enhanced educational opportunities.
“This partnership is in line with our mandate to support education in the community and to reinforce Sharjah’s position as a hub of cultural education.”
The collaboration will benefit students at the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and the College of Art and Design, both of which offer majors in Museum Studies and Art History.
The agreement is between the SMD and both the UOS’s men’s and women’s colleges. Students will get the chance to attend workshops led by SMD staff, where they will learn practical skills such as implementing a museum tour and delivering workshops for all visitors including children with their families, tourist groups and people with disabilities.
The SMD and UOS will jointly organize learning programmes, seminars, activities, and trips to exhibitions for the students. They will also cooperate to link different aspects of the university courses with the SMD’s arts, heritage and historical collections.
Experts from the SMD will deliver specialized lectures in topics like Islamic civilization and art history, and the university will support the SMD’s graduate training programme.
Dr Nasr said: “This Memorandum of Understanding aims to support the University’s program of Art History and Museum Studies.
“The University is keen to achieve the maximum level of cooperation with relevant local government departments and institutions. Sharjah Museums Department is one of the leading departments that shares its values with the University's academic programs.
“Sharjah Museums Department provides the highest quality services to the community of Sharjah and to visitors through its museums and exhibitions, educational programs, research and outreach programs with the community.
“We believe that both sides will benefit from the exchange of their expertise and capabilities. The University of Sharjah aims to support the graduates training program delivered at Sharjah museums and to support the needs of museum services.
“Through this MoU, we expect to collaborate on workshops linked to the heritage, history and archaeology of Sharjah, and to provide students with the opportunity to visit the emirate’s museums and galleries.
“It is expected that the university will cooperate with the Department of Museums in organizing conferences and seminars specialized in the fields of the arts in general and the history of art, history and Islamic Civilization and Museum Studies.
“The University of Sharjah is seeking through such agreements to fulfil an important role in society, and build bridges of communication within the community.”