UAEU student symposium focuses on future of reading

In keeping with the state’s directive to make 2016 a “Year of Reading,” the Reading Committee, in collaboration with the Office of College Activities and Community Support at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), recently hosted a student symposium, “Student's expectations about the future of reading.”

Several members of the faculty, as well as a large portion of students, attended the event.

The first day of the event centered around the future of reading and the usefulness of partnerships and events hosted by UAEU.

“I am very happy with these events that go straight to the heart of reading ... my vision of the future of reading is optimistic and bright after the Year of Reading 2016,” student Jawaher Al Hassani said.  

She also presented the “My university book is in my future kids’ library” initiative. The initiative asks for all former university students to donate their used books back to the library so knowledge and the love of reading can be passed from one generation to the next.

A second student, Amnah Al Zyoudi, pointed out the difference between those who read and those who do not.

“The reader is an innovative leader and a visionary ... readers are the future leaders,” Al Zyoudi said.

Al Zyoudi also highlighted the importance of a book’s contents and how when the reader is interested in the book, the knowledge is passed on to the reader so much more easily.

Ibrahim Al Baloushi, a third student at the event, commented on how reading since childhood has helped him build character and imagination.

“Reading is the basis of a renaissance of ideas, and through it we protect the communities from alien ideas,” Al Baloushi said.

The two-day event concluded with a presentation on the future of reading. An idea was proposed from the students of the Department of Geography to incorporate a library into each department of the college, allowing students to make better use of free time and more conveniently share ideas. This idea falls in line with the large amount of funding that has been dedicated to making learning more easily available to all students.