Organised by the College of Graduate Studies, the event brought together master's, doctoral and diploma students and was attended by Professor Esameldin Agamy, the University of Sharjah's Chancellor, along with vice-chancellors, deans and faculty members.

The orientation introduced new and continuing students to the University's academic and research resources and addressed practical aspects of graduate study and the needs of early-stage researchers.

Nearly 100 graduate programmes

In his opening remarks, Professor Agamy conveyed the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah.

He said that graduate students represent the nation's future and are among the key drivers of sustainable development, describing graduate study as an important stage for generating knowledge and for developing innovative responses to the challenges facing institutions and society.

Professor Agamy noted that the University is offering nearly 100 accredited graduate programmes this year across a broad range of scientific and humanities disciplines, designed to meet researchers' aspirations and to respond to evolving labour market needs.

He encouraged students to pursue rigorous scientific inquiry grounded in accuracy, integrity and objectivity, to make full use of the University's research resources, and to connect their work with the needs of their communities.

Addressing continuing students, he reaffirmed the University's commitment to listening to their ideas and concerns, describing student feedback as an important foundation for strengthening graduate education.

Research and international publishing

Professor Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, provided guidance on completing theses and dissertations within the prescribed timeframes.

He discussed the responsible use of artificial intelligence applications and the principles for publishing in leading international journals. He also encouraged graduate researchers to join research groups and teams within the University's specialised research institutes in medicine, engineering and the humanities.

Culture of innovation

Professor Raafat El-Awadi, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, described the annual forum as an interactive platform that connects researchers, academic supervisors and university leadership.

He highlighted the University's commitment to preparing graduate students to high standards of excellence and in line with labour market requirements, while presenting figures and statistics that reflect progress in research and graduate education.

Professor El-Awadi encouraged students to participate actively in academic discussions, ask critical, research-oriented questions, engage in university research activities and events, and build broad professional and academic networks.

He also outlined the administrative structure supporting graduate affairs and the channels for communicating with academic supervisors. He noted that the University's libraries provide access to current books, references and major international databases, thereby supporting creativity, innovation and scientific inquiry.

Dialogue and engagement

The orientation concluded with an interactive discussion in which students and researchers exchanged ideas and proposals.

Participants discussed academic and research challenges and explored solutions and support services provided by the University's colleges and administrative units to help overcome obstacles and support a productive research journey.