Sharjah Museums Department establishes Museums Club at University of Sharjah

Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) has announced the establishment of “Museums Club” at University of Sharjah were 30 female students from various specialties have become members on the first day of the club, meanwhile the Department of Interpretation and Education announced the organization of a series of workshops and specifically designed programs for the club's members at a number of museums.

In the wake of the club's establishment, the Department of Interpretation and Education organized an orientation day for the female students of the University of Sharjah to educate them on the programs offered to adults, universities and volunteers.

The orientation program, which featured lectures on school and family programs as well as programs designed for people with special needs, aimed at attracting the club's members and help change the stereotype about museums.

The students were given the opportunity to be aware of the most important programs provided by the Department, as well as of workshops organized at Sharjah museums with the aim of enhancing the importance of museums.

In her remarks about the club, Manal Ataya, SMD Director General, said: "The decision to establish the museum club at the university is aimed at raising the awareness about the importance of museums, especially after the growing interest shown by the students of the University of Sharjah."

The club will serve as a platform to extend bridges of communication between the students and museums on the one hand and between museums and all people interested in museum affairs on the other one, Manal added.

"The newly established club will contribute to engaging our audiences further and encourage interest from students to pursue careers in the cultural sector," Manal explained.

She said the club will strengthen the knowledge of the diverse discipline areas in Sharjah's museums and encourage access and the usage our collections for research purposes and student projects”. 

 The club will also contribute to promoting programs and events organized by the Department, as well as to attract volunteers who are interested in benefiting from training opportunities available in various educational, administrative, technical and IT fields, among others.

Manal thanked Abdullah Menezil, Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Sharjah for his cooperation with SMD's Department of Interpretation and Education in the establishment of the club and his keen interest in delivering the club's message to Sharjah University's female students. She also thanked him for hosting the exhibition, which was organized by the Department to promote its educational programs and workshops out of his belief in the museums' cultural and educational role for university students.