University of Sharjah – with a heart to serve

SHARJAH — The University of Sharjah may have received the much-needed accolade for being the pioneer and the only comprehensive academic institution in the UAE and the GCC. But, only few know that greater than this huge facility is the outreach programme it has extended to the multi-racial communities around.

More than 10,000 people in UAE have walked into the University Dental Hospital in Sharjah since 2011 at an average of 200 to 250 a week to avail of free dental care, which may prove to be costly to many, both expatriates and local families. For a one-time registration of just Dh50, one can receive free dental care for years even for expensive dental services as tooth implant, root canal treatment, crown, filling and other restorative services, pediatric, orthodontics and oral surgery that will certainly cost thousands of dirhams.

The imposing University of Sharjah building. — KT photos by M Sajjad

Around 180 students in the fourth and fifth years have rendered the various services free of charge, regarded as the first of its kind in the region. Supervised by their professors, they have opened their hearts to their patients, who may either go directly to the Urgent Care Clinic or wait for their turn at a normally patient-crowded 114 dental units for students. The university’s College of Dentistry, of which 40 per cent of the students are Emiratis, is dreaming big to one day extend the same services to residents and expatriates in Oman and Qatar. “Our vision is to see the University Dental Hospital, Sharjah, rise up and be the leading dental service in the region,” says Dr Wael Talaat, assistant professor.

Dr Talaat says that the dental hospital has a complete set of the best state-of-the-art dental facilities for all dental services, including unique features for oral medicine and oral pathology services that will lead to early detection and treatment of oral cancer.

He says that the Temporamandibular Joint Clinic, Laser Centre, and Implant Centre are among the facilities used to render the free dental care services. “The students perform at least 80 dental implants daily. We always assess the psychomotor skills of the students, administer clinical exams and determine their cognitive skills through theoretical exams to improve their capability.”

Other than the dental service initiative, the University of Sharjah boasts of being the pioneer in academia, scientific research and the arts in the UAE and GCC region. It has done the first most comprehensive diabetes study ever in the UAE through its Preventive Medicine centre.

Prof Samy Mahmoud, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, says the university has the support of the community, health authorities and social organisations in conducting the study. “We feel we have done well with the community.”

The university, which has 500 full time faculty with families residing in the campus, 250 part time and 1,000 administrative and support staff, has revived the traditional Sharjah theatre, too.

Dubbed as ‘Rome Is Burning’, a play simulating the Arab Spring has won many accolades. Many parents and student volunteers helped out and the authorities from the Ministry of Culture and Information supported it. Some 36 students from different nationalities, colleges, clubs and volunteers have participated in the Sharjah Theatre Club.

Rome Is Burning, which took part in the regional competition of theatres in the Arab world held in Amman, Jordan, in March this year, received multiple awards, including Best Theatre Play, Best Technical Effect, Best Script, Best Actors, and Best Production. The same play was performed in Sharjah thrice, and once each in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “This play has received the attention of the community, some members of which have donated cash and planned to do more,” Prof Mahmoud says.

World-class sports facilities have helped spearhead community-based sports. The university has a swimming pool of Olympic standards, a stadium and several other facilities.

Even now, two plans are being developed, Prof Mahmoud says. “We plan for an international cultural programme which we call ‘Cultural Palace’ for cultural activities, and two new libraries. We will also put in place three additional language programmes such as French, Spanish and Chinese.”

Launched in 1997 with just 200 students, the University of Sharjah boasts of a 11,500 student population of whom 50 per cent are Emiratis, with 60 huge buildings, the largest infrastructure in the region. It has 85 academic programmes, the largest in the UAE so far covering all disciplines, many of which are jointly done on twinning programmes with distinguished universities in the US, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Lebanon, Germany, UAE, Egypt, Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, France, Italy, Bahrain and Morocco.

As the University of Sharjah continues to serve the communities, it has maintained the vision of His Highness Shaikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasmi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah to be uniquely comprehensive, open to both nationals and expatriates, and international in its outlook. “It has remained to be the only one of this combination,” Prof Mahmoud added.

lily@khaleejtimes.com