Abu Dhabi, December 7, 2020 – The ninth edition of the ‘Political Awareness Forum for University Students’ explored perceptions among participating university students about the Federal National Council’s (FNC) Empowerment Programme and preparations for the next 50.
The virtual Forum was organised by the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs (MFNCA), in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Minister of State and UAEU Supreme President. The event featured prominent experts who explored the topics on the agenda, shedding light on the promising potential of the Empowerment Programme to promote participation, as well as on the role of the media and parliamentary culture in shaping the future and forecasting the youth’s role in the empowerment efforts.
The forum welcomed participants from major academic institutions in the UAE, namely Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Ajman University, University of Sharjah, Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi Police College, Dubai Police Academy, and the College of Police Sciences in Sharjah, in addition to the United Arab Emirates University.
“The Forum has demonstrated its importance and contribution to promoting enlightened thought,” said H.E. Dr Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh. “It presents an interactive platform that promotes political concepts among young people, as well as a space to discuss issues and topics of interest to the UAE community. It also introduces the youth to the various aspects of the political process. Young people are key to our future, they now make up a large segment of the electoral college.”
“We are in the process of planning for the next 50 years and are therefore keen to ensure the continuity of these important activities that highlight the UAE’s political efforts and promote political awareness among university students,” H.E. added. “Each and every one of us is responsible for preserving and growing our country’s past and current achievements. The UAE has achieved it in the past and present. It is the responsibility of each of us. We must all play our part in outlining the next 50 years, invigorating the development process, and enhancing the UAE’s leading global position in time for its Centennial.”
“We look forward to joining this forum and the prominent group of experts, politicians, and thought leaders to exchange ideas, experiences, and visions to spread awareness among young people about the FNC Empowerment Programme and preparations for the next 50,” H.E. Nusseibeh concluded.
For his part, H.E. Tariq Lootah, MFNCA Undersecretary, said: “We hold this ninth edition of the Forum – virtually, given the current circumstances – to uphold the event’s status as an interactive platform bringing university students together with experts to share ideas and open up prospects for young people to forecast and shape the future. Young people have always been and will remain a key component in any plans to build the future and meet the aspirations of the wise leadership, who considers the youth to be the most valuable asset for nations to remain competitive and achieve their goals.”
“This year’s forum is particularly important as it coincides with the UAE’s celebrations for its 49th anniversary and its preparations for the 50th,” H.E. Lootah added. “It also coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Political Empowerment Programme, launched by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005 on the UAE’s 34th anniversary. With that in mind, we sought to ensure the forum explores a topic of great importance – the awareness among university students about the FNC Empowerment Programme and preparations for the next 50.”
The MFNCA Undersecretary went on to explain that the Forum and the innovative ideas it brings add great value to the efforts to outline future scenarios for the parliamentary sector, in line with the vision and directives of the wise leadership. “The Forum has become a major contributor to spreading awareness among the youth, enhancing their role in society, supporting political empowerment efforts in the UAE, and preparing young people for the next 50 years,” H.E. Lootah noted.
The Forum’s sessions were moderated by Dr Saif Al Mahrouqi, Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at UAEU. Topics of discussions covered various subjects that help promote awareness of the Political Empowerment Programme, introduce the role and tasks that the FNC performs, and shed light on the youth’s role in achieving the leadership’s aspirations for the next 50 years.
Speaking in a whitepaper titled ‘The Federal National Council and Preparations for the Next 50’, H.E. Hamad Ahmed Al Rahoumi, First Deputy to the FNC Speaker, noted the FNC’s role in supporting the government’s plans to prepare for the next 50 with its legislative, control, and parliamentary diplomacy functions. H.E. also shed light on the achievements the Council has achieved in that regard, outlining the most prominent future projections the FNC looks forward to implementing as per the UAE Centennial Plan 2071.
H.E. Al Rahoumi explained that the FNC’s strategy was developed to support the leadership’s directives to work for the interest of the UAE and its people, as well as to keep pace with the government’s efforts to forecast the future, plan for it, and implement measures and policies.
Meanwhile, Dr Suaad Al Oraimi, Chair of UAEU’s Department of Government and Society, spoke in a whitepaper titled ‘Awareness about Participation and the Empowerment Programme: A Promising Vision’. The talk revolved around guided political awareness, its objectives, its connection to citizenship, and its role in modern societies. Dr Al Oraimi also explored the FNC’s role in creating political awareness and the UAE’s efforts to empower the youth, shedding light on the promising vision to empower the FNC and the achievements expected to come from it.
For his part, Dr Ahmed Mansoori, Chair of UAEU’s Department of Media and Creative Industries, discussed the role of media in parliamentary culture, noting the tremendous role that national media played in spreading political awareness ever since participation in FNC elections was initiated. The media also introduced the public to the gradual political participation programme through media initiatives across all communication channels that provided examples and evidence to enhance parliamentary culture and spread awareness among community members about the importance of electoral participation.
Dr Mansoori’s whitepaper also explores the media’s responsibility to move forward with empowerment programmes and preparations for the next 50 years, especially in light of the communication revolution and the diversity of thought and cultures.
Finally, Dr Maryem Lootah, Associate Professor at UAEU’s Department of Government and Society, discussed the future outlook regarding young people’s role in the empowerment efforts. The session covered three main topics: ‘Future Forecasting Studies: Roots, Reality, and Methodological Challenges’; ‘Empowerment: Concepts and Dimensions’; and ‘The Future of Youth Empowerment Throughout the Next 50 Years’.