Welcoming New Students at the Guidance Program Deans At UoB: University Education Depends on The Student’s Effectiveness in Research and Knowledge

Sakhir – University of Bahrain

13 September 2023

A number of deans of the University of Bahrain (UoB) confirmed that the guidance program for new students prepares them to begin university, in which students becomes the active element in university education through research, knowledge, and experiences, expressing their happiness with the enthusiasm of new students to engage in university life, and their interaction with the guidance program’s activities, which was launched on Sunday, September 10, and witnessed a distinguished student presence.

In this regard, Dr. Fatima Mohammed Al-Maliki, Dean of Student Affairs, praised the new students’ remarkable interaction with the advisors, and the field tours across the University, stressing that the students had a positive impression and great interaction during their tour of the University’s facilities and their introduction to student activity and the services provided to them.

Dr. Al-Maliki mentioned that through field tours, the students learned about the nature of study in each college, its academic departments, its various facilities, the most important laws and regulations, and communication channels, in addition to the services provided to them, such as: the student information management system (SIS), and the e-learning system (Blackboard), and ready-to-use educational lessons on the University’s website, along with their academic major and study plan.

During their field trip, accompanied by academic professors, the students were briefed on the departments of all colleges, the University’s central library, the mosque, the food court, the gates for student entry, the available options for parking, and the recommended entry times to reduce crowding.

For his part, Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Bulaila, Dean of the College of Arts, said: “We found the halls full of students who showed great interaction, by taking the initiative to ask questions and exchange ideas,” expressing his happiness with the enthusiasm they showed towards engaging in university life.

In addition, Dr. Bulaila stressed the importance of the guidance program for new students, describing it as “the first gateway to the transition from school to university life, where the university student exploits the cognitive tools on their own to seek knowledge, through research and analysis.”.

Dr. Bulaila stated that the guidance program is defined by three dimensions: educational dimensions, behavioral dimensions, and social dimensions, as it reviews the specialization and its requirements, the roles of the academic advisor, important laws and dates, in addition to regulations and systems, along with outlining the social and extracurricular activities that the University provides on and off campus.

Furthermore, he pointed out that one of the most important messages that the guidance program intends to send to students is showing that the university student is effective in the educational process, as they rely on themselves in searching for information, communicates with professors, and uses analysis and criticism to reach creative and innovative results.

In turn, Professor Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Al-Hilo, Dean of the College of Science, praised the resounding success of the induction day program, explaining that it witnessed a distinguished attendance by students over the course of three days, with 80 students per day, expressing at the same time his happiness at the inquiries and questions raised by the new students, which show their determination and persistence.

Moreover, Dr. Al-Hilo pointed that what distinguished the guidance program this year was the meeting of faculty members with new students, introducing them to the College’s departments, programs, and facilities, allocating them to the departments, and having the students tour the College to get acquainted with the laboratories and teaching halls.

Dr. Al-Hilo believes that the importance of the program lies in welcoming new students, motivating them to study, introducing them to the College, its facilities, and faculty members, providing them with valuable advice, and encouraging them to develop personal skills, in addition to their academic achievement, through active participation in various activities.

It is worth noting that the guidance program is periodically organized by UoB at the beginning of the academic year, which aims to prepare students psychologically, educationally, and socially, before the start of the semester at the University. It also aims to introduce them to their colleges, their affiliated departments, academic programs, the nature of study in each program, and study plans, in addition to the types of services and activities of each college.

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