SHARJAH, 24th September, 2022 (WAM) — The 11th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) will organize 12 different activities led by more than 50 eminent experts and intellectuals to highlight urgent humanitarian, economic and social issues and innovative ones Discussing Solutions Two-day event from 28th to 29th September at Expo Center Sharjah.
Themed ‘Challenges and Solutions’, prominent speakers led the sessions including Mohammed Abdullah Abdulkareem, Acting Executive Director of News Content at Emirates News Agency (WAM); Randa Habib, former Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Agence France Presse; Rashid Al Hamer, Editor-in-Chief of Al Ayam; Salha Ghabish, Director of the Culture and Media Office at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs; dr Saeed Musabeh AlKaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Education Council; and Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah’s Trade and Tourism Development Authority.
Organized by the International Government Communication Center (IGCC) – an initiative of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) – the opening day of the annual event will kick off with the “Media Curriculum Session: Theoretical Reality and the Labor Market”.
Taking place in the Dialogue of Minds Hall, the session will discuss the suitability of mainstream journalism and media curricula to meet the demands of the labor market and make recommendations to achieve aspects of development needed to meet current needs.
The brainstorming session ‘Challenges for Entrepreneurs: Who Has the Solutions?’ will focus on the economic changes and technological developments that challenge entrepreneurs. The ideas shared by the speakers will be a source of inspiration for entrepreneurs and encourage them to take steps to keep up with the entrepreneurial environment at national, regional and global levels.
The Writing Room project will be the final activity on Day 1 of the Forum. It comprises a series of workshops aimed at discovering promising new talent and giving them the opportunity to develop their writing skills, as well as to work on sustainable strategies by qualifying and training copywriters.
The discussion “Generational Dialogue: Media Experiences and Knowledge” opens the door for students of journalism and media faculties to benefit from the expertise and experience of Arab media representatives who will share their visions and perspectives and answer questions from the audience.
The brainstorming session “Creating a New World for Refugees” discusses ways to integrate refugees into society to fulfill their aspirations for a decent life. The session will also discuss innovative solutions to overcome the economic crises that result from the burden of seeking refuge and ways to set up sustainable projects that balance the needs of refugees and the communities in which they live .
At the workshop entitled ‘Government Communication Tools and Effective Impact’ in the Dialogue of Minds Hall, participants will benefit from an interactive session highlighting effective communication skills for speakers including writing, reading, listening, presentation skills and body language. It will also highlight tools to influence the public and deliver factual and persuasive messages in the shortest and most efficient way.
The Job Shadowing Program at We’re Seeking Hall offers training for staff and students, led by a team of experts, taking a hands-on approach to developing their skills and preparing them for the job market. The program includes five main elements: the job shadow program, newsroom, smart media platform, media etiquette and social media page design.
The second activity, titled ‘Government Communication Chat’, is a platform for interactive and innovative discourse, bringing government officials together and serving as a focal point for initiating direct lines of communication between officials and the public to share knowledge and expertise.
On the final day, the Researchers Platform will take place in the We’re Seeking Hall. This is a qualitative initiative aiming to provide knowledgeable content and database for all matters related to government communication such as research, studies, books, references and global best practices. It aims to become an essential reference for workers, researchers and scholars in the field, as well as a platform for sharing knowledge and research to ensure the development of government communications at national, regional and international levels.
The two-day workshop entitled “Project Management Skills in the Light of Government Communication” will take place in the Youth Town Hall. The workshop examines the requirements for more efficient and effective project management. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of all project management topics, including idea selection and project set-up, the practical approach to scheduling and budgeting; Defining the scope of work and building teams, as well as the practical approach to project monitoring and control.
On the first day of the fourth Sharjah Youth Forum, “Youth Council’s Challenges and Opportunities” will highlight the roles and achievements of local youth councils, the key challenges and ways to address them with innovative ideas; and the role of youth in facilitating the work of youth councils.
A panel discussion entitled “Influencers and the Genius of Social Conditioning” concludes the activities in the Jugendstadthalle. Panellists will highlight how governments can use influencers as an innovative and effective modern tool to influence behavioral changes in societies and become more adaptable, balanced and in tune with successive global developments.
Activities are organized in partnership with Sharjah Press Club, Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sharjah Media City (Shams) and Big Heart Foundation.
